Bridport is renowned for its rope making heritage. However, Bridport was also known for the large number of public houses that have existed over the years and centuries. The Bridport Market from the 15th century generated an initial interest in beer houses. However, the Beer Act of 1830 led to a doubling of the number of licensed houses in Bridport, with many being a room in an ordinary house, giving South Street its reputation for every other house being a public house. Taking the suburbs of Allington, Bradpole and West Bay into account, there have been more than 80 different licensed public houses over the years in Bridport, of which only about 20 remain today.

Below is a list of Beer and Public Houses which are known to have existed in and around the Bridport area and those which are currently open. Dates followed by an asterisk * indicate a pub was known to be open during that period.