Why it matters: Great Colman Kitchen, more commonly known by its former name of Bar A-Z, which was forced to convert to a restaurant following complaints and police concerns, has been listed for sale at £130,000.
The big picture: The Great Colman Street premises has substantial licensed capacity for 485 people and comes with an existing lease until 2032. The property is fully fitted and not tied to any brewery, giving potential buyers operational flexibility.
For context: Bar A-Z faced a licensing review in February 2025 after Suffolk Police raised concerns about breaches of licensing conditions. The venue converted to a restaurant, reduced its opening hours and had its licence altered to only serve alcohol to customers purchasing food.
The details: Police had identified multiple incidents between January and August 2024, including failure to prevent crime and disorder, public nuisance issues, and inadequate protection of children from harm. The force's licensing officer outlined several fights at the premises, including one involving 12 people.
Additional problems included noise complaints when doors and windows remained open during live music or DJ performances, and staffing breaches with only one door supervisor instead of the required two.
What happened next: Following the licensing review, owner Hasan Demaj agreed to convert the bar into an Italian restaurant. The venue lost permissions for film exhibitions, live music performances, and late-night refreshments.
Public Health Suffolk had supported the police recommendation, noting that alcohol-related accident and emergency attendance rates in this part of town were higher than Suffolk's average and more than double Ipswich's overall rate.
The bottom line: The sale represents an opportunity for experienced hospitality operators to reestablish the venue, though any future operator would need to work within the current licensing restrictions or apply for variations.
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