Status Quo took the stage at the Railway pub in Ipswich for their surprising 1999 tour.

East Anglian Daily Times: Francis Rossi, the lead singer for Status Quo playing at the Railway pub in 1999Francis Rossi, the lead singer for Status Quo playing at the Railway pub in 1999 (Image: Archant)

Founded by Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster, the band picked the music venue on Foxhall Road through a newspaper competition aimed at pubs.

East Anglian Daily Times: Fans gather where they can to catch a sight of Status Quo playing at the Railway pubFans gather where they can to catch a sight of Status Quo playing at the Railway pub (Image: Archant)

Over 10,000 pubs entered the Sun's competition to be part of Status Quo's Pub Tour - with The Railway along with Bristol, Cannock, Glasgow and Manchester publicans having the honour.

East Anglian Daily Times: The crammed stage at the Railway pub.The crammed stage at the Railway pub. (Image: Archant)

Status Quo band members Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Andy Bown, Jeff Rich, and John ‘Rhino’ Edwards played new songs from their 1999 Under the Influence album including the single The Way it Goes.

East Anglian Daily Times: Not quite the big stages that Status Quo might be used to performing onNot quite the big stages that Status Quo might be used to performing on (Image: Archant)

One of the busiest music venues in the town, the Railway pub also hosted the Stranglers, Bad Manners, Magnum and Big Country before it closed in 2020.

East Anglian Daily Times: 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)

The pub has been up for sale for £360,000 on Rightmove since March but has not been able to find a buyer.

East Anglian Daily Times: Francis Rossi (Left) and Rick Parfitt (Right) behind the bar at the Railway pub in 1999Francis Rossi (Left) and Rick Parfitt (Right) behind the bar at the Railway pub in 1999 (Image: Archant)

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East Anglian Daily Times: 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)