Shoppers fill the Cornhill area of Ipswich town centre preparing for Christmas.
Ipswich: Shop local in town this Christmas
By Lauren Everitt
Saturday, December 1, 2012
1:30 PM
FROM the vibrant Waterfront to the town centre, Ipswich has something for everyone this Christmas.
Paul Clement, chief executive of Ipswich Central, has today backed the East Anglian Daily Times’ Shop Local this Christmas campaign to encourage people to support the town’s businesses.
He said: “The Christmas period is very important for retailers.
“The four or five weeks leading up to Christmas is when many of them make the money that enables them to continue throughout the year.
“It is very important for them that they are supported. So far as Ipswich is concerned, there is much on offer in the town and I am confident this year will be better than last.
“There are more businesses and the town centre looks better than last year.”
Last weekend’s Christmas lights switch-on drew in crowds of more than 5,000 people which Mr Clement was delighted about. He added: “The debate about the tree and the Christmas decorations is also encouraging a lot of people from a wide area to come to Ipswich to see what all the fuss is about.”
Ipswich has plenty to offer throughout December, starting with a festive market in the newly-named Blackfriars area of the town. Traders in Fore Street, Orwell Place, Upper Orwell Street and Eagle Street have teamed up to put on the Christmas market next Sunday from 10am-4pm, featuring a mix of traditional Christmas wares including decorations, festive food, preserves, clothing and handmade jewellery.
Late-night shopping continues every Thursday until Christmas while the Ipswich market is increasing its trading hours to run every day between December 21 and January 1, excluding Christmas Day.
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6 comments
Ipswich Central is a joke with its Chief Executive as principle comedian. The town is a wash with charity shops, betting shops, coffee shops and the worst of all... the endless £1 shops. The streets are littered with chavs and yobs who would rather stand in groups swearing, smoking and drinking comparing bull terriers then do any serious shopping. Combined with parking prices at a sky high rate and a road system being destroyed by the County Council's "Ipswich Transport" scheme... Online or Colchester seem a much better option for all concerned.
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Fat Lady Sings
Monday, December 3, 2012
Will definately get my wrapping paper and gift tags from the wide range of pound & 99p shops in Ipswich.. Bury St Edmunds is my choice, and like other comments, sort the town centre car parking charges out, or keep losing trade to other towns and Edge of town stores.
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england1770
Sunday, December 2, 2012
i would shop local if the car parking prices were cheaper come on ipswich sort it out or lose your local people to other towns citys
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g j m
Saturday, December 1, 2012
"East Anglian Daily Times’ Shop Local this Christmas campaign": Ok then, I am off to Colchester this Monday (I live in Ipswich) to benefit from the £2.50 for 4 hour or £3.50 all day car park charges in Town Centre car parks. I will pay for the petrol costs by saving on car parking and also enjoy shopping in a town which is not littered with yobs.
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Johnthebap
Saturday, December 1, 2012
If parking prices were cheaper Ipswich may be more attractive, having today paid a ridiculous amount for 3 hours parking in the centre of Ipswich I'm in no hurry to return and I bet I'm not the only one. Well done Ipswich carpark operators for driving customers away!
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MZH
Saturday, December 1, 2012
If you can find a parking space, after having the patience of a saint sitting in traffic...no parking spaces in Buttermarket and only a couple left in Spiral yesterday...before 12pm! Just hope it's not going to be the same throughout December or I'll just be off to Norwich I'm afraid!
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BobCat1990
Saturday, December 1, 2012