The small pub area is these days dwarfed by the steak-grill and motel. This helped to transform the business and today the remaining bar area is more popular with diners. In 2017 all "Oyster Reach" signage was removed and the whole operation apparently re-branded "Beefeater" (though according to its website, it's still the Oyster Reach), though it still retains the bar with two hand-pumps. For a long while this was a popular, small, late drinking venue just outside Ipswich town borough (when Ipswich pubs still closed at 10.30pm). The Oyster Reach name only dates from 1995, as a reference to the historic oyster beds on that part of the Orwell.