This pub has more character than virtually any other I've been to recently. It's a old pub with seperate drinking areas and a cellar room that doubles as the bar at the back of the pub. It also has a large beer garden out the back. Generally 6-8 ales on from the Adnams range all gravity feed in the cellar room. Fantastic pub. The unspoilt and wonderfully atmospheric interior was complemented on our visit by a very friendly welcome and some really good food. Even more importantly the beers- served from the tap room, as there is no bar- were of top quality. Absolutely not to be missed if you are in this part of the world.Still, a very good pub. Unique interior. Not as good as it was.

Suprising events as Punch Pubs only sold the pub a few months ago.....A holding company has taken a T.A.W and is opening it on 21st Jan until a buyer is found, probably to knock it downRumour has it that the tenants were forced out by sky-high rents and the pubco which owns it plan to sell it off as part of a development into flats which also encompasses the property next door. Obviously these rumours can't be true or the local CAMRA would be making an awful lot of noise about losing one of their flagship real ale pubs in such a tawdry way, and there's been nothing but silence from CAMRA.

Wonderful old pub with real character and a huge roary real fire in the winter. Serves food but haven't tried any. Three real ales on offer and all in good condition. Warm welcome from the staff.This pub was supposed to be closed yesterday afternoon, according to the published Christmas opening hours. But the bar was heaving. Many of the clientele seemed to have been there a while and were positively merry. There are 3 main rooms. 2 have access to the bar and there is a third cosy room. However, further back there is a sit down restaurant, which was not being used on our visit. Beers available were Adnams Bitter & Broadside, Woodfordes Wherry, Batemans Rosey Nosey and Hardy & Hansons Rocking Rudolph. Aspalls was the cider. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire question cards on the tables were a nice touch. However as casual visitors, we didn't feel overly welcome. It's a lovely building, but clearly a locals pub.Fantastic building and interior, wish I could say the same about my visit. Food okay if predictable, beer was good but very expensive. Staff disinterested.

Went in again today (after a break) - owners looking for a tenant to run. Prices gone up and own beers (Best and Gunners Daughter) but 4 guests including Adnamas Bitter available. Every table had a number on and The Times eat for a fiver campaign now available. I do not know what has happended to the drinkers who used to frequent the place - With a number of new watering holes, good beer and little food, makes choice a lot easier on wherre to try numerous ales and bitters.
I shall look out for a change to the management and post when the time is right. The Old Cannon is unique and I love its atmosphere and the type of serious drinkers it attracts, the range of Beers always gives one a difficult choice as all are first class and kept well however , on the 8th Jan it was closed to all for a private function, I could not see anything about this on their Website but there was a A4 sheet placed in the main entrance for you to read after you had made your journey. Not good enough really with the amount of competition now growing in and around Bury St Edmunds .This type of treatment made me feel somewhat cheated. Still love the place but how many more like me had their Sat Night runined.
I always visit this bar when I'm in BSE and was pleased to see that it was still open despite major refurbishment works going on everywhere! Had time for a pint of Best Bitter (excellent and only £2.50) plus their new beer St.Edmunds Head ( a dark ale at 5% - again very drinkable). I have stayed at the Old Canon on a couple of occasions before and found it very acceptable in every respect. I can't comment on the "slow service" as I have never had a problem, but it does get very busy especially for food so perhaps that's where the problem is. I would always recommend the Old Canon and it is well worth the walk from the town centre.

Without doubt the best new pub in town, went in on a friday night and was heaving!, serving 7 real ales and a few from the cellar. Nice atmosphere and not full of youngsters on the way to the nearby club, also a really good mix of young and old people alike, after speaking to the landlord(who was really into his beer for his age!) was informed of a micro being installed in the spring. Hope they keep it up! Good luck to them! This pub has been re-named The Beerhouse and serves real ale a two lagers. Normally 6 - 7 ales on from throughout the UK! Well worth a visit.I used to quite like The Ipswich Arms as a pub although the GK beer was never brilliant. However, since being converted to The Beerhouse this pub is now a must to visit when in BSE (It's very handy for the train station). I had a couple of new brewers beers (Grain/Brandon) but there was a very good selection and some interesting ales to come. The pub is a sort of mix between alehouse and contemporary - some old pews and some newish fittings - trying to appeal to all types of customers I reckon. Still, well worth a visit and a welcome addition to the town's drinking venues. I just hope they can keep up the beer standards and attract locals down to this part of town. I understand they are planning to brew on site in the future.

Traditional country pub with real fire and good real ale. Welcoming and friendly landlord. Excellent boozer. The landlord, as noted below, is a most genial chap and certainly knows a thing or two about keeping a good cellar.

A warm welcome from the tenants, Roger and Margaret. A good range of real ales. A great pub for music and song sessions. a proper pub.

This pub is a fantastic place to go for a pint with roaring log fires & great local ales. The food is superb, from great fish & chips to something a bit more fancy, it is brilliant quality & really good value.It's had a total makeover and is a triumph! Great food, great atmosphere - a real gem. I highly recommend. Thankfully, the Three Blackbirds is now back open as of 9th December 2010. Fully refurbished and back doing food as well as being a good old drinking pub!!!