The Blues are back in the top flight after 22 years away on Saturday with their first match at home against Liverpool.

The impact has been described as "immeasurable" by a town business leader with one Ipswich hotel seeing bookings from football fans from the United States.

Dan Lightfoot, owner of The Greyhound Pub in Ipswich, said: "We’re all super excited for the first game of what we hope will be a memorable season.

Vanessa Clarke and Daniel Lightfoot at The Greyhound (Image: Tom Cann)

"We’re expecting to be packed out for every home game. We just can’t wait to get started on Saturday and what a game to start with."

Steven Wells, owner of Shamrock, added: "The excitement is palpable. We're expecting Saturday to be the busiest day the town centre has seen since promotion.  

"We'll be opening early at 10am for home fans and whilst Friday's are our band night, we're putting a band on stage Saturday as well to keep the celebratory atmosphere, whatever the result, going through the night."

Frank McFadden, Steven Wells and Gus Chrysomalis, the team at Shamrock in Ipswich (Image: Tom Cann)

Gareth Harper, co-owner of Bar Twenty One, said: "We can't wait to invite everyone back into the pub.

"We are going to hang our Town flags outside in preparation and have started a new loyalty card scheme for fans so we are ready for everyone to come back."

Also on Saturday, the draw for an Only Fools & Horses framed print signed by David Jason will be raffled off, with all proceeds going to the Ipswich Town Foundation and Town legend Jason Dozzell is set to do a book signing in the bar.

Gareth Harper, co-owner of Bar Twenty One (Image: Tom Cann)

Bar Twenty One will have its Ipswich flags flying once again (Image: Newsquest)

The Falcon Pub has extended its taps offerings ahead of the new season, and The Station Hotel, the dedicated away fan pub, has built a new garden bar for away fans to welcome them to the town and accommodate more guests.

With Ipswich now in the Premier League, the town will be in the spotlight over the course of the upcoming season.

Town fan Lee Walker, CEO of Ipswich Central, said: "The impact that has is almost immeasurable.

The Station Hotel has opened its new garden bar ahead of the new season (Image: The Station Hotel)

"We are commissioning an economic impact study so we can get a grip of how much the football club can impact a town.

"Fans from away clubs that might have never been to Ipswich before are going to be coming here.

"We know of fans that have booked hotels over Christmas to come and stay in the town and spend money here which might not have been done before.

Lee Walker with a new banner in the background (Image: Tom Cann)

"We want to use this moment to showcase the pride we have in our town. It's a whole different stage and an opportunity that we as a town need to grasp."

The Salthouse Harbour Hotel stated they have had visitors stay with them from as far as USA just to be part of the occasion.

As it stands, one room is left on Friday night at the hotel and only a handful available on Saturday night.

A new mural has gone up in Ipswich (Image: Tom Cann)

Danielle Abreu, duty manager at the hotel, said: "We can predict with full confidence that we will be full every home game.

"We are seeing an increase in the lead time of bookings. Once the fixtures were released, we saw many guests booking ahead for the season, wanting to tie in the game with a night away - not wanting to miss out on the buzz.

"We are so excited for the town, for our guests and for the team and we can't wait to meet new guests and introduce them to the town of Ipswich."

The hotel has even created a new package called 'Bed & Brunch' for guests who want something to eat before 12.30pm kick offs.

Salthouse Harbour Hotel (Image: Newsquest)