Ipswich's most famous hotel has opened its doors to paying guests for the first time in years - bringing new life to the historic building.

Charles Dickens shone a spotlight on The Great White Horse on the corner of Tavern Street and Northgate Street in The Pickwick Papers.

Since then the hotel - parts of which date back to Tudor times - has been a major landmark in the town centre.

But it has been closed to guests since 2008 when it shut its doors because it was no longer able to cater for the needs of 21st century guests.

Now it has reopened with 27 of its 64 bedrooms being available - refurbishment is continuing to bring more into use.

It is advertised on a number of websites as offering rooms at a budget price.

In its heyday the hotel was the top place to eat and drink in the heart of Ipswich with organisations like Rotary Clubs using it for their regular meetings.

At present there is no dining on offer there - and the ground floor has been converted into shops which are currently unoccupied.

Ipswich Star: The entrance to the Great White Horse is from Northgate Street, next to the new easyHotel.The entrance to the Great White Horse is from Northgate Street, next to the new easyHotel. (Image: Paul Geater)

That part of the town centre is now well provided with hotel space - easyHotel opened next to the Great White Horse in 2019.

The hotel reopened without a great fanfare and local councils have only recently become aware that it is once again offering accommodation to guests.

The county and borough councils are expected to undertake inspections to check it meets all the regulations in the near future.

The owner of the hotel could not be contacted to discuss any plans to develop the building in the future.

It is logged on internet hotel booking sites - although reviews suggest work still needs to be carried out there.

The first mention of a tavern on the site was in 1515 and over the centuries it was well known as the town's main lodging house.

Ipswich Star: The Great White Horse dominates Tavern Street.The Great White Horse dominates Tavern Street.

In 1815 Tavern Street was rebuilt and was changed to take on the appearence it still has today.

After Pickwick Papers was published it became one of the best-known taverns in the country - but in 1967 there was a planning application to demolish the building and replace it with modern shops.

Ipswich Star: The Great White Horse in the early years of the last century.The Great White Horse in the early years of the last century.

The opposition was so strong that the demolition bid was rejected, but its then owner Trust House Forte sold the building and built a new hotel near Copdock Mill - now the Holiday Inn.

The Great White Horse was run by several different operators during the following 40 years before closing its doors 15 years ago.