Remembering Toys R Us in Ipswich before M&S takeover

After the news that Marks & Spencer will be taking over the former children's toy store at Copdock Mill, we are having a look back at the shop during its heyday. 

The toy giant first opened on the outskirts of Ipswich in the early 1990s and quickly became a family favourite, attracting people from all over the county. 

Toys R Us hosted a number of special events during its time + including a Beyblade championship in 2003, at the time when the Japanese spinning tops were the latest craze, and a Ben 10 party in 2010, inspired by the animated series.

A Beyblade championship at Toys R Us in Ipswich (Image: Newsquest) Rosanna Bird, who was competing in the Beyblade national championship heat at Toys R Us (Image: Newsquest)

In April 2018 the store closed for the final time and has stood empty ever since. 

However, on Thursday it was revealed that M&S would be taking over the former Toys R Us site. 

Copdock Mill interchange in June 1992,showing the Toys R Us store and Tesco superstore (Image: Newsquest) A trolley dash was a prize at the special Ben 10 party at Toys R Us Ipswich in 2010 (Image: Newsquest) Children at the Ben 10 party at Toys R Us in Ipswich in 2010 Picture (Image: Newsquest)

The new superstore is expected to be completed by summer 2027 and we be a totally new-build - Toys R Us will be demolished and a new two-storey store built in its place.

The new store will be 60,000 sq ft. This is slightly larger than the 50,000 sq ft M&S department store in the town centre and will sell food, clothes, household goods and include a café.

What the new store in Copdock could look like (Image: Marks and Spencer)

M&S has also signed an agreement with Ipswich Borough Council that it will retain a town centre presence for the next 10 years, which is the first deal of its kind that the retailer has agreed in the UK.