From small beginnings in 2008, St Peter’s by the Waterfront has continued to grow into a vibrant arts and heritage centre in the heart of Ipswich and is happy to celebrate its 10th anniversary this May.
Over the last 10 years St Peter’s has hosted hundreds of events, including music and theatre performances, beer festivals and parties as well as providing a home to a number of local groups, including the Suffolk School of Samba, Ipswich Youth Steel Band, InsideOut Community, Avenues East and Forward in Faith Ministries.
The idea of St Peter’s was spearheaded by Vic Lowne in the mid 2000s as a home for the Ipswich Hospital Band and the St Peter’s Band (then known as the Intermediate Band). With the hard work put in by Vic, along with the trustees of the band, a Heritage Lottery Grant of £772,000 was secured, and St Peter’s, which had been redundant for decades was renovated for both the bands and the wider community.
As well as providing a venue for the arts St Peter’s also opens to the public as a heritage centre. For the past 10 years the doors have opened May to September allowing visitors to marvel at the architecture and artefacts of the building, particularly the 800 year old Tournai Marble font, one of only a handful of this type in the country.
Since opening St Peter’s has also been the permanent home of the Ipswich Charter Hangings. The hangings were designed, researched and directed by Suffolk artist and tutor Isobel Clover and created with help from her City and Guilds students to commemorate the granting of the Royal Charter to Ipswich by King John in 1200.
The latest summer season starts on Tuesday 1st May 2018. St Peter’s will be open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10am to 4pm and Wednesday 10am to 2pm every week up until the end of September.
St Peter’s prides itself on providing a low cost mid-sized venue for local organisations as well as acts from across the world, working with promoters and local companies to bring some great events to the people of Ipswich and beyond.
To celebrate the 10th Anniversary a gala concert will take place on Saturday 19th May 2018 at 7.30pm and will feature resident bands, the Saints Community Band, St Peter’s Band and the Ipswich Hospital Band with a great range of music. Tickets are available now from the St Peter’s by the Waterfront website for £6 in advance and £8 on the door.
Other events coming up in 2018:
● Sarah Munro – Friday 25th May at 8pm
● Ipswich Jazz Festival – Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th June
● Gadjo Club Quartet (Jazz by the Waterfront) – Friday 1st June at 7.45pm
● Gin & Vodka Festival – Friday 6th and Saturday 7th July
For more information or to book visit stpetersbythewaterfront.com.
