Historic Grimwades building reopens as new café in heart of Ipswich

The former Grimwades building on the Cornhill in Ipswich has officially opened to the public today as a new café and restaurant (Friday 4 July 2025).

Formally opened this morning, this is the 23^rd café to open under the Jamaica Blue franchise, bringing premium coffee and delicious food to the heart of the town centre.

The building has stood empty for over a decade before it was acquired by Ipswich Borough Council. The acquisition was made possible due to investment from The Towns Fund Regeneration programme and Ipswich Borough Council.

Since then, the building has undergone extensive refurbishment, with restoration works  carried out by local specialists Bellcorp Ltd, who worked carefully to preserve and enhance the historic character of the property.

The Council is also in the process of securing a new tenant for the second unit, with further updates expected soon.

Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said:

“We are thrilled to see the former Grimwades building open once again on the Cornhill. Having stood empty for so long, we were determined to bring this historic building back into use. From the purchase of the vacant building, it’s taken just 12 weeks to transform into a vibrant and exciting, new destination right in the heart of Ipswich.

“It’s a prominent part of our town centre, and we felt it was vital to look after its heritage while making sure it still has a place in the community today. One of the key priorities in our strategy for Ipswich is to ensure the town centre remains vibrant, welcoming, and well-used – a place where people want to visit, spend time, and feel proud of.

“We’d like to thank Jamaica Blue for working with us to get the café restaurant opened. We hope that this success story will inspire more vacant units to be brought back into use, helping to create a busier, more vibrant town centre for everyone to enjoy.”

Commenting on the new Ipswich Cafe, Mike Johnson, Franchise Development Executive at Foodco UK said: “Bringing Jamaica Blue to Ipswich is an exciting step for us.

“Ipswich is a dynamic town with a strong sense of community, making it a great fit for our café experience. With Bilal Haidar at the helm and a dedicated team in place, we’re looking forward to becoming part of the daily routine for locals and visitors alike.”

Find out more about Jamaica Blue at: www.jamaicablue.co.uk