A community leader has said that a new restaurant moving into a vacant pub in Ipswich's Cardinal Park is “brilliant” news for the town.

On Friday, it was revealed that the former Punch & Judy pub was set to become a Turkish restaurant, one of many operated by Kervan Kitchen.

The chain already operates several restaurants in Essex, but this is set to be its first premises in Suffolk. 

This news has been welcomed by local councillors, as the space has been sitting empty for several years. 

Adam Rae is one of the Ipswich borough councillors representing the Alexandra ward, which includes Cardinal Park.

He said: “Any new restaurants are very good for the area.

"We are trying to regenerate the town centre and to a lesser extent the outskirts, so this is brilliant.” 

A spokesman for Cardinal Park said that the restaurant will be a great asset to the town. 

"This new tenant will offer a great attraction to families in Ipswich,” the spokesman said. 

"As the leasing agent on the scheme, we have worked closely with the landlord here to create a new strategy for the scheme to move it away from the historic wet led operators and to offer a more family setting. 

"The final piece in the trilogy of lettings has been the combination of the former Spirit Pub and Chinese Restaurant that will be combined to create a Turkish restaurant and grill under the brand of Kervan Kitchen.” 

The Punch & Judy pub building is close to Portman Road and has been one of the most popular venues on Ipswich Town matchdays in the past.

Ipswich Star: The new restaurant is the latest in several new additions to Cardinal Park. Image: Paul GeaterThe new restaurant is the latest in several new additions to Cardinal Park. Image: Paul Geater (Image: Paul Geater)

This news is the latest amongst several new additions to Cardinal Park.

This weekend marked the hotly-anticipated opening of Inflata Nation, which opened on Saturday inside the former Unit 17 nightclub.

Meanwhile, a new Five Guys restaurant will be unveiled in February.