Tom Cann

Eighteen-year-old Abdel Nour, who moved from Sudan to Ipswich in 2024, achieved grade 8 in maths and grade 5 in English. He credits Suffolk New College with supporting his progress and plans to study a health T Level, followed by an access course and university, with the goal of becoming a neurosurgeon. Nour also describes embracing Ipswich life, including working at Ipswich Town’s stadium and becoming a supporter of the club.

Schools across Ipswich reported strong 2026 GCSE results, with particularly high proportions of grades 7–9 at Ipswich School, Royal Hospital School and other independent and academy schools. Individual pupils achieved multiple grade 9s, while Chantry Academy recorded its best results in four years and Suffolk New College reported 502 learners achieving grade 4 or above in maths and English. The results support students moving on to sixth form, college, training, further education or employment.

Chantry Academy in Ipswich has reported its strongest GCSE results in four years, with improvements across all key performance measures. The proportion of students achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths rose by nine percentage points, while the proportion achieving grade 4 or above increased by 15 points. Students including Miley, Quincy, Irina and Freddie achieved multiple top grades, and many Year 11 pupils are moving on to A levels, college courses or apprenticeships.

Papa John’s in Duke Street, Ipswich, operated by Maldon P J Ltd, has applied to Ipswich Borough Council to extend late-night refreshment hours from 3am to 5am every day. The application follows a food hygiene rating of two out of five, meaning improvement was needed. Residents and other interested parties can submit written representations by September 1.

FatFace plans to close its store at 17 Butter Market in Ipswich town centre, with September 5, 2026, announced as the final day of trading. The clothing and accessories retailer has operated at the location for many years and thanked customers in a closing notice.

The former Revolution nightclub in Ipswich remains closed and shows no visible signs of reopening six months after a licence for a potential new operator was approved. The venue, previously part of the town centre’s late-night economy, shut after Revolution Bars Group entered administration. The approved licence covers entertainment, alcohol sales, late-night refreshments and Sunday film screenings, but no new tenant or operator has yet begun work at the site.

Students across Ipswich celebrated strong A-level and vocational results. Kesgrave High School reported 29% of grades at A* or A and 73% at A* to C, while Ipswich School recorded 84% at A* to B or the BTEC equivalent. Ipswich High School said one in three grades was A* or A, with students progressing to universities including Cambridge, Bath, Edinburgh and Durham or to degree apprenticeships. St Joseph’s College reported a 23% rise in A* to A grades, Royal Hospital School recorded 84% of grades at A* to C, and Suffolk New College achieved a 95% pass rate across 668 level 3 learners.

Mother-and-daughter team Daljeet and Sant Ghai have opened a new Gazals studio in Upper Brook Street, Ipswich, expanding from Daljeet's established Buttermarket beauty business. The premises combine walk-in beauty services such as eyebrow treatments and waxing with consultation-led medical aesthetics, drawing on Sant's work as a pharmacist and qualified prescriber at Ipswich Hospital. The studio aims to provide clinical assessments, bespoke treatment plans and confidence-building support alongside traditional beauty services.

Jetts Fitness plans to open a 24-hour gym at Ipswich’s Rosehill Centre in the 7,536-square-foot unit formerly occupied by Energie Fitness, which closed in December 2023. The new club will offer weight-training and cardio equipment, functional training areas, group classes, personal training, changing facilities, showers, air conditioning and free parking. Jetts is accepting registrations and offering discounted founder memberships. Its arrival will fill the final vacant unit in the retail area, alongside businesses including Greggs, Aldi, Mydentist, British Heart Foundation and Bargain Buys.

Ipswich Town supporter Callum Sparkes plans to run from Portman Road to all 19 of the club’s Premier League away fixtures, covering at least 2,983 miles and roughly 30 miles a day. He will raise £19,000 for the Ipswich Town Foundation, with funds supporting children’s activities and efforts to combat loneliness among older people. The challenge begins with a seven-day run to Manchester United and will require careful planning for accommodation, transport and demanding fixture sequences such as Sunderland followed by Newcastle.

