Suffolk Food Hall, Ipswich-

by Guest Blogger, Becky Spall from Otley, (36) mother of one

I decided to take my son Josiah (3ys) to Suffolk Food Hall to meet up with friends on a Monday afternoon in the summer holidays. We were lucky enough to have a dry, slightly overcast but warm afternoon to visit this pleasant location. The venue is well signposted from the main road that runs under the Orwell Bridge from Ipswich to Shotley, and a good start was finding that there was ample parking in the large (free) car park. On spotting the outdoor ‘bouncy pillow’ my son was very keen to dash off and have a go – outdoor activities were free to people using the café although we presume the bouncy pillow is only in use during the summer season. He really enjoyed the bouncing, although without any age restrictions he was thrown about somewhat by some older children. In addition to this there was a small play climbing frame/slide, which Josiah also enjoyed.

The food hall itself was full of lovely things ranging from local fresh fruit and veg, meat, fish, bread etc as well as some very nice homeware items. However, I would say that pretty much everything was expensive – a loaf of bread was £2.75. If you are looking to buy a treat or a gift though you won’t be disappointed. As well as the food hall there is a plant/garden section, a café with toilets and baby changing facilities and an ice cream hut. Once again we found the café to be a bit pricey but the facilities were good and clean and you can sit outside with lovely views over the River Orwell.

The main problem we found was the wasps!!! There were hundreds of them hanging around the outdoor seating area and even in the indoor café as the doors were kept open. This really ruined our afternoon and made drinking or eating anything outside practically impossible. Although this cannot be blamed on the venue we did feel that more could have been done to clear away used plates and cups quickly to avoid attracting them as much as possible. We did spot a wasp catcher hanging in one of the trees but this is clearly not enough.

Verdict

 This is generally a great place to meet up with children, or if you want to find good quality local produce and aren't on a tight budget. There is enough to keep the children entertained for an hour or so while you enjoy a drink with a lovely view, although this isn't an all day attraction. If you are lucky enough to go on a day when the wasps aren't visiting I am sure you’ll have a great time.