Ipswich Town Hall customer service centre will be rented out to bar and restaurant company

The customer service centre in Ipswich’s town hall will be taken over by a bar and restaurant operator, after Ipswich Borough Council’s executive agreed to start a 15-year lease with the company.

The decision will see the business, which has not been made public by the council, join The Botanist and Sharman Restaurant Group as companies opening near The Cornhill.

Labour councillor David Ellesmere, leader of the council, said: “This will help the council meet its savings targets.

“Whereas the town hall and Corn Exchange were once empty for large parts of the day, we can now see they are going to be bustling with life, bringing people into the town and helping the local economy.”

The leasing of the customer service centre was part of a set of measures to offset inflation agreed by Ipswich Borough Council in July.

The council plans to find another town centre location for face-to-face customer service provision, allowing services to continue throughout the transition period and afterwards.

Phone provision is expected to move to Grafton House, where it has been located before.

Conservative councillor and executive member Ian Fisher said: “The Conservative group has urged the Labour administration at Ipswich Borough Council to make more use of its assets for some time.

“So, it is really good to see them taking up our ideas and renting out space in the town hall. It is good to see another business wanting to be in Ipswich.

“The disappointing aspect is that the council has once again decided to keep the details of the deal secret, despite the town hall being a publicly-owned building.

“The council tax payers of Ipswich will be paying towards fitting out a business for a private company to make a profit and will get very little in return.

“If public money is being used to fund these deals then the details should be publicly available.

“I have seen the details of the deal and Ipswich Borough Council will not see a financial return on this deal for many years, if ever.”

The council plans to make a financial contribution towards fitting out the site of the new venue, but expects business rates of approximately £40,000 a year to be generated.

The officers’ report states the company taking over the site has more than 40 venues in total, including some in East Anglia.

The decision was made at a meeting of Ipswich Borough Council’s executive on Tuesday, and the new venue is expected to open next year.

The area around The Cornhill, next to the town hall, has become an increasingly attractive location for food, drink and leisure venues.

The Botanist recently opened opposite The Cornhill and Sharman Restaurant Group expects to open a restaurant at the Corn Exchange, next to the town hall, next year.

Planning permission has been given for a wedding venue in the town hall.