Plans submitted for new Tower Street Food Hall in Ipswich

Ipswich Borough Council has received plans from developers to install new shutters and a glass door to the former Yates building for the new Tower Street Food Hall.

The majority of the work being done is internal, with the building being converted from a pub into a food hall featuring a range of different counters serving different cuisines and two bars.

It was revealed last month that Yates, which closed in September 2023, was going to turn into the Tower Street Food Hall after Sandeep Singh saw the space and decided to give it a fresh lease of life.

Sandeep Singh, owner of Tower Street Food Hall (Image: Tom Cann)

It is the first of its kind to open in Ipswich.

Inside the building there will also be a children's play area and a hireable space on the second floor.

The news that this was happening to a prominent and historic Ipswich building was met with delight from community leaders.

Under the submitted plans, the front door will be replaced with a glass door to make the inside feel lighter.

Inside the food hall as you enter (Image: Tower Street Food Hall) How the former Yates would look when it is completed (Image: Tower Street Food Hall)

The doors would feature long steel handles and will be reinforced.

A shutter would also be installed to cover the door when the food hall is shut, with the developers who submitted the application stating that the proposed new door and shutters "are part and parcel of the brining back into use of this building in a more harmonious way than formerly".

They also stated that the doors will "facilitate a much easier use for more people whilst improving the attractiveness of the building and offer inside".

Plans added: "The conversion of the public house to an innovative (and new to Ipswich) restaurant use has a minor heritage benefit in addition to a wider and significant economic benefit."

Inside the new restaurant (Image: Tower Street Food Hall)