Ipswich community invited to help shape future of The Baths

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Press Team

Brighten The Corners is hosting a public community event to share plans for a £1.92 million regeneration project that will transform The Baths into a cutting-edge Creative Digital Skills Lab for the region.

Free to attend and open to all, the event will take place on Tuesday 10th February between 6.30pm and 8.30pm at The Church on St Stephen’s Lane in Ipswich. Spaces are limited and can be booked in advance through the Brighten The Corners website: https://www.brightenthecorners.co.uk/events/baths-regeneration-community-conversation

Local businesses, community groups, creative entrepreneurs, freelancers, artists, and anyone who thinks they might use the space are invited to attend. Brighten The Corners will be discussing existing plans for The Baths and are encouraging attendees to network and share their thoughts on shaping the Skills Hub offering when the venue re-opens in Spring 2027.

Joe Bailey, Marcus Neal, Marcus Harris-Noble and Caitlin Whittaker outside The Baths_photo by John Ferguson

The evening will be hosted by Marcus Harris-Noble, who has recently been appointed as Brighten The Corners’ Director of Engagement and Skills and will be managing The Baths regeneration project. Marcus previously led on the delivery of the Croydon Creative Enterprise Zone programme and served as a core member of the team who successfully developed Croydon’s bid to become the 2023 London Borough of Culture.

Building on his experience of launching the Croydon Creative Digital Lab in South London, Marcus is passionate about establishing a vibrant hub in the heart of Ipswich. He said; “By revitalising this iconic space, we’re securing a much-needed live music venue and building a sustainable future for creative learning in the town, ensuring The Baths becomes a landmark venue for generations to come.

“Our public event is a chance to come together, share our vision for The Baths, and hear directly from local people. We’re keen to hear ideas on how the space could be used, so we can work with other service providers to shape an offer that meets the needs of our community.”

With its rich history as St Matthew’s swimming baths, social club, gym, and pop-up music venue, the regeneration project is set to breathe new life into the much-loved Ipswich landmark.

The currently unused first-floor space at The Baths will be transformed into a Creative Digital Skills Lab, which will include video production, live recording, and podcast facilities. A state-of-the-art Extended Reality (XR) studio will also provide valuable hands-on experience with immersive digital technologies, nurturing young talent and supporting creative industry professionals.

Plans include much-needed upgrades to the existing ground-floor music venue, creating an even stronger platform for local and touring artists and boosting the town’s night-time economy. A full range of workshops, skills development and volunteering opportunities will be available to access when the regeneration project is complete, including XR design and film making, post-production and editing, audio recording and digital photography.

Construction work is set to begin in late Spring 2026, with doors due to open in early Spring 2027. To keep up to date with The Baths progress and news, visit: www.brightenthecorners.co.uk/the-baths-regeneration-project.

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