The Buttermarket

The Buttermarket Centre is a four-level shopping centre located in the centre of Ipswich, Suffolk, England. It opened on 1 October 1992 and comprises approximately 270,000 square feet (25,000 m2) of space, with a 430-space underground car park spread over two levels beneath the centre; lifts and stairs connect the car park to the retail floors. At opening, the anchor stores were Owen Owen and C&A. Today the anchor is TK Maxx, which occupies around 120,000 square feet (11,000 m2). The centre houses 32 retail units, including names such as New Look, Holland & Barrett and Krispy Kreme. Ownership has changed several times. In March 2015 the centre was bought by Capital & Regional and Drum Property Group for £9.2 million through a venture called Buttermarket Ipswich Ltd. That venture delivered a £35 million revamp that created a new Empire Cinemas 12-screen complex together with dining and leisure units, opening on 31 March 2017. The centre was subsequently sold to the National Grid Pension Fund for £54.7 million in 2017, after the refurbishment. By 2026 the shopping centre had been put on the market for £10 million. The centre has embedded itself in the local community through initiatives such as 'Buttermarket Beneficiaries', which supports local charities and groups by offering free vacant units and mall spaces for charitable activities and hosting a community board so local groups and projects can raise awareness. In 2025 the centre's security team installed a 'Chatty Bench' after noticing people sitting alone, to help tackle social isolation, and a local artist, Keith Hopewell, created a mural of Ed Sheeran, who grew up in the county. The Buttermarket Centre achieved a 1.3% year-on-year increase in footfall during 2025. A notable chapter in the centre's history involved plans for conversion to a cinema. In 2012 the national cinema chain Vue Cinemas was granted permission by Ipswich Borough Council to convert the two-storey shopping centre into a cinema, with a vision to turn the ground floor into a nine-screen cinema and place retail outlets on the upper floor. However, in February 2015 Vue Cinemas withdrew the plans without giving a reason. The cinema ambition was ultimately realised through the Empire Cinemas complex delivered by the 2017 revamp.

The Buttermarket Centre opened on 1 October 1992 as a four-level shopping centre in the centre of Ipswich, Suffolk, England. It comprised approximately 270,000 square feet (25,000 m2) of retail space, supported by a 430-space underground car park covering two levels beneath the centre, with lifts and stairs connecting the car park to the shopping floors. The anchor stores at opening were Owen Owen and C&A. Over the following decades the centre's tenant mix evolved. TK Maxx eventually became the anchor store, occupying around 120,000 square feet (11,000 m2) of floor space, and the centre came to house 32 retail units including New Look, Holland & Barrett and Krispy Kreme. In 2012 the national cinema chain Vue Cinemas was granted permission by Ipswich Borough Council to convert the two-storey shopping centre into a cinema. Their vision was to convert the ground floor into a nine-screen cinema with retail outlets on the upper floor. However, in February 2015, Vue Cinemas withdrew the plans without giving a reason. Ownership changed in March 2015 when the centre was bought by Capital & Regional and Drum Property Group for £9.2 million. The joint venture, called Buttermarket Ipswich Ltd, undertook a £35 million revamp that created a new Empire Cinemas 12-screen complex along with dining and leisure units; this opened on 31 March 2017. The centre was subsequently sold to the National Grid Pension Fund, which purchased it for £54.7 million in 2017 after the revamp. By 2026, the shopping centre had been put on the market for £10 million. Beyond its commercial role, the centre has embedded itself into the local community via initiatives such as 'Buttermarket Beneficiaries', with the centre supporting local charities and groups. This initiative involves offering free vacant units and mall spaces for charitable activities and hosting a community board so local groups and community projects can raise awareness. In 2025 the centre security installed a 'Chatty Bench' after noticing people sitting alone, to help tackle social isolation, and a local artist, Keith Hopewell, created a mural of Ed Sheeran who grew up in the county. The Buttermarket Centre achieved a 1.3% year-on-year increase in footfall during 2025.

• The Buttermarket Centre opens as a four-level shopping centre in Ipswich, with Owen Owen and C&A as anchor stores.

• Vue Cinemas is granted permission by Ipswich Borough Council to convert the shopping centre into a nine-screen cinema.

• Vue Cinemas withdraws its cinema conversion plans without giving a reason.

• The centre is bought by Capital & Regional and Drum Property Group for £9.2 million through Buttermarket Ipswich Ltd.

• A £35 million revamp opens, creating a new Empire Cinemas 12-screen complex and dining/leisure units.

• The centre is sold to the National Grid Pension Fund for £54.7 million after the revamp.

• A 'Chatty Bench' is installed to tackle social isolation and a mural of Ed Sheeran is created by local artist Keith Hopewell; footfall rises 1.3% year-on-year.

• The shopping centre is put on the market for £10 million.

A community-embedded town-centre shopping destination in Ipswich, combining value retail, leisure and dining under one roof.

• TK Maxx anchor store

  The current anchor store, comprising around 120,000 square feet (11,000 m2) of floor space.

• Empire Cinemas 12-screen complex

  Created as part of the £35 million revamp that opened on 31 March 2017.

• Retail units

  32 retail units including New Look, Holland & Barrett and Krispy Kreme.

• Underground car park

  A 430-space underground car park covering two levels under the shopping centre, with lift and stair access.

1. 1The Buttermarket - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Buttermarket Centre, Ipswich - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org