On the up: venues report boom in trade as Town win

Fans pack into venues in Ipswich - before and after the Championship game.

A blackboard on a red brick wall on the entrance to a pub. It has the pub's name, The Greyhound, painted on the top in white paint. Written in white chalk it then reads: Sunday 5th October 2025, Ipswich Town v Norwich, 3-1. There is a painting of a Town player celebrating as he holds a canary bird cage in it to represent Norwich City.
Ipswich Town beat Norwich City 3-1 in the East Anglian derby [Dan Lightfoot/The Greyhound]

A bar owner revealed his venue was close to selling out of beer after Ipswich Town beat Norwich City in the East Anglian derby.

Nearly 30,000 fans packed into Portman Road for The Tractor Boys' 3-1 win over their bitter rivals with venues in the town reporting strong trade before and after the Championship battle.

It was the first time in 16 years that Town, who were relegated to the Championship last season, had beaten The Canaries.

Bradley Tai, owner of Curve on Princes Street, said they had seen pints being pulled at a similar level to the day when Ipswich were promoted to the Premiership.

Fans stand outside a town centre pub during a football match day. They stand talking to each other many with drinks in hand.
Curve bar close to Portman Road was packed with fans inside and out [Bradley Tai/Curve]

"The overarching feeling was happiness, jubilance and the atmosphere was euphoric," he explained.

"We tripled our usual football match day stock order and even that was close to selling out.

"Four o'clock hit and I was getting a bit nervous because I was looking in the cellar thinking, the kegs are leaving the building quickly now. Hopefully we won't run out, and we didn't."

Mr Tai said fans had been "more upbeat" this season with the better prospect of winning games and due to there being more home matches they had been busier.

'Emotional'

Steven Wells stands in the entrance of his pub. He has short dark hair and wears a navy suit jacket with a navy shirt and grey trousers. Orange, white and green balloons are arranged around the entrance of the pub above and around him.
Steven Wells, owner of the Shamrock pub, said it was an emotional day [Steven Wells/Shamrock]

Steven Wells, owner of the Shamrock on Tacket Street said he opened his pub slightly earlier than usual at 10:30 BST so fans could get in before the 12:00 kick off.

"When the first goal went in, the pub was celebrating with lots of cheering and clapping," he explained.

"Then four minutes later when the equaliser went in it was like, 'Oh no, history is going to repeat itself, yet again'.

"In the end of course it was a cracking victory, great atmosphere which grew and grew."

Mr Wells said it had been one of the better trade days this year, with "consistent" business throughout.

"It was emotional... to stand back and watch it all, it was so good to see so many people from different places and backgrounds just having fun, it was wonderful," he added.

'Queuing out the door'

A view of a pub beer garden filled with football fans. Many fans have drinks in their hands or on tables they sit at.
The Greyhound beer garden was packed with fans on Sunday [Dan Lightfoot/The Greyhound]

Dan Lightfoot, landlord of The Greyhound on Henley Road, said it was a very good day for business.

"It was an amazing day for us," he said.

"It was really busy before the game for the breakfast baps - they were queuing out the door.

"There was a great atmosphere, everyone was very positive.

"There were a few nervous fans, but we said 'just sit back, relax and watch us win', and that's what we did which was amazing."

Mr Lightfoot said he expected the atmosphere to spill into the week, with fans likely to be back in the pub later talking about the game.

'Great reminder'

Lee Walker who has dark brown hair and dark brown beard smiling at camera. He is standing outside against a blurred background of white cruiser boats on the right and office/flat buildings on the left
Lee Walker said he had seen the positive impact the win had seen already on the town [Zoie O'Brien/BBC]

Lee Walker, chief executive of Ipswich Central, the town's Business Improvement District (BID), said the result was "a great reminder of what moments like this can do for a place like Ipswich".

"You wait 16 years for a derby win and when it comes, the whole town feels it," he said.

"I saw the impact myself – people coming together, sharing that pride and excitement, and businesses really benefiting from the extra buzz."

An Ipswich Town fan with the club's blue and white scarf wrapped around the lower half of his face. He has raised his arm and fist in the air during a celebration. Blue smoke from flares billows around him and other fans.
Fans welcomed Town to Portman Road with blue flares before the match [Connor Bennett/BBC]

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Category: General Sports