Buttermarket reopens after glass panel closure

Why it matters: Shoppers, tenants and staff can return to the centre on St Stephens Lane after more than a week of disruption, with most shops trading as normal from tomorrow.

The details: In a statement on Facebook, the centre said: "We are pleased to confirm that the centre will reopen from 15:00 today, Friday 2nd October."

Not every tenant is back today:

• New Look, Grape Tree and TK Maxx are trading this afternoon, with some of these shops open until 17:30
• Omniplex will open from 18:00 this evening
• Boom Battle Bar, Prezzo and Superbowl will open as normal from tomorrow, Saturday, 3 October
• The remaining tenants will also reopen as normal from tomorrow

What they're saying: The centre added: "We would like to thank our tenants, customers, staff and visitors for their patience and understanding during the temporary closure. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the centre."

What's next: The reopened centre will host the Small Business and Makers Market in the old Boots this Saturday, 3 October from 10:00 to 16:00. Hosted by Mr Nine Lives and the Buttermarket Ipswich, it will feature stalls selling alternative and handmade goods, jewellery, Pokémon, crochet, prints, gifts and art.

For context: The centre closed after a tempered glass panel failed in the north mall, saying it would reopen once safety measures were in place. As of Wednesday, 23 September, the car park, car wash, Wagamama, TK Maxx (via the Queen Street entrance), Twist 'n' Shout and Watts Cafe remained accessible.

The centre had previously shut on Friday, 28 August, after a burst water main, with parts of the electrical system switched off while contractors carried out safety checks. It reopened on Thursday, 3 September.

The bottom line: After two closures in under a month, the Buttermarket is open again, with all tenants due back to normal from tomorrow.

Don't forget: If you enjoy our content, please add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google so you can easily find more of the content you value.

This article cost us ~£14 to produce

It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them.