The Monk & Tipster is a building with a lot of history.

The building was a public house, The Sun, in 1826 and may have been for at least a century before that.

There was, however, a period when it was closed as a public house. This occurred in 1869 when the publican was Mr Webb. A new licence was applied for in 1871 by Mr Montgomery, the owner, but was refused on the grounds that there were already 21 public houses in the town, five of which were in 500 yards, and that the public would not suffer if it did not re-open.

By 1890 Francis Montgomery had built a soda and mineral water manufacturer to the rear of the building and incorporated the front building into this. That is when the crane and first floor opening in the gable of the building were probably constructed to get the raw ingredients for making “spruce” – a common name for lemonade – up to the 1st floor.

Montgomery also bottled stout on the site and in 1892 put a notice in the newspapers stating he would bring action against any mineral water manufacturer who re-used his bottles. Walker and Soames took over from Montgomery making ‘Spruce’ in 1894 and dissolved their partnership in 1905.

It was used as a hotel and restaurant when it became a listed building in 1976.