Town Topics with Ipswich Borough Council

Ipswich hoteliers and attractions groups got together at a pioneering tourism workshop in Ipswich to discuss ways to bring in even more visitors into the town.

The event was hosted by Ipswich Borough Council’s tourism team in the Tourist Information Centre, St Stephen’s Church, and was attended by 70 industry professionals.

Accommodation providers were represented from across the area, from larger hotels, such as the Belstead Brook, to smaller, privately run guest houses, including Lattice Lodge. Seckford Hall (Woodbridge), Creeting House (near Needham Market) and Damerons Farm Holidays (near Henley) also attended.

Representatives from a wide range of local attractions, including museums, cruise operators, tour guides, the New Wolsey Theatre and Suffolk Food Hall, were on hand to offer ideas for days out and activities for hotel staff to suggest to their guests.

Ipswich Tourist Information manager David Stainer said: “We were very pleased with the response from the local industry and hope this will be the first of many similar initiatives bringing different strands of the local tourism offer together.

“Tourism is, by its nature, a fragmented industry - everything from large international hotel chains to small attractions run by volunteers - and the more we can do to bring them all together the better it will be for the various operators in the area.”

The chair of the Ipswich Hoteliers Association, Martin Pike, was also enthusiastic about the new initiative: “It was great to see such a well-supported event.

“I’ve known for a long time that as well as the major attractions such as the Ipswich Regent and New Wolsey Theatre, there are some fantastic small volunteer-led tourism ‘hidden gems’ in Ipswich, and it’s now time to make sure that potential visitors to Ipswich can easily find them, especially when doing online research prior to a visit. We look forward to working with Ipswich Borough Council and Ipswich Central to make this happen.”

Talking of attractions, the organisers of the Celebrate Ipswich festival, which gets under way on Monday August 19, hope that an influx of visitors will boost the local economy.

Maritime Ipswich, the highlight of the festival, is expecting 40,000 visitors to the Waterfront during the full bank holiday weekend. It will be a celebration of all things maritime and is packed full of activities to keep the entire family entertained.

Cricketing theme for fun day at Chantry Park

The Mayor of Ipswich is appealing to businesses to support a rather special charity event on Sunday September 8.

A fund-raising cricket match between a Suffolk All-Stars XI and a Barbados XI will be one of the highlights of the free fun day in Chantry Park.

The free day will have a Barbadian theme - it’s where the Mayor, Hamil Clarke, was born - and will also feature Caribbean food, entertainment and drinks.

Among the guests will be the High Commissioner of Barbados and the Mayor said: “It’s going to be a great day and we want to raise money for my official charities. I am asking local companies to help sponsor the fun day.”

The Mayor, an all-rounder, played for a number of local teams including Felixstowe Corinthians, Ipswich Carribean Association and Saxmundham.

Kersey’s solicitors have set the ball rolling, so if you want to join them please contact the Mayor’s Office, telephone 01473 432641 email: christine.christensen@ipswich.gov.uk