Unique wake venues in Ipswich

A wake is an informal event that traditionally takes place after a funeral service and cremation or burial. It’s usually an informal event that involves family and friends gathering to share memories and celebrate the life of their loved one.

Traditionally, wakes would take place at someone’s home, or a community centre or pub, but they can take place anywhere. The people organising the wake may want to honour their loved one by holding the wake at a place that was special to them, such as at the grounds of their favourite football team, for example. 

Also, although wakes usually take place directly after the funeral service, they can be held at any time. They can also be as structured or as informal as the organiser would like. Wake organisers have the freedom to host the event that’s right for them, their family and friends, and their loved one.

If you’re organising a wake in Ipswich, there are plenty of unique venues where you can host the event in your own way, from a picnic at Christchurch Park, to a visit to the elegant Holywells.

Find your funeral director in Ipswich who will help you arrange a cremation, and give you ideas for a wake, memorial or reception that's right for you.

The first public park in Ipswich, Christchurch Park opened in 1895 and stretches over 33 hectares of lovely, picturesque grounds. After completing a £4.5 million restoration project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Ipswich Borough, the park was reopened in May 2008. With its beautiful surroundings and plenty of facilities, it would be ideal for holding a unique wake for your loved one.

Facilities in Christchurch Park include a children’s play area, tennis courts, bowling greens, table tennis table, refreshment kiosks, public toilets, and the Reg Driver Visitor and Education Centre. You can access Christchurch Park via Bolton Lane, Fonnereau Road, Henley Lane, Park Road, Soane Street, and Westerfield Road.

Christchurch Park hosts events and activities all year round, such as nature walks, arts and crafts activities, and storytelling and trails for children of all ages. Ipswich Music Day often takes place here, as well as Remembrance Day ceremonies, and firework displays.

Christchurch Park is a designated County Wildlife Site and is part of Ipswich’s conservation area. It is included on the register for historic parks and gardens of special historical interest, thanks to its diverse habitats of ponds, grassland, woodland full of old and veteran trees, and native and non-native plants. The oak trees and chestnut trees in Christchurch Park are very significant, as some of them are about 400 years old.

If your loved one was a supporter of Ipswich Town Football Club, then why not celebrate their life in the grounds of their favourite team. Ipswich Town Football Club offers a simple but high-quality hospitality package that includes suite hire from 6:30 pm until midnight. There are many options: buffet food, sandwich platters, Portman pies, clothed tables for 8 to 10 guests, plasma screens, microphones, a cash bar or pre-arranged account bar facility, and a non-ticketed, private cloakroom or cloak rail.

The Sir Bobby Robson Suite (once the Galleria) overlooks the club’s award-winning pitch and is a versatile space that can be transformed into just about anything. It is located directly below Legends, making it great if you need two separate function rooms. For example, if you’d like the food served in a separate room.

It is also easy to travel to the club via rail or car for guests attending from further afield. Portman Road stadium is a 5-minute walk from Ipswich rail station, and Ipswich is on the main Intercity line from Liverpool Street to Norwich.

Holywells is one of Ipswich’s prestigious heritage parks and is located close to the buzzing Waterfront. Holywells is the perfect place to hold an elegant, unique wake for your loved one, with its beautifully restored Victorian Orangery, 67 acres of parkland, and breathtaking walled garden bordered with gorgeous formal flower beds and grass lawns.

All outdoor and indoor spaces inside Holywells are adaptable and can accommodate all kinds of events. But whichever space you hire, their experienced events team will be on hand to make sure your needs are met, and you can just relax and reflect on the life of your loved one on the day.

The Victorian Orangery is a Grade-II listed venue within the Walled Garden at Holywells Park. It was restored in 2015 and can accommodate 32 seated or 50 standing guests. Meanwhile, the Walled Garden is ideal for more significant events and is a beautiful backdrop for any occasion. It overlooks the ponds and lower terrace of the park and is bordered by brilliant formal flower beds and grass lawns. The Walled Garden can accommodate up to 400 guests.