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Important Covid information

The first tranche of pubs (those able to serve outdoors) have now been allowed to reopen. The rest of our pubs may be permitted to reopen from May 17th.

Pubs providing takeaways continue to be listed on this page.

Those known to have reopened or to be planning to reopen as soon as permitted are listed on this page.

Ipswich Rainbow Hotel

Ipswich Rainbow Hotel

closed 6th November 1961

last owner/operator: Tolly Cobbold

2-4 St Matthew's St

grid reference TM 159 447

This prominent pub famously closed soon after a murder occurred on the premises. It's since been demolished; the road junction is now much wider.

Popular with many US service men at a time when the USAF was rather racially segregated. The white folks went to the Queens Head and the coloured servicemen took over the Rainbow. I saw a few fights and the Military Police used to turn up and throw the drunks in the back of a van. They were then grounded on the base for a while.Ian Johnson

The pub is shown (though not named) on this old OS map from about the end of the 19th century. interactive map

old OS map

Map

map
interactive map

Gallery

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Other nearby Suffolk pubs

Other nearby Suffolk pubs

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Landlords

Landlords

Footnote

Nearby, Hyde Park Corner is a name given to the junction of Crown St, St Matthew's St and Westgate St.

(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)

(old PO directory information courtesy of londonpublichouse.com)

Old OS map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.

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