Ipswich Three Wise Monkeys director Nik Lucking, from Pasini Leisure, positive about Lloyds Avenue pedestrianisation plans

A pub boss has expressed his support for a scheme to pedestrianise a key commercial street in Ipswich town centre.

Nik Lucking, director at Pasini Leisure, which manages the Three Wise Monkeys, believes changes proposed for Lloyds Avenue could renew interest in what he sees as an overlooked part of town.

He described the area as it stands as ‘soulless’ with empty buildings and felt change was needed to generate more footfall for the town centre.

In July, Ipswich Borough Council’s executive agreed to £1.4 million in funding to add green spaces and expand footpaths and partially pedestrianise Lloyds Avenue, as well as Major’s Corner.

It forms part of a wider scheme to create a ‘green’ route between the street and Ipswich waterfront.

Proposed changes include a reduction in taxi rank muster points from 21 to 10, the removal of phone booths and the planting of trees.

Mr Lucking felt this would make Lloyds Avenue a nicer place to be and could help attract businesses and customers to the area.

He said: “When we first moved into Ipswich in 2018, we were confident we could make the business work, despite the unit being an absolute dump that had been vacant for years. There were many high profile businesses, including Debenhams and Pizza Express and the area was seeing a lot of customer traffic.

“However, once Covid started, all bets were off. In addition to many of the businesses closing, it brought with it a slew of financial challenges. However, we were also allowed increased seating, so we lobbied the council for changes asking whether they needed all that space for taxis.

“Our aim was to create a halfway house. We understood that taxis needed space, they’re also a business and are extremely important for the night-time economy, while also helping us. It was about striking a balance.

“Most of the investment in Ipswich now goes into the waterfront, so we’re positive and excited about the proposals, which we feel should give a focus back onto the town centre itself, not just the waterfront, and the amazing businesses that are still here.”

Mr Lucking hoped the scheme would be similar to plans to revamp St Nicholas Square in Colchester, where the Three Wise Monkeys’ other pub is located.

He said this had completely changed the dynamic of the city centre and hoped the same would happen in Ipswich.

He felt there was currently no reason to visit Lloyds Avenue from the Cornhill and said creating a nicer environment would allow Lloyds Avenue to flow into the wider town centre.

“We have no garden and no external seating and when you have summers like we have people naturally flock to places like Isaacs [On The Quay] as they can sit outside,” he said.

“We need to compete with those businesses and that’s our goal by supporting these plans.”

The Three Wise Monkeys has planning permission to change the front of the building and install a bifold, but Mr Lucking said following through with the plans was pointless without an outside seating area.

However, he also felt pedestrianising the road was a better use of space.

It would also allow the team to host events such as Christmas markets, he said.

The plans were also supported by Unex, which owns the former Debenhams, which felt it could help fill the large unit which has lain vacant since 2021.

Mr Lucking added: “We see it as an investment in the area over the next 10, 15 or 20 years. And we need a partnership with councils while improving the experience for people – we need to constantly evolve.

“I also sincerely hope it will help fill the remaining vacant units in Lloyds Avenue, including Debenhams. From our perspective, more businesses in the area gives people more reason to visit – it’s a win-win for all involved. If there’s no reason to come, no one stands a chance.

“Solving the challenges facing high streets up and down the country is a big dilemma for councils. And from what we’ve seen, people seem to be very positive about what’s been proposed.”

A public consultation into the Lloyds Avenue proposals runs until September 26.