The future of a town centre venue hangs in the balance after Ipswich’s most senior police officer linked it with “serious crime”.

It can now be revealed that Sin, in Coachman’s Court, is connected to a number of active police investigations - and is having its premises licence reviewed on Thursday.

%image(15152695, type="article-full", alt="Sin bar, in Coachman's Court, Ipswich, will have its premises licence reviewed on Thursday")

Detectives refused to elaborate further on their probe into the popular bar ahead of Thursday's hearing, and, when asked, would not specify what kinds of crimes it is being associated with.

However, Superintendent Kerry Cutler of Suffolk police confirmed in an official document prepared for the meeting that she believes the venue is associated with serious criminal activity.

This step also triggered a decision to temporary suspend the bar's current premises licence.

Councillors and licensing officials will meet on Thursday to decide whether to revoke or restore it.

%image(15152697, type="article-full", alt="Ipswich Borough Council's licensing sub-committee suspended the bar's premises licence after police linked it to 'serious crime' Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN")

In recent weeks Sin bosses have been tight-lipped over the bar's future, telling customers in November that it would not be re-opening after the second national lockdown but teasing what appeared to be a new aesthetic on its social media pages.

The owner did not provide a comment on the allegations when contacted by this newspaper.

A police spokeswoman confirmed there are a number of active investigations, adding that it would be inappropriate for the force to comment further at this stage.

The outcome of the licensing meeting is expected up to five days after it is held.

In August, the bar came under fire after pictures emerged of 100 people appearing to queue outside the venue without social distancing.

%image(15134805, type="article-full", alt="A crowd of "at least 100" were seen queueing up outside Sin in Ipswich")

At the time, the owners of the bar said they felt the pictures did not fairly represent the efforts it had put in to ensure the safety of customers during the coronavirus pandemic.

They said they were ""disappointed" that there appeared to be a lack of social distancing in the queue, adding that they had reduced capacity and cooperated with authorities before reopening after the first lockdown.

Later that month police chiefs said social distancing outside Ipswich bars was a "lot better" with licensees working closely with officers.