Excitement from Ipswich leaders over Tower Street Food Hall

Trafalgar House, the former home of Yates, will be converted into the Tower Street Food Hall.

The three-storey building will feature a variety of foods from around the world, two bars, a hireable space overlooking the town centre, a kids play area and enough seating for 280 people.

The owner, Mr Sandeep Singh, said that there is "absolutely a market for something like this" in the town, spending a long time choosing the perfect location, bringing on board Simon Anderson from Market Halls London as a consultant after he started a number of successful food halls in the capital city.

Plans showing what the inside will look like (Image: Tower Street Food Hall) The Tower Street Food Hall is opening in the former Yates (Image: Tom Cann)

Plans of what the inside of the building would look like when completed have also been released.

The planned opening hours for the food hall is from 11am to 10pm, with hopes that for special occasions they would be able to stay open slightly later.

The new venue is set to create around 75 new jobs for people in the area.

Sandeep Singh, owner of the Tower Street Food Hall. (Image: Tom Cann) Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich (Image: Roger Harris/House of Commons) Ipswich MP, Jack Abbott, welcomed the news, stating: "I warmly welcome the positive announcement which will see a new food hall open in this historic building in the heart of Ipswich.

"This will offer Ipswich residents something different, and will also help attract more visitors to our town, boosting the local economy.

"We don’t want to see empty buildings in the town - especially ones with such a presence like Trafalgar House - and it is encouraging that new jobs will be created as part of this development too.

"As Ipswich’s MP, one of my key priorities is helping to regenerate our town centre, so Ipswich can realise its huge potential. This great news as we work to get our town to where we want it to be."

Tower Street Food Hall from the outside (Image: Tower Street Food Hall)

Mr Sandeep Singh (Image: Tom Cann)

Neil MacDonald, Ipswich Borough Council leader (Image: Newsquest) Ipswich Borough Council leader, Neil MacDonald added: "I welcome the opening of the new indoor food market which is expected to bring a vibrant new energy to the heart of our town.

"This market will not only provide a fantastic variety of local foods, but it will also create new opportunities for small businesses and local traders to showcase their produce and thrive.

"This new venture will support the local economy while offering residents and visitors a unique destination to enjoy.

"We believe this will become an important hub for the community, helping to strengthen Ipswich’s reputation as a dynamic and growing place to live, work and visit."

Plans showing what the inside will look like (Image: Tower Street Food Hall)

John Cook, Ipswich Borough Councillor (Image: Ipswich Labour Party) Ipswich Borough Councillor for the Alexandra Ward, John Cook, added: "The former Yates/Robert Ransome pub is a big space to fill, and since closure, it's been waiting for someone with the vision and business strategy to take on the premises.

"I very much welcome the news that Mr Singh has taken on the premises and wish him well.

"I look forward to seeing it open and trying out some of the food and drink options it will be offering. I wish him well with the project which will also create new jobs in our community."

The first floor of the Tower Street Food Hall which will feature a bigger bar (Image: Tower Street Food Hall)

Lee Walker, Ipswich Central CEO said: “It’s great news for the town that this iconic Ipswich building will reopen before Christmas as The Tower Street Food Hall, plans for the internal refurbishment look fantastic.

“It’s an exciting new destination in the town centre that residents, everyone working in the town and visitors will all enjoy, I look forward to visiting once the business opens its doors later this year.”

Residents in Ipswich have also reacted positively to the news, stating it was exactly what the town needed and they were looking forward to trying out what it had to offer.

Many residents also noted that they had been to similar concepts elsewhere in the country including in Leeds, London and Edinburgh, stating that they were always very busy and proved to be successful.

With people working throughout the week inside the premises to get it ready, it is hoped the new food hall will open by Christmas.