Ipswich: Historic venue The Baths receives £15,000 makeover

The Baths in Ipswich has upgraded its toilet facilities, after previously having to rent in toilets, including having to install temporary facilities inside.

With the upgrades, it has meant there is new artist facilities, male and female customer toilets, a designated gender neutral and disabled facility, a cloakroom and new storage solutions.

The upgraded facilities in The Baths, Ipswich, means they do not have to rent portaloos. Credit: Brighten The Corners (Image: Brighten The Corners)

Upgraded facilities means Brighten The Corners are able to hire out to third party providers. Credit: Brighten The Corners (Image: Brighten The Corners)

In 2021, The Baths created new fire exits which took the total capacity of the music venue from 100 to 340 people.

The former swimming pool, has hosted gigs for Led Zeppelin and The Move in the past, and has recently been used as a pop up music venue by the team behind Sound City Ipswich, The Smokehouse and Brighten The Corners.

Brighten The Corners CEO, Joe Bailey, said: "I know toilets and infrastructure aren't exciting and glamorous things to talk about however this is an essential, massive step forward to us as we move closer to making The Baths a permanent venue for Ipswich and establish the town on the national touring map for artists in many stages of their careers.

Joe Bailey, CEO of Brighten The Corners. Credit: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

"It will be another rung in the ladder after The Smokehouse and St Stephen's Church and then up to the Corn Exchange.

"Having these facilities will bring down our overheads meaning we can start to program more events, work with third party hires and give this venue the highest chance of succeeding."

The venue will reopen on March 3 for the sold-out gig by Pigs X7, and then Ipswich Weekender on March 10 and 11 featuring Caswell.

The organisation is looking to make further investments to the PA system and lighting infrastructure over the next few months to further reduce the cost to third party hires and for their own events.

The artists toilets have been upgraded, along with males and females, gender neutral and disabled facilities. Credit: Brighten The Corners (Image: Brighten The Corners)

The work has been undertaken at The Baths in Ipswich. Credit: Brighten The Corners (Image: Brighten The Corners)