Ipswich 24-hour diner VQ opens in the Buttermarket Shopping Centre – its first location outside of London

The team behind a new 24-hour diner and bar in Ipswich are raring to go after its launch.

Wanting to offer ‘something for everyone’, VQ welcomed hungry diners to its new restaurant in the Buttermarket Shopping Centre on Thursday – its first location outside of London.

It offers a mouth-watering range of food, ranging from all-day breakfasts and diner classics like a Full English and burgers, alongside salads, pasta, teriyaki salmon and more.

Bruce McEwan, assistant manager, revealed the team were going through a soft launch before opening their full hours from May 9.

He said: “Ipswich has offered the chance for the business to branch out. It’s been busy, especially at breakfast.

“At the Buttermarket, we’re in a prime location. We hope our unique style and offering will draw people in and give people a reason to go out and help out other businesses in the area.

“The past few days have been incredible, especially during breakfast time. Everyone has been coping well, getting their heads around things in the leadup to our full launch. But everyone’s raring to go.”

VQ has taken up residence in the old Byron Burger, which shut in 2023.

It marks its first expansion out of the capital, with the team also running eateries in Bloomsbury and Chelsea.

Bruce is one of three staff from Byron who returned to the venue under its new owners.

The front-of-house team, made up of locals, are a variety of age groups while the kitchen staff are from VQs venues in London, Bruce said.

VQ hires 20 staff.

VQ is open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 10pm.

After May 9, it will stay open for 24 hours from 9am Friday until 10pm on Sunday.