A popular Ipswich pub beer garden may gain an outdoor pizza kitchen, along with a timber gazebo for outside dining if plans are approved.

The landlady of The Woolpack Inn, Marita Hunter-Rodwell, has applied to Ipswich Borough Council install a new timber gazebo in the garden behind the pub.

The gazebo would accommodate customers in all weathers, according to the plans.

The pub, at the junction of Westerfield Road and Tuddenham Road, also wishes to retain its outdoor pop-up kitchen to offer a pizza menu.

The garden was established in the former car park area behind the pub during the Covid pandemic, to allow customers to congregate outside and ensuring the pub's survival "during difficult times", according to application documents.

During lockdown, the pub began to offer homemade pizza as part of the takeaway menu.

An outside kitchen area was built for the purpose, which also worked to increase the kitchen facilities, as the venue's indoor kitchen is smaller than average and could not cope with the demand to offer additional menu items.

If the plans are approved, the temporary gazebo would be removed for a new traditional timber framed structure with three open sides, measuring 4 metres by 7.2 metres, divided into three bays.

Last month, the pub shared how the community had rallied to fund for life saving equipment after a customer suffered a medical emergency. 

The Woolpack purchased the equipment after managing to fundraise more than £1,800 in just a week.

The landlord said she hopes the defibrillator is never used – but is glad it is there should it be required.

The pop-up facility was granted for a period of three years, and the pub wishes to make this approval permanent. 

The Grade II listed building dates back to at least the 18th century.