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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."
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sheeran thrills fans with 'surprise' Ipswich gig
Fans of Ed Sheeran have been treated to a "surprise" gig at a pub in his home county where he was launching his new single. The Thomas Wolsey in Ipswich town centre has been re-branded as The Old Phone- the title of Sheeran's latest track. The pop-up pub will be known as The Old Phone for two weeks, before it reverts to its actual name. Music-lovers have been speaking of their delight at seeing the global star perform on their doorstep. Rachel Clements, 28, from Stowmarket, said she was "very excited that he's doing something this small, in our home town". Ms Clements said she was hoping to hear his latest track and new material from his Play album, which includes a song called Old Phone. "We had one of his songs as our wedding song last year, so in a way I'm hoping he'll do that," she added. Ms Clements was among the many fans who responded to an Ed Sheeran WhatsApp message to get tickets. People were also waiting to see if they might be let in if there was space. Alyssa Ali, 20, from Florida in the US, had been in London where she has been studying for a month. She fortuitously decided to come to Ipswich this weekend, as part of her travels around the UK. Sheeran grew up in Framlingham, about 15 miles north of Ipswich, but he is known for being an avid Ipswich Town fan and has sponsored their shirts, and he played gigs at other pubs in the town before he became famous. "I love Ed and have been a fan for a decade," said Ms Ali. "So I had to come to his hometown and go around Ipswich, and I was here yesterday, and then he decided to pop-up here in this pub, and my hotel's eight minutes walk from there, so we ran over here as soon as I found out, hoping to get in. "I'm so nervous because I don't know if I'll be able to get in. I'm just so excited to be in his presence again." She said she was very much looking forward to hearing his new songs. Michael Marron, 38, from Ipswich, was also hoping to see Sheeran perform. "Delighted, we saw him do this show in America and we were wondering if he would do something like this in Ipswich. "It's great that he's come back to Ipswich and he's entertaining the people of Suffolk." Sheeran is known for playing impromptu gigs in Suffolk's county town, including one on the Town Hall steps in 2022. "It's a buzz, and he always goes the extra mile for the people of Suffolk," said Mr Marron. "I remember he was here not so long ago and he gifted a guitar to a primary school child. It's great to see celebrities do that." It is understood music bloggers, influencers and selected fans were invited or picked at random to attend the gig. Last week, the musician announced a a run of three gigs at Ipswich Town's Portman Road in July. He is also a minority stakeholder in the club, which has just been relegated from the Premier League. The Thomas Wolsey is named after one of Ipswich's most famous sons - Henry VIII's right hand man Cardinal Wolsey, whose statue is just along the road from the pub. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Ed Sheeran announces series of Portman Road gigs Sheeran performs with pupils from old school Ed Sheeran's school drop-in magical, say students The Old Phone Ed Sheeran official website
BBC News
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ed Sheeran thrills fans with 'surprise' Ipswich gig
Fans of Ed Sheeran have been treated to a "surprise" gig at a pub in his home county where he was launching his new Thomas Wolsey in Ipswich town centre has been re-branded as The Old Phone- the title of Sheeran's latest track. The pop-up pub will be known as The Old Phone for two weeks, before it reverts to its actual have been speaking of their delight at seeing the global star perform on their doorstep. Rachel Clements, 28, from Stowmarket, said she was "very excited that he's doing something this small, in our home town".Ms Clements said she was hoping to hear his latest track and new material from his Play album, which includes a song called Old Phone."We had one of his songs as our wedding song last year, so in a way I'm hoping he'll do that," she Clements was among the many fans who responded to an Ed Sheeran WhatsApp message to get tickets. People were also waiting to see if they might be let in if there was space. Alyssa Ali, 20, from Florida in the US, had been in London where she has been studying for a fortuitously decided to come to Ipswich this weekend, as part of her travels around the grew up in Framlingham, about 15 miles north of Ipswich, but he is known for being an avid Ipswich Town fan and has sponsored their shirts, and he played gigs at other pubs in the town before he became famous."I love Ed and have been a fan for a decade," said Ms Ali."So I had to come to his hometown and go around Ipswich, and I was here yesterday, and then he decided to pop-up here in this pub, and my hotel's eight minutes walk from there, so we ran over here as soon as I found out, hoping to get in."I'm so nervous because I don't know if I'll be able to get in. I'm just so excited to be in his presence again."She said she was very much looking forward to hearing his new songs. Michael Marron, 38, from Ipswich, was also hoping to see Sheeran perform. "Delighted, we saw him do this show in America and we were wondering if he would do something like this in Ipswich."It's great that he's come back to Ipswich and he's entertaining the people of Suffolk."Sheeran is known for playing impromptu gigs in Suffolk's county town, including one on the Town Hall steps in 2022."It's a buzz, and he always goes the extra mile for the people of Suffolk," said Mr Marron."I remember he was here not so long ago and he gifted a guitar to a primary school child. It's great to see celebrities do that."It is understood music bloggers, influencers and selected fans were invited or picked at random to attend the week, the musician announced a a run of three gigs at Ipswich Town's Portman Road in July. He is also a minority stakeholder in the club, which has just been relegated from the Premier Thomas Wolsey is named after one of Ipswich's most famous sons - Henry VIII's right hand man Cardinal Wolsey, whose statue is just along the road from the pub. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
