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Ipswich Rainbow Hotel
CAMRA Ipswich & East Suffolk branch.
last updated May 29th, 2020.
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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
Gallery
St Jude's Brewery Tavern 0.12 mile
Arbor House 0.14 mile
Black Horse 0.14 mile
Manning's 0.16 mile
Three Wise Monkeys 0.18 mile
Swan & Hedgehog 0.19 mileLandlords
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.
