Aurora Bar and Restaurant in Ipswich

More drugs than a Colombian speedboat. This place is dirty. Weeds everywhere, dirty bathrooms apart from the top of the cistern that gets sniffed clean every 5 minutes. Awful, awful place and worse customers. This is an absolute den of filth.

this spot is only pleasant for drinks, the main courses are very disappointing and in my opinion rather disgusting, the roast dinner was appalling. after attempting to eat somewhat of this, i soon after felt sick. i definitely would not recommend coming here for a main. very disappointed.

Service a bit slow but they made up for it. Really busy as it’s Mother’s Day. Pawel and Lena was great with their service. Great attention to detail. Made sure were not just left there sitting without any service. Even better than the last time we were here! Lastly great tasting food. Will come back again for sure…..

We went at 5pm to eat, we were too early as a bottomless brunch was finishing, the music was so loud we couldn’t talk. We were the wrong age group and felt out of place. It might be quieter later on perhaps if you just wanted to eat. We had duck which was slightly too rare but nice. We had been to a-listers Woodbridge which was 100% better. Nice but would t go again.

This is our 2nd visit. Visited when first opened and was doing table service, took ages to order and get drinks. We seven saw one couple leave.they also had a load of cocktails in the menu that then weren’t avaliable. Several months later we thought we’d go again, yesterday. This time it was find a seat then come and order at the bar. This was better. Limited cocktails but decent menu of other drinks. Food menu was new and we had the dough balls, which consisted of 3 large dough balls and dip for £7. Which were nice. They brought water out to the table too which was great. Cocktails expensive - tinker bell martini £12, beer better - pint of beer about £5. Not the venues fault but shame about all the roadworks and blocked views by railings etc.

First time at Alisters new restaurant after having been to the Woodbridge venue, which we enjoyed very much. We sat on the balcony for a cocktail, with a nice view of the river, we both had a Pornstar Martini, and it was buy 1 get 1 free, bonus, they came out quickly and were very nice, water came straight out also, we decided to move inside for our food as it was getting a little chilly, we decided to order 3 starters, the duck bon bons, houmous, and the jerk chicken wings, all came out in good time and were all delicious! , I’ve eaten in many nice restaurants and couldn’t fault anything, for our mains we had the fish and chips and the burger, the mains came out quite soon after our starters, and didn’t disappoint, my ‘mushy’ peas were more crushed, and were the best I’ve ever had, so well seasoned, and the burger was ‘juicy’ according to my partner, so he was happy, good portion sizes for the price, we were too full for a dessert but decided to try the panna cotta anyway, perfect! so all in all a great evening with delicious food and very good service, highly recommended.

Not sure why they are only doing table service for drinks. The last 2 times i’ve been it has taken over 30 mins to get drinks to the table. If we were able to order at the bar we might have ordered more drinks in the that time!

Doesn’t seem to be any different from Aurora- the same deco, same vibe, definitely not like the A listers in Woodbridge. Went for dinner but the menu was bleak and average so we ordered 5 starters to share instead of a main which tasted good but no Bao Buns available even though half the starters on the menu were Bao Buns. There were flies flying around and no mood lighting. Staff kept dropping cutlery and glasses, average night with a lot of drunk people around spilling their drinks and a high service charge ontop of the already expensive bill. The best qualities were the view and the taste of the food. Probably wouldn’t go again, not a classy establishment, very rough

This Iconic restaurant at the end of the waterfront Marina, Ipswich has recently been taken over by A Listers and what a difference. Friendly team who welcome you on arrival, water on the table and great new menu, reasonably priced. We sat outside on relaxed seating in the sun with our cocktails, then moved in to eat on the balcony watching the sun go down over the Marina it was absolutely beautiful as was the food and wine. Perfect service and thoroughly recommend.

Nice place and atmosphere nice stuff I loved the food and the drinks indecisive but good nice to have a drink

Whenever I am in Ipswich, Aurora is my go to fav restaurant. Haven't been since the pandemic so was very much looking forward to visiting last night. What a disappointment, lack of menu options, no atmophere, cold venue with very few tables occupied compared to previous occasions. The presentation of the food was sloppy, no finesse and my meal, which was due to come with sweet potato fries came with regular ones. No-one bothered to check if our meal was ok until well after we'd finished. However, once aware of our complaint, the waitress, who is in fact the events manager handled the situation well and recompensed us for the extremely poor experience. We had originally been going with friends who have never been but I am so glad we didn't as this experience would have been an embarrassment. Aurora please get your act together and restore this restaurant to its former glory.

