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BBC News
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ipswich pub to become Ed Sheeran pop-up for Portman Road gigs
A pub in which Ed Sheeran staged a surprise gig will once again be "completely rebranded" in support of the singer's three homecoming Thomas Wolsey, in Ipswich, was transformed into the Old Phone, named after one of the 34-year-old's latest singles, last who grew up in Framlingham, then performed an intimate secret set in the watering hole, which was decorated with photographs of the artist and Damon Jeffery revealed it will once again become a Sheeran-themed pop-up pub for his three concerts at Ipswich Town's Portman Road stadium in July. "I am really stoked and really looking forward to it, I just think it's going to be mental – we're going fully Ed and fully Ipswich for the weekend," he told the BBC."We have a lot of people coming from all over the world for the gigs so if we can sing and shout about Ipswich and the pub then [that will be great]."It is going to be really good fun and we are going to make a really big song and dance of the whole weekend." Over the weekend of 11, 12 and 13 July, the pub's upstairs, where Sheeran hung out before his scaled-down gig, will feature an "amazing" will boast more than 100 photos from the show while unseen videos of him rehearsing and performing will be projected onto the who has a ticket for the Shape of You singer's Ipswich shows will be able to collect two free limited edition bar coasters on the days of the gigs from the bands will also be performing and a Sheeran impersonator is expected to make a special appearance. "Even if you didn't get tickets for the gigs that weekend you can still come and be part of it and experience part of it," added Mr Jeffery."We will be completely rebranded again, the outside signs will go up, the Ed Sheeran pictures will go up and his Star Wars stuff will go back on the bar."And when he did the gig before, he requested potato smiley faces, they're something he had as a child, so they will be on the menu as well." Mr Jeffery said the tie in had been "priceless", especially at a time when the hospitality businesses continued to fight to stay afloat."It has had a really positive knock on effect but we still have to keep trying in order to keep surviving," he said."We are still a pub and we are still struggling, so we've had to ground ourselves, but this will be a nice financial boost."
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Ed Sheeran performed in my Ipswich pub - it was amazing'
A landlord said seeing Ed Sheeran perform a surprise gig in his pub was "surreal" and a moment he will "never forget".The Shape of You singer, who grew up in Framlingham, Suffolk, took the mic at the Thomas Wolsey, in Ipswich, earlier this his appearance, the watering hole was rebranded and renamed The Old Phone after the 34-year-old's latest his superstar status, Damon Jeffery, who owns the pub, said Sheeran was one of the loveliest people he had ever met and his concert had helped boost business. "He was very relaxed and thanked us so much for allowing him to use the pub," added Mr Jeffery."We had a really nice chat and he put me at ease because he is such a nice guy – one of the most down to earth, pleasant guys. He made everyone feel welcome." Sheeran staged the pop-up gig in support of the release of his new single and forthcoming new album, Play, and ahead of announcing three huge shows at Ipswich Town's Portman Road images of Sheeran were put in frames around the venue, as well as various pieces of performed for more than an hour to a crowd of lucky fans and even some famous faces, including Town manager Kieran Mckenna. 'Absolutely blown away' "I am on the bar and Ed Sheeran is a matter of three metres away from me," Mr Jeffery told the BBC."Everyone was having an amazing time, the best time of their life – they were being absolutely blown away and some fans were in tears."There was a huge excitement and a huge adrenaline, it was just absolutely amazing, outstanding, and surreal." Joe Gunter, who is one of the pub's bar managers, helped provide Sheeran and his guests with pizza and drinks before he took to the too, said he was a "lovely guy", but her first interaction with him did not quite go exactly as she envisaged."He was going in the wrong direction to use the bathroom, so I directed him to where the bathroom was and told him it was free… so that will be my story for life now," she said."He was just a guy and really nice - and also taller than I expected." Sheeran is no stranger to performing pop-up shows, making several impromptu appearances locally and around the October 2022, a film crew followed the musician as he bought a guitar and then performed on the steps of the town hall, on the February, the pop star was stopped from busking in the southern Indian city of Jeffery said his appearances had a positive effect locally. "We've had a real uplift in trade, which is amazing, with all generations just coming to experience a little bit of Ed Sheeran," said Mr Jeffery."We've seen a great influx of people, including people from Manchester and Liverpool, and we've had messages from people in Australia and New Zealand."Every town is struggling, especially the hospitality industry, so for someone as huge as Ed Sheeran to campaign for his local county is absolutely amazing."He could have gone anywhere in the world but he chose the Thomas Wolsey in Ipswich - and we will never forget it."
