Skip to main contentEnter
Purposeful journalism for people who care about our town
Ipswich.co.uk logoSupport our work
News

Traders plan more themed markets after festive success

Independent traders in The Walk and Buttermarket are planning more themed street markets next year after a festive vintage event drew significant footfall to the town centre.

People in shop
Shoppers browse vintage stalls at The Walk's festive street market in December
(Becky Eaks)

Why it matters: The success of the recent Very Merry Vintage Street Market has demonstrated an appetite for regular events that bring distinctive shopping experiences to the town centre.

The details: The themed event drew crowds to The Walk and Buttermarket, with 26 traders setting up stalls and The Ipswich Hospital Band playing Christmas carols throughout the day. Deputy mayor Pat Bruce-Browne visited the market.

Person shopping
Twenty-six traders set up stalls for the Very Merry Vintage Street Market(Becky Eaks)
Shop products on display
The themed market drew significant footfall to The Walk and Buttermarket shopping areas(Becky Eaks)

What they're saying: Event co-organiser Becky Eaks, co-owner of The Military Unit in The Walk, said traders are discussing new ideas and themes for more street markets next year.

She said: "The markets really help in getting visitors to venture back into town to rediscover existing shops and discover new ones that have opened. Ipswich independents are striving to reinvigorate the town and work alongside other organisations to encourage footfall to the town centre and ultimately new businesses."

The bottom line: The Christmas 2025 vintage market demonstrated the potential for regular street markets to bring visitors back to the town centre, with organisers now planning future events to build on this success.

It cost us ~£21 to cover this story

You can read it for free thanks to the generous support of Ipswich School and Ipswich Sports Club

Despite a lack of promotion, the big reveal drew a good crowd of passersby

We're regenerating Ipswich – but we can't do it without you!

People tell us every day that our work matters – that it's making Ipswich better; that it's needed. But our work costs money, and unlike the Ipswich Star, we're not funded by national advertisers or owned by corporate US overlords. For just £4.75 a month, you can help fund our mission to restore pride of place and accelerate the much-needed regeneration of the town we call home.
Become a member →

In other news...

News

Suffolk charity prepares 100 Christmas dinners for homeless

Staff and service users at Anglia Care Trust prepared 100 full Christmas dinners for rough sleepers and people in temporary accommodation across Ipswich, tripling the charity's original plan after receiving substantial donations.
by
Continue reading →
News

'Lost for words': Snap Fitness donates 200 toys to hospital

A Martlesham gym manager who spent years in Ipswich Hospital's paediatric ward as a child has delivered over 200 toys, ensuring every young patient receives their own gift on Christmas Day.
by
Continue reading →
News

Five months of Sproughton Road delays for Eastern Gateway

Drivers face five months of disruption on Sproughton Road from January 2026 as work begins on a new roundabout for the Eastern Gateway business park, Ipswich Borough Council has announced.
by
Continue reading →
News

Cyber security programme approves first local projects

A new cyber security programme has received more than 150 expressions of interest from local businesses – almost three times its target – as it approves its first eight projects.
by
Continue reading →
News

Free solar panels and heat pumps available for Suffolk homes

Low-income Suffolk residents living in poorly insulated homes could be eligible for free solar panels, heat pumps and insulation worth thousands of pounds – but must apply within the next three months.
by
Continue reading →
Opinion

Town move third with hard-fought win over struggling Owls

Goals from Kipré, Philogene and Clarke secured a 3-1 victory over winless Sheffield Wednesday, lifting Ipswich Town into third place with the Championship's second-best goal tally.
by
Continue reading →
Load more content
Our journalism is free thanks to
Our journalism is free thanks to
Want our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday?

Have you subscribed to our free weekly newsletter?

If you haven’t, you really should. You’ll get our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday afternoon, just in time for the weekend. You can unsubscribe at any time, although 99.7% of people don’t.

  • Lee Walker
  • Joe Bailey of Brighten the Corners
  • Mark Hubert
6,970+ people are already loving it