Fresh plans for new 'Papa's' pizza restaurant in Ipswich

An application has been submitted to Ipswich Borough Council for alterations to be made to a site in Fore Street in Ipswich, which is between the Waterfront and the town centre.

The site of the new eatery was previously Takayama Japanese and Korean restaurant.

The owners of the site have applied for listed building consent for alterations to the Grade II listed building

The changes would include interior remodelling that does not include the removal of the "historic fabric" of the building, according to application documents.

If approved, signage will be put up at the front of the building, which would comprise of a painted logo on the front walls and vinyl graphics on the windows.

There would also be a new insulated chimney with odour filter put up on the wall behind the restaurant, which would be linked to the existing extraction system.

Two internal 20th century non-structural plasterboard-covered stud walls will also be removed from the inside, to extend the kitchen area, according to planning documents visible on the borough council's online portal.

According to floorplans, there will be an 87 square metre dining area for customers which will cater for 46 covers, a bar area, food preparation and kitchen areas with pizza oven, along with storage areas and toilets.

Temporary signs advertising the new restaurant went up in the windows late last year.

Takayama moved to St Nicholas Street in April 2023 and the Fore Street site has been vacant since then.

Takayama took over the former La Cueva site, which had closed down after just eight months as the owner told this newspaper he was struggling to pay rising energy bills.

The application for Papa's was validated on Tuesday.