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New pub trails encouraging people in town's venues

Alice Cunningham
BBC News, Suffolk
Alice Cunningham/BBC A general view of the outside of Three Wise Monkeys in Ipswich. Chairs and tables sit outside the pub which has large windows. Signage has been placed on the inside the window.Alice Cunningham/BBC
Three Wise Monkey is one of the pubs included on the dog-friendly pub trail

A new initiative hoped to get more people into pubs and bars by offering mapped trails.

Sip'Swich is a collaboration between Ipswich Borough Council and the town's Business Improvement District (BID) Ipswich Central.

The initiative officially launched on Thursday and people can follow two mapped trails taking them into different pubs around the town.

Lee Walker, chief executive of Ipswich Central, said the idea came out of wanting to "showcase the amazing pubs".

Alice Cunningham/BBC A view of the outside of the Shamrock. It sits on the corner of two streets. On the building there is a green clover leaf. Alice Cunningham/BBC
The Shamrock on Tacket Street has been included in the historic pub trail

"Covid feels a while ago now, but the one thing it taught us was that we are inherently social creatures.

"So, it's just a chance to get together and celebrate those places and spaces where that's most readily easily doable."

A dog-friendly pub trail and a historic pub trail are on offer, with the chance to collect stamps for each visit.

Once all the stamps on either one of the trails are collected, you are able claim a prize.

Mr Walker said the initiative was targeting people of all ages, as well as non-drinkers, encouraging them into venues they perhaps had not been into before and hopefully into local shops and spaces.

Ipswich Central Lee Walker smiles at the camera. He has short brown hair and a dark thick beard. He wears a blue suit with a white shirt underneath and a blue tie.Ipswich Central
Lee Walker said he believed the initiative would encourage people to also shop and enjoy the green spaces Ipswich has to offer

Chris Evans is the manager for the Three Wise Monkeys, which is included in the dog-friendly trail.

He believed with the organisation and premise of the idea it would not lead to any anti-social behaviour.

"It's a fairly relaxed kind of visiting and I think animals just generally bring a nice relaxing atmosphere anyway," he said.

"So there shouldn't be [any] issues whatsoever."

All About Ipswich A West Highland White Terrier is pictured in a pub wearing a bandana with the words, All About Ipswich written on it.All About Ipswich
Those who complete the dog-friendly trail will win a bandana for their pup

He said it would help showcase what the town had to offer while helping the venues attract new customers.

"The more often these sort of events can go on, I think the better really," he added.

While the chance to win prizes finished in April, Mr Walker said the trails would remain live online and if successful, more could be created.

He added they would measure its success by checking back in with venues and collecting the finished stamp cards as prizes were claimed.

LISTEN: New Ipswich pub trails highlight town's heritage

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