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Important Covid information

Due to the latest lockdown regulations, pubs can no longer sell alcohol for takeaway or click & collect. Delivery is still permitted, as is the sale of takeaway food. We will update all entries on this site over the next few days to take account of the new situation.

Pubs providing takeaways continue to be 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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