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New Iraqi and Kurdish restaurant to open in Ipswich's Tacket Street

News
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A new restaurant offering Iraqi and Kurdish cuisine will open "in the next couple of weeks" in Ipswich town centre.

Why it matters: Baghdad, located on Tacket Street in Ipswich's town centre, will bring traditional Middle Eastern flavours to Ipswich, offering local diners the chance to experience cuisines with ancient roots dating back to the fertile crescent.

The big picture: Iraqi cuisine reached its peak during the Islamic Golden Age when Baghdad was the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258 AD), while Kurdish culinary traditions share cultural similarities with neighbouring regions, including Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, and Armenia.

Baghdad, a Kurdish and Iraqi restaurant in Ipswich
Baghdad will open its doors to diners in the next two weeksOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk

What to expect: While specific menu details have not yet been confirmed, here's what you could expect:

  • Both cuisines are known for extensive use of fresh herbs and spices

  • Iraqi cuisine varies by region, with pomegranate-flavoured dolma in the north and fish dishes common in the south

  • Popular Kurdish dishes include biryani, white rice dishes (with meat or vegetables), and various salads and pastries

  • Traditional beverages include sweetened black tea and strong coffee

Location: The restaurant will occupy the former Salt 'n' Pepper cafƩ premises on Tacket Street, which closed in November 2023.

The bottom line: The restaurant is in the final stages of the fitting-out process. When it opens its doors in the next couple of weeks, Baghdad will become the town's first Iraqi and Kurdish restaurant.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

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One man's mission to preserve Ipswich's transport heritage

Feature
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As our transport landscape continues its rapid evolution, one local enthusiast has embarked on a remarkable journey to preserve a piece of Ipswich's recent history.

Bus preservation in Britain has come a long way since 1956, when four pioneering enthusiasts purchased their first historic London bus for a mere Ā£40. Today, more than 5,000 preserved buses grace our nation's roads, each telling its own story of public transport's evolution.

This story begins with fleet number 147, an Optare Versa bus that once ferried countless passengers between London Road and Martlesham park and ride sites.

Now, this former Ipswich Buses workhorse has found a new home, rescued from potential obscurity for Ā£4,000, by Jake Gooding, a local bus enthusiast and now proud preservationist.

I have to say, Ā£4,000 for a fully-operational bus feels like an absolute bargain when compared to the cost of a half-decent SUV nowadays.

After becoming sidetracked (a common occurance for me) and going down a potentially divorce-inducing rabbit hole, exploring the idea of a "News Bus" in Ipswich, I got back to the task in hand.

"Indeed, prices of single deck buses are usually around the Ā£2,500 range for a second hand one, and double deckers are usually around Ā£4,000-Ā£5,000, Jake informed me.

"The reason why ours was a little expensive is because it has a range of mod cons like air-conditioning, next stop announcementsĀ capabilitiesĀ etc."

Optare Versa fleet number 147
Optare Versa fleet number 147Jake Gooding

Jake's vision includes restoring the vehicle to its former Ipswich Buses glory, complete with period livery. It's a labour of love that will demand dedication and expense, with annual running costs of around Ā£500 and regular maintenance to keep the bus roadworthy.

The Optare Versa itself has an interesting technical history. Originally fitted with a MAN engine, it later received a Cummins power unit during its service life with Ipswich Buses. These engineering changes reflect the practical realities of keeping a hardworking public service vehicle on the road.

If all goes according to plan, this piece of Ipswich's transport heritage will make its preserved debut at The Big Bus Show at Stonham Barns in August 2025. There, it will stand (park?) proud as a testament to our town's transport heritage and the dedication of those who work to preserve it.

Jake Gooding
Jake GoodingJake Gooding

Some might question why anyone would want to preserve such a relatively modern vehicle. Yet in an era of rapid technological change, where tomorrow's buses might be unrecognisable from today's, preserving examples of recent transport history becomes increasingly important.

Fleet number 147's story didn't end when it left Ipswich Buses' service in November 2020. Instead, it's beginning a new chapter ā€“ one that will help ensure that future generations can appreciate how their parents and grandparents travelled around our town.

You can follow the project via its dedicated Facebook page.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

We can't do this without you!

If you value strong, free, independent local media that fights tirelessly for our town, please consider contributing just Ā£24 per year

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