Decision details

Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) are planning a high profile “Welcome Back Weekend” that will attract visitors to the town over the weekend of 11th to 13th March 2022.

The ambition of the Weekend is to:

- Increase footfall / visitor numbers in Ipswich Town Centre; and

- Increase the ‘dwell-time’ for people visiting the Town Centre.

The weekend will involve a range of activities including:

A Market Place at Ancient House

A collaboration of three sole traders will organise and run a Market place in Ancient House on the Welcome Back Weekend. The event will invite traders and craftspeople to take up a pop-up retail unit and will be a temporary mini department store for the weekend. This will give shoppers a unique experience and create awareness of independent brands and goods available by independent market retailers in Ipswich.

The Council’s Property team have been involved in discussions.

The details of the performances are:

Ancient House will be open from:

Saturday 12th March from 10am – 4pm

Sunday 13th March from 10am – 4pm

The project is 100% funded by external sources (i.e. the Welcome Back EDRF Fund administered via the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) and as well as complying with the Council’s contract standing orders, the relevant ERDF rules have been followed in reaching this decision.

To fund a ‘maker place’ market at the Ancient House on 12th and 13th March that will be organised by a group of three sole traders – via a £2,499 contribution to Miranda Acres (who trades as ‘2408’).

Reason:

To attract people back to the town centre.