Drinks trail participants given extra time to claim their free Wolsey’s gate-themed coffee cups

In response to popular demand, the organisers of the popular Sip’swich drinks trail have agreed to extend it until 31 May.

Lee Walker from Ipswich Central said: “The trail was planned to last until the end of April and we know hundreds and hundreds of people have been taking part. Demand for the prizes has grown steadily in recent weeks, however we’ve had feedback that many people haven’t had time to complete both trails and claim their limited edition eco-friendly reusable cups.

“So, in response, we are delighted to announce that we’ll keep it running for a bit longer. I’d like to thank all 15 bars for their support in making this possible.”

The extension to Sip’Swich has been welcomed by bar owners.  Ed Barnes from Hopsters on St Nicholas Street told us: “It’s been a great success at our end and I welcome the extension.”

Chris Evans from the Three Wise Monkeys was keen to emphasize the benefits Sip’Swich has brought to his business.  He said: “The launch of Ipswich’s Sip’Swich trail has been absolutely fantastic for us at Three Wise Monkeys Ipswich. Being dog friendly is something we are very passionate about and it has helped spread the word.  Daily visits of our four-legged friends has made us all very happy!

Chris continued: “We’ve also had hundreds (yes hundreds!) of guests taking part in the trail who either have never visited us before or weren’t aware we are in the town centre. I cannot recommend taking part in future trails enough.”

Sip’Swich was launched in March 2025 as a joint venture by Ipswich Central and Ipswich Borough Council to encourage more people to discover the wealth of pubs and bars to be found in Ipswich town centre.

4,000 trail cards have been distributed and organisers calculate that it has already brought tens of thousands of additional spend in the town.  Some bars have seen that up to half of the people doing the trail are new customers – and many of those have made further visits afterwards. There are two trails – one of dog friendly establishments and one gives a chance to learn more about historic Ipswich. There’s no charge for participants to take part beyond buying their drinks – and they don’t have to be beer – coffee, soft drinks, wine and cocktails all count for a stamp. This has seen many families opting to take part.

With sunny weather and extra time to complete the trail, it’s an ideal opportunity for those who hadn’t previously heard about Sip’Swich to pick up a card and start collecting stamps. There are three prizes to be earned – a limited-edition enamel pin badge featuring Wolsey’s gate, a top-quality reusable coffee cup in its own handy carrying bag and a dog bandana featuring images of some of our town’s most iconic buildings.

Full details and downloadable trail cards can be found on the All About Ipswich website at www.allaboutipswich.com/sipswich/