The Empty Streets after Dark - Has Ipswich Lost its Nightlife Appeal?
A curious dive into the current state of nightlife in Ipswich from a young persons perspective
As a young person of Ipswich, discovering the nightlife of my town once I turned 18 was quite a complex experience.
My relatives had always bragged about the nights they used to have around town, the fact that ‘Ipswich really was the hotspot for club culture’ and the endless list of places to go to when you were in need of a good night out, whether it was for dancing, mingling or drinking. When I finally reached the age to venture out into town after dark, I felt it was almost a maze I couldn’t fathom with these ‘hidden gems’ outstandingly closed off for those experienced enough for the hunt.
It is clear to anyone living in Ipswich, that the nightlife is facing a significant decline, despite its history of thriving club culture. People my age tend to take a train out to Norwich, Colchester or London as opposed to giving Ipswich a chance to change their minds, to which I decided I’ll do it for them.
I decided I not only wanted to investigate why people criticised the town so harshly but made it my mission to find the hidden gems that could provide us with a good night out in our town.
From an online questionnaire I held on my social media accounts, I gathered answers for all my questions from an audience of young people 18-22 local to Ipswich.
Where’s your go to for a good night out in Ipswich?
To which few quickly responded with “home” whilst others gave me a new list of venues to try out, mostly pubs and one or two bars/club. Cricketers was the most popular response, as it offers a wide range of ‘cheap drinks’, a ‘welcoming pub garden’ and a ‘friendly atmosphere’
Others mentioned Arcade Tavern, a cosy independent craft beer café and pub in the heart of Ipswich, and Bar 21, an old school themed bar that has recently grown popular among young people in Ipswich.
Do you feel there is enough variety for a good night out in Ipswich?
A collection of answers strongly felt that there was no variety at all, especially “nowhere that caters for a mix of tastes and age groups”. There was a shared experience of only finding ‘run down’ pubs to go to, and little to no clubs for a night out dancing ‘especially since the recent closure of Revolution’.
How would you describe the current state of Ipswich’s nightlife?
Most expressed their disappointment and the overall feeling that they’re ’desperate for more’, with many sharing the idea that it’s almost nonexistent. One response stated, “people always moan about it, but its always busy, its not as bad as people say”, which gave me hope to search for more places us young people can go to, for a night out in our town.
The lack of variety, was one of the biggest causes for the lack of appeal of Ipswich’s nightlife. The prices and the safety of Ipswich were also common factors causing young people to avoid having a night out in Ipswich.
Despite the unchanging reality of inflation, and the issue of street safety after dark, I found that with a little hope and a good search, Ipswich town has plenty of venues waiting for the youth community to give it a chance.
Escape Club: 10, Cornhill Ipswich open Fridays and Saturdays 21:30-4:00
The club offers a ’fresh modern vision centred around electronic dance music, reshaping the nightlife experience in Ipswich‘ with their frequent collaborations with aroused and ‘unforgettable‘ events.
Artists such as Jo Cruz, Geko, B Young, Floyo and more have performed at the venue with most events sold out.
Miami Bar: 24-25 Falcon Street, Ipswich IP1 1SL open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
The America style sports bar and late night venue offers live music, DJ’s and refreshments, with their regular music events held weekly.
A blend of modern and old school vibes with an impressive cocktail selection every weekend, with a range of classic thin from their DJ, it is recommended as a ‘solid spot for a night out’
Moloko: 8 Lion Street, Ipswich IP1 1DQ, open Tuesday-Sunday with differing hours
After speaking to various security guards about the current state of Ipswich’s nightlife, they agreed on the fact that these venues that organise ’great club nights’ aren’t promoted enough. “The nighttime economy in Ipswich isn’t doing so well because people have given up since Revs closed. All they need to do is look for these places and they’ll find great events, this place (Moloko) holds R&B nights that people travel all the way to London for. They just need to look around and have more hope in Ipswich.”
Yes it’s clear that the state of Ipswich’s nightlife is currently declining but there are enough events and venues to change this! With more optimism and a little search, a good night out in Ipswich is not hard to find.
