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The team behind Towntickers, a TikTok and Instagram account dedicated to “poetically” reviewing towns across the country, has paid a visit to Bungay.
They previously criticised Lowestoft, describing it as “deflating” and rating it four and a half out of seven.
Beginning their review of the home of the Black Shuck, the duo rhymed: “An amusingly named town sits on the fringes of the Broads. The place is titled Bungay, and it really struck our chords.
“It’s on the River Waveney, on a bloody big meander! And while driving up to Lowestoft, we stopped and had a gander.
“Well, it’s clear that not much happens here, but guys, this town’s a beauty!”
The first place to garner praise from Towntickers was Bridge Street, renowned for its picturesque, colourful buildings, including Grade II listed cottages, inns, and Georgian houses.
It is also home to the town’s main pub, The Chequers Inn – but the reviewers did not wet their whistle at the spot.
“With Bridge Street in particular, so colourful and fruity. The place is well looked after, and the dress code is informal.
“One church has a round tower, but the other looks more normal.
“Clays Printing Co. is ancient, and the castle’s even older, and The Tudor Bakehouse has the best cookies in Bungay’s folder!”
Clays, which produces around three million books per week, was featured on Inside the Factory on BBC One earlier this year.
The episode followed the production of one hardback, clothbound copy of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice being made for publisher Penguin.
The reviewers go on to shout out another independent business in the town, as well as do something that has become a staple in their videos – criticising British towns’ lack of train stations.
“Go Gelato and Sorbetto if you fancy something colder, and there used to be a station; now the track is a hard shoulder.
“Beers from nearby St Peter’s are the opposite of yuck! And they’re obsessed here with the local hellhound, known as Black Shuck.”
St. Peter’s Brewery, near Bungay, was established in 1996 and is known for its oval bottles, traditional cask ales, and award-winning beers.
And though Bungay locals were probably just drunk and seeing things back in the day, the duo do note how the town is said to be home to a mythical “devil dog”.
The Black Shuck is believed to have prowled the graveyards, execution sites, forests, old trackways and lakes around the coastline and countryside of East Anglia in the 16th century, with several sightings being recorded in Bungay.
The legend of the demon dog began in 1577 when Black Shuck allegedly burst into St Mary’s Church and killed some of the congregation.
Earlier this year, Royal Mail even released a Black Shuck stamp in commemoration of the legend.
“There’s just one supermarket, but it’s made up for in charm,” the rhythmic reviewers concluded.
“So a solid 5.5 for Bungay shouldn’t cause alarm.”
