Falcon pub to become a cafe bar

ONE of the famous names of Ipswich pub history is set to disappear.

The Falcon pub – which lent its name to the Ipswich street in which it stands – is to be renamed when it reopens as a café bar later this year.

Contractors have boarded up windows in the pub in Falcon Street after vandals continued to exploit its empty state for the past month.

But plans have now been drawn up for a triumphant return for the nightspot - which sadly has attracted a certain notoriety in recent years.

Marc Dawson, a former manager of the Opium and Buddha bars who is planning to become the new leasee for the bar, said that the Falcon used to be one of the best pubs in town – and he hopes to restore the reputation of one of his favourite drinking spots, even though it will be minus its historic name.

He added that a new name for the bar has yet to be decided.

"It's been the Falcon for decades," he said. "But it's never going to be the Falcon again. You won't recognise the place when we've finished with it although the bar will be in the same place.

"We want to bring it up to date with all the other bars on the circuit. It used to be one of the best pubs in Ipswich – it used to be packed.

"It never moved forward like everyone else. In the past year or so its gone down hill."

A spokesman for the Punch group, which owns the Falcon, said: "The Falcon has been earmarked for a major refurbishment with an investment spend of more than £100,000.

"Plans are being finalised, as are agreements with Mr Dawson regarding his taking over of the leasehold on the premises. At this stage we cannot confirm a time scale for the work.

"Punch Pub Company recognises this site as a prime location in the heart of the town's business community and leisure and entertainment sector and the investment work at the Falcon will reflect this. We are also considering a name change as part of the scheme."