The Old Tap in Beccles is reflecting on its latest success after being named by the North East Suffolk Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale as their Pub of the Year for 2026.

It follows the venue winning Town Pub of the Year in 2025.

Matthew and Cloe Mills first opened the doors to The Old Tap in September 2024.

Matthew Mills is one of the owners of The Old Tap in Beccles (Image: The Old Tap)

The pub, which is located in the former Halifax building on Market Street, offers a range of real ales, craft beers, and ciders, alongside a selection of wines, gins, and spirits.

In a statement the landlords said: "The whole team were absolutely thrilled, after winning CAMRA town pub of the year 2025 we all just felt so grateful to be recognised again this year and can't thank the whole community that we have here at the old tap and the CAMRA members who voted for us.

The team at The Old Tap in Beccles celebrating the bar's CAMRA award in 2025 (Image: Cloe Mills)

"It means the absolute world, we love what we do and have a great passion for real ale, so to have that recognised feels absolutely fantastic."

The pub offers 20 draught products, 10 real ales and 10 craft taps, all constantly rotating.

Mrs Mills had previously owned The Fox in Shadingfield, near Beccles, also a CAMRA award-winning pub, until 2021 when Kai Willenbring brought the property.

CAMRA members voted for The Old Tap to win East Suffolk Pub of the Year 2026 (Image: The Old Tap)

"We love traditional beer and also finding things our customers haven't tried before, we have a fantastic team behind us that take great pride in their service and ability to find something perfect for each customer,

"We are so grateful for them and all of their hard work and dedication", the publicans added.

The old Halifax bank branch in Beccles (Image: Google Maps)

The Old Tap is a Grade II listed building and lies within the town's Conservation Area.

The Halifax branch closed its doors in July 2022.

North East Suffolk CAMRA also named The Star Inn, Wenhaston, as their Rural Pub of the Year 2026 and The Green Dragon in Bungay as their Town Pub of the Year 2026.

© Eastern Daily Press