Lisa White has been starting businesses since she was 15 years old, but her latest venture might be her most ambitious yet. The Crafty Fox, which opened in December 2024, has quickly established itself as one of the most beautiful, creative, and exciting new eateries in Ipswich.
By day, it's a thriving café that serves a French-fusion menu. By night, it offers a casual dining and bar experience with the ambience of a speakeasy. For Lisa, who has been an Ipswich resident for over 25 years while raising her four daughters, the initial motivation was simple: to bring something new to the town she loves.
"I saw the potential of the town and was driven by a deep passion to serve the local community," she explains.
Transforming a forgotten space
The Crafty Fox sits in The Walk, a visually striking set of buildings featuring mock-Tudor architecture and a covered walkway. They've opened in the building that used to house The Orangery, which had previously sat empty for a whopping 14 years.
Lisa's decision to take on such a challenging location reflects her commitment to Ipswich's town centre and her belief that it deserved something special.
European fusion with a twist
Noticing a lack of French food in the area, Lisa decided to bring something different to the table, creating a menu inspired by European cuisine with her own unique twist. The foundation for the menu is a trilogy of modern classics: tartines, baguettes, and crousti patates (crispy potatoes).
Their hugely popular tartines – a kind of open sandwich on sourdough toast – have quickly become a firm favourite amongst customers. Popular options include mushroom and tarragon, as well as brie and honey with toasted walnuts.
Lisa is particularly proud of her crispy potatoes. "Nobody does them. I just saw everyone was doing chips, and I thought I'm going to do something different." Described as being like mini-roast potatoes, they're crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. They can also be served 'loaded' with a whole heap of delicious toppings, such as brie and bacon, or cheesy truffle mushroom.
The menu also features seasonal dishes from around the world, with Korean and American dishes currently available. Food is cooked from scratch where possible, and ingredients are "well chosen to be the best we can find." Takeaway food and drink are also available.
Atmosphere and ambience
At the core of their offering is a casual dining experience that focuses on great service, quality food, and a fabulous atmosphere. The Crafty Fox is a place you'll equally enjoy popping into for a posh lunch or a night out, accompanied by a glass of wine or a proper cup of coffee.
Finding a decent coffee in the evening had been surprisingly difficult in Ipswich until Lisa and her team stepped up to the plate. Many customers have told her they've walked across town, visiting several venues, trying to get a good coffee after 6 pm without any luck.
All that jazz
A lifelong music maker and fan, Lisa ran songwriter nights and worked with a music magazine while still a teenager. Having always loved music, it's no surprise that this is now a huge part of The Crafty Fox. Inside the café/bar, they have both a resident piano and a guitar available for public use, though she requests that those who wish to use the instruments do so with the overall atmosphere in mind.
Not long after opening, they launched a free monthly jazz night. "People are loving it and the bookings are flying in," Lisa notes. Table bookings are strongly encouraged if you wish to have a seat, as these are fast becoming a highlight of the Ipswich cultural calendar. So much so that Lisa is already considering whether to add additional jazz nights to the bustling programme.
Aligning with her goals to provide unique experiences, they also welcome DJs to The Crafty Fox. But this isn't the usual commercial dance music you may encounter elsewhere. As with everything they do here, the music is something you wouldn't find anywhere else in town. The DJs play Cuban Latino music on vinyl, and they were the booked entertainment for the opening night.
"We had a couple of 19-year-olds come in that first night, and they loved it. There are bongos there and everyone gets involved. It's just like a party, it's fun. But everyone behaves themselves, I think, because it's a café during the day, and they very much know that it's a different vibe to anything else I've seen in town."
The bottom line
The Crafty Fox is a vibrant and unique addition to Ipswich town centre. Its focus on French-inspired food with a twist, combined with a strong emphasis on music, creativity, and a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere, positions it as a distinct offering in the local hospitality scene.
With local artists exhibited on every wall, it's clear that Lisa and her team are deeply community-minded. They've clearly put a great amount of hard work and thought into what they're doing, and you can't help but feel it every time you walk through the doors. All of this, and they've been open for barely six months.
Visit The Crafty Fox on The Walk in Ipswich or check out their social media for updates on jazz nights and upcoming events.