Tom Cann reviews the newly opened Harmonious Cafe inside Ipswich’s Curve Bar, created through a partnership between Harmonious Society, Good Supper and Curve Bar owner Brad Tai. He praises the well-seasoned sausage and egg bap, excellent black americano and friendly service, but considers the £10 breakfast somewhat expensive. The cafe uses locally prepared food, and the reviewer says he plans to return.

Family and friends gathered on Burrell Road in Ipswich to mark two years since Courtney Mitchell, a 26-year-old mother of three, was fatally stabbed. The memorial included speeches, candles, tributes and fundraising for Lighthouse Women's Aid. Mitchell's mother Samantha described her grief and vowed to seek justice, while her sister Charleigh said the family had created “Courtney's Law” to address failures in systems intended to protect women and girls. Logan Burnett was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years.

Discovery Bay Properties Ltd has applied to Ipswich Borough Council to convert 108 London Road, formerly temporary accommodation for homeless families, into a 10-bedroom house in multiple occupation for up to 20 people. The proposal includes replacement doors and windows, rear-roof solar panels, retention of two parking spaces and secure cycle storage for 20 bicycles, with no changes to highway access. The council will consider the application in due course.

A comparison of medium black Americanos from seven independent or local coffee shops in Ipswich finds significant differences in price, serving size, flavour, service and atmosphere. Jamaica Blue was the most expensive at £4.30 and was judged poor value, while The Mix stood out for affordability. Crema, Applaud, Harvest Moon, Honey + Harvey and Harmonious Cafe each received praise for particular flavour or service qualities, with Harmonious Cafe selected as the reporter's personal favourite.

Ipswich Vapes is preparing to celebrate its tenth anniversary in Suffolk. Owner Alex Sheehan says the business was founded to help smokers quit and has expanded its focus to moving customers away from disposable vapes. The shop emphasizes ethical product selection, customer support and community, offering refreshments, discounts to NHS and emergency-service workers, and staff benefits. A larger free giveaway will mark the anniversary and thank long-standing customers.

Former Ipswich councillor John Cook has called for Arvydas Maliusis, a Lithuanian national convicted of murdering Ilja Akatjevas near Ipswich Waterfront on Christmas Eve, to be deported when released or transferred to serve his sentence in Lithuania. Maliusis received a life sentence at Ipswich Crown Court, with a minimum term of 18 years reduced to 17 years and 142 days for time already spent on remand. Suffolk Police said the conviction was secured through witness testimony, CCTV and forensic evidence after Maliusis gave investigators a misleading account.

Heathlands Community Preschool in Ipswich received a strong outcome across all areas in its latest Ofsted inspection. Inspectors praised the preschool’s nurturing and inclusive environment, ambitious leadership, high-quality learning, exemplary child behaviour and strong partnerships with parents and the wider community. Setting manager Brittany Westmore described the result as a collective achievement and said it would motivate the preschool to continue improving its early-years provision.

Reporter Tom Cann reviews the new Crema Coffee shop in Ipswich town centre, opened by Essex-based Crema Coffee in a former Monsoon unit on Westgate Street. He praises the welcoming service, broad range of drinks, pastries, sandwiches and breakfast options, reasonable prices, fresh breakfast muffin and good-quality Americano. The cafe’s clean, calm interior, ample seating, workspaces and power outlets are also highlighted, leading to the conclusion that it is a strong addition to the town centre and likely to become popular.

The Oyster Reach Beefeater in Bourne Hill, Ipswich, will close after service on September 10. Parent company Whitbread is closing all remaining Beefeater restaurants as part of a restructuring aimed at exiting the branded restaurant market and concentrating on expanding its Premier Inn hotel business. The nearby Swallow Brewers Fayre is also scheduled to close, on September 7.