One of the best-known pubs in Ipswich is expected to finally be demolished during the first part of 2018 to become a temporary car park.

The Drum and Monkey opened in Princes Street in the early 1960s, initially it was called The Sporting Farmer, as part of the development of the Portman Road cattle market.

It was best known as a football fans’ pub – used by supporters heading to Portman Road.

The building is owned by the borough council, and it closed its doors for the last time in the summer of 2016. Eventually its site is expected to be redeveloped for offices as Princes Street develops – but in the immediate future it is set to become an extension to existing car parks.

A planning application has to be agreed – but that is not expected to be a major hurdle – and the building is expected to finally come down before the middle of 2018 with new parking spaces created soon afterwards.