Hopsters heading to Waterfront with late-night bar plans

Why it matters: The new venue, Hopsters Dockside, will bring a dedicated home for craft beer, live music, DJs and festivals to the University of Suffolk's James Hehir Building, with the licence application also covering outdoor music until 21:00 every day.

The details: The St Nicholas Street shop will close on Saturday, 2 January 2027, with Hopsters Dockside opening on Friday, 22 January 2027.

• The new venue will be in the former Cult Cafe Bar, which was based in the James Hehir Building.
• Ed Barnes, the entrepreneur and DJ behind Hopsters, said the business was moving into its "first fully fitted purpose-built bar" in Ipswich.
• Dough Pusher Pizza, which currently operates at the Bury St Edmunds branch of Hopsters, will serve food at the new venue.
• Plans also include tap takeovers.

Hopsters Craft Beer Limited has applied for a new premises licence for the James Hehir Building on University Avenue. It seeks permission for:

• Supply of alcohol on and off the premises, 11:00-01:00 daily
• Recorded music indoors and outdoors, 11:00-01:00 daily, with outdoor recorded music finishing at 21:00
• Live music indoors and outdoors, 11:00-23:00 daily, with outdoor live music finishing at 21:00
• Showing films indoors, 11:00-00:00 daily
• Late-night refreshment, 23:00-01:00 daily

What they're saying: Announcing the move on Instagram, Mr Barnes said: "We've decided to take the plunge, something we've been wanting to do for a long time."

He added: "So much we want to do with this place."

Hopsters added: "This is the biggest project we've ever embarked on."

The bigger picture: The announcement comes shortly after Mediterranean restaurant Riviera D'Amour soft-launched at the Tented Building on Eagle Wharf, Helena Road, on Wednesday, 28 October 2026.

Its general manager, Ron, said he hoped more businesses like it would open towards the other end of the marina. "In an ideal world, we'll have a couple of more businesses like this," he said.

Riviera D'Amour opens its doors on Ipswich Waterfront

Ipswich Town's Sindre Walle Egeli was among the first guests at a new Mediterranean restaurant on the Ipswich Waterfront, which was busier than expected on its opening night.

Ipswich.co.ukNicola Sebastian

The bottom line: After nine years on St Nicholas Street, Hopsters is heading to the Waterfront with plans for a late-night bar, music and events venue, in what it calls its biggest project yet.

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