An Ipswich pub that has previously hosted big names such as Status Quo and Big Country is set to reopen after being sold to a London buyer.

The Railway Hotel, a former Cobbold pub in Foxhall Road, did not reopen after Covid rules were lifted in 2020 and has not served any punters since.

Former landlords Steve and Sue Preston made an announcement that the venue would be closing its doors in July 2020 and it was listed for sale early last year.

The freehold of the vacant property was being marketed by the East office of Fleurets, which said it received a "significant" amount of interest at a guide price of £345,000.

It has now been sold for an undisclosed amount to a buyer from the London area.

Ipswich Star: Francis Rossi (lead singer and guitarist) and John Edwards (bass) playing the Railway pub, one of the highlights of the pub before it closed it's doors in 2013Francis Rossi (lead singer and guitarist) and John Edwards (bass) playing the Railway pub, one of the highlights of the pub before it closed it's doors in 2013 (Image: Archant)

Fleurets said the new owner is planning to reopen The Railway Hotel, which made its name as one of the busiest live music venues in East Anglia.

The owner is proposing to incorporate a new restaurant and private function room into the pub, Fleurets added.

The estate agent had said back in March it had agreed a sale for the pub, with a new premises licence requested at about the same time.

Ipswich Star: The Railway Hotel in Foxhall Road, Ipswich in 1975 Picture: DAVID KINDREDThe Railway Hotel in Foxhall Road, Ipswich in 1975 Picture: DAVID KINDRED

According to planning documents, The Railway applied to supply alcohol on and off the premises from 10am to 12am Monday to Saturday, finishing an hour earlier on Sunday.

Simon Jackaman of Fleurets, who brokered the sale, said: "As a local person who used to frequent this pub during its heydays I was particularly pleased to be able to sell it to someone who intends on reopening the venue.

Ipswich Star: Fans of Status Quo got a rare treat to see their heroes perform at the Railway, in a venue that you wouldn't regularly see big name bands playingFans of Status Quo got a rare treat to see their heroes perform at the Railway, in a venue that you wouldn't regularly see big name bands playing (Image: Archant)

"There was a lot of interest from developers keen to change the use but it was important that I found a buyer with plans to use it for its current use and was delighted to have been able to do this for the owner’s.

"The new buyer will spend a bit of time updating and refurbishing the property but I very much believe that this will once again be a popular venue for people living on the eastern side of Ipswich and for the whole of the town."