Empty place, yet had to wait 45 minutes for a meal. Roast not available at 4 pm : only burger and battered fish left. Burger ok but served on tired small board, spilling all on the table. No box available for overpriced desert leftovers. Overall poor experience

We had our works night out at Aurora had a fantastic night, food great, staff were very efficient, DJ great we could not fault the night will definitely book again thank you Aurora

Came for food with my mother and wife and my sister was welcomed at 1st but when we went up to the restaurant we seemed to keep getting rushed buy a lady who seemed not to originate from the UK she was rude and kept mumbling things under her breath. Apart from that everyone else was helpful and the food what gorgeous

Avoid it like the plague! Worst food I have ever encountered. Was so embarrassed to take mr German friends there. Food was inedible and extremely badly presented, most dishes were left uneaten. Absolute disgrace. Have not replied to my emails of complaint. For three people £140 with no sweets or coffee! Had given up before then. What a disappointment. Would never go there again!!!!!!

Booked for a family Sunday lunch as liked the Sunday set menu on the website; the 2 or 3 courses set options. Had a pushchair and wheelchair, informed lift wasn’t working (wasn’t 3 months ago either) had to go up the back ramp but there is also 4 steps there soo not accessible friendly. Got upstairs, waitress gave wrong menus, then rectified it however the Sunday set course menu wasn’t on there. Was informed by waitress that was not on asked to speak to manager - not there. Spoke to chef who informed us that the menu isn’t around anymore; ironically it’s the same food menu without the cheaper option of 2/3 courses. There was also no head chef and most of the food had already been cooked and was just sitting there staying warm. I checked prior to booking that the courses option was available and was told so, this wasn’t the case, other people have said the same on here, the staff are aware. They are conning people by lying about the costings and yet still that menu is displayed on the menu. We left and were very happy with our decision. Lies, no chefs, no manager, no lift, no freshly cooked food. Disgrace!

I planned a whole day here for my boyfriends 30th birthday which ended up being an absolute disaster! I had booked cocktail making and a 3 course dinner for 12 people and then hired one of their private areas by the bar in the evening for more people to arrive for drinks and music by the DJ. To start with I was told I could not arrive any earlier to decorate the private area and that the staff would sort out my decorations for me if I just drop them off slightly earlier. When I arrived to drop them off I was told they cannot do this as they are short staffed!! I then had to rush around sorting it all out myself which if they would have told me this I would of got there earlier to give me more time as I still had to go back home to get ready. The cocktail making was definitely not worth the money. Our host was good but they had squeezed us onto the end of the bar downstairs, there was a massive queue of people out the door ordering from that bar also so it wasn’t private at all, it was so noisy and at times our hosts had to leave us and serve them drinks - this then lead to some of us games not being set up properly. Most of the time they were just making the drinks for us there wasn’t much interaction, we played two games but that was it. They usually do the cocktail making upstairs so it’s private but they booked two at a time and even the staff admitted to us at the time they shouldn’t of done this. Our meal was nice, I was happy with my food but I know there were a few people that didn’t like theirs and said the beef was really chewy. It got to about 9pm and we had all been waiting around for the DJ but he still hadn’t turned up. I asked at the bar what time he would be coming as we all wanted some music and a dance to which I was then told he isn’t coming! He had apparently called in sick earlier in the day but the manager hadn’t even thought to tell us even though we had mentioned multiple times to him that was one of the most important parts of the day! This completely ruined the night as the whole point of booking that private area was to have a party and dance. I understand these things can happen but if they would of told us earlier we would of gone somewhere else for the evening part. They done nothing to try and make up for this and when I spoke to the owner as I was really annoyed by this point, he just kept making excuses and took no responsibility for anything that had gone wrong that day. He kept turning everything round to me and was just being so rude to me. I actually walked off in tears after my conversation with him as I was so upset his birthday had been ruined and I couldn’t believe the way the owner had handled it all. In the end after my boyfriend spoke to the owner he agreed to refund the £50 for the private hire area but this was still nothing compared to the amount we all spent there. I’m really not one to complain usually but I just feel I had to share as I was so disappointed by this place and don’t want the same thing to happen to anyone else. I will definitely not be returning.

Group of 6 girl friends met for dinner. Aurora is a very stylish venue. Food good. Service this evening absolutely exemplary, looked after by excellent waitress who looked after us brilliantly and unobtrusively - such an asset to have staff like this in a restaurant.

Well! Have been here many times before and service usually excellent. Unfortunately our very recent visit has been so different. Just been one problem upon another! Most roast dinners weren’t available, the fixed price menu on the website is no longer available, waited half an hour before the Waitress came back to take the desert order. Then was asked for a card as the bill was exceeding £100, but we had paid a deposit!! However, the food we did have was lovely. Just the bad service that let it all down.

Thank you to Elliot, Shelby and the team who created such a special event for our son. We had the private dining room downstairs which was lovely, providing both privacy for an intimate gathering of friends as well as being so close to the view...

Really well organised , well prepared works party meal for 15. Eliot and his team llooked after every need throughout the whole evening.

Dined in the upstairs restaurant. The view across Ipswich Marina at sunset was magnificent. The staff were fabulous. We had battered haddock, chips and peas followed by crème brûlée. The food was without fault, accompanied by an excellent, good-value bottle of French rosé wine.

Lovely food and staff who were very accommodating. The views over the quayside at sunset are stunning!

I organised my husbands surprise party at The Aurora last night. The whole team there are a credit to their profession, fantastic service, polite friendly staff. The food was plentiful, delicious and well presented. I highly recommend the place not only for parties but for...

Booked for late afternoon early evening table Saturday. Stunning views. Queue to get in, no one really committed to engaging with us. Drinks took a while, as did menus. Great venue for Hen nights dinners as a witnessed. Lots of noise and the place is...

i came here for my birthday drinks and Brooke she was amazing, she stayed open longer for us and really made the night. she was so friendly and really made us feel welcome. came again for a second time and she was still bubbly! you...

What an amazing place! We went here for my sisters hen do for a cocktail making class and 3 course meal and we had such an incredible time! The food was outstanding, the staff were incredible and atmosphere was spot on! We appreciated the extra...

I would like to thank all the Aurora staff , Callum in particular, they were all polite, friendly and very helpful. The restaurant is beautifully set out , clean and modern and as a table of eight , we sat near the window overlooking the...

My Wife and I started planning our wedding only five weeks in advance (February 2022) and I was really excited that we were able to book Aurora because it was where we got engaged. We held some initial discussions with Callum (owner) and we could...

The menu is quite limited but the cocktails were really nice and the happy hours are fab, it's also a lovely location and the staff are friendly. Though not sure I'd return.

Me and my family visited Aurora today for Brunch. When we arrived staff were quick and showed us to our table which unfortunately was dirty and the chairs were not clean. My mother had to swap chairs and ask for the waitress to clean the...

Never enough staff , always have to wait ages for drinks , unless it’s quiet in there, and toilets of a night don’t get checked on , so end up with urine all on the floor. And could do with some better DJs. .

First time at Aurora for a works Xmas Party Night. It was extremely well organised and the staff were attentive and efficient. The food was fantastic. Don’t hesitate in booking if you want a well organised Xmas Party venue.

Visited Aurora last Sunday and must say the level of service and attention was brilliant. From the moment our booking was taken (to include accommodating a puppy) everybody was more than welcoming. The food was superb, served at just the right rate and cooked to...

Food great, but received a parking charge notice 2 months later. Did some research and the limit for notification is 14 days, so if you have received one, and it is outside that time, look up the law online. Search for this in google and...

We have been to aurora to eat a few times and been very impressed so decided to book for my partners 40th and take his family there. I booked on line as no one arnswered the phones any way i get a phone call from...

We booked a table and when we arrived we couldn't have a table until 45minutes later and it was very sticky! It took 40 minutes to get served at the bar and then they gave us the wrong drink. Not worth coming.

Aurora has always been a venue that we have wanted to try, we were warmly greeted by a gentleman called Rio. Apron arrival he gave us a cocktail menu and asked what our preference was with in minutes Rio Proposed 2 cocktails (of menus) to...

Steer clear!! I have always loved Aurora so booked it for a birthday celebration using the online table booking system (as no one answers the phone, responds to emails or calls back!). Rocked up for our 7pm booking and the restaurant was closed!! No advance...

Lovely setting over looking the waterfront and the food was delicious, excellent quality and presentation was first class. My compliments to the chef and team . The cocktails were amazing too can’t fault my whole experience at Aurora , thank you