An excited queue of Ed Sheeran fans lined the pavement outside the Steamboat Tavern yesterday as the singer-songwriter played a special, intimate gig for just 100 fans.

It was part of a one day tour which took in Ipswich, London and Dublin, with tickets for all three selling out in minutes.

And the location of the 30 minute acoustic show was a closely guarded secret only revealed to those on the guest list at 4pm on Sunday.

Some had travelled to the town the night before and queued since 6.30am, while others turned up just half an hour before the doors opened knowing their place inside was guaranteed.

The three venues for the gigs, first announced on Sheeran’s Facebook page last Wednesday, were kept deliberately vague at first with the Ipswich show advertised only as being in East Anglia.

On May 1 there was confirmation the first show would be in Ipswich with fans needing to follow a link from the Facebook page to claim their ticket.

The London and Dublin events were both priced at £10 or less and went on sale the following day.

Speaking just before the doors were opened Sheeran spoke about the gig’s secret nature.

“I didn’t know how many people would find out about it. Everyone kept the location very quiet. It’s a very chilled out atmosphere.”

The line of fans were due to be let in at around 10am. But after arriving just 15 minutes beforehand Sheeran came out to meet them.

He walked the length of the queue posing for photos and signing autographs.

After around 20 minutes outside he disappeared back into the pub for press interviews before the ticket holders were shown inside.

Natalie Stead from Newmarket said she’d woken up much earlier than she had to because of the anticipation at seeing the superstar.

“I probably didn’t have to get up ‘till quarter to eight, but I got up at six,” she said. “I’m a little bit excited.”

The 27-year-old added she was able to get tickets was down to luck and good timing.

She said: “I’d been keeping an eye out on Twitter and fortunately happened to click on Facebook within the minute that he posted them and managed to get a ticket.

“I knew the venue yesterday and I knew I was confirmed as coming within a few minutes of applying for the tickets.

“When I thought small venue I thought something like the Corn Exchange. I had no idea it was this small.

“I’ve only seen him once before, it was in the O2 and I queued for seven hours.

“I don’t care if it’s two songs, I’m just so lucky to be here.”

Sheeran’s final gig at Vicar Street in Dublin will be streamed live on his website.

Click here to see what Ed had to say about the Steamboat gig and here to read about his fans’ reactions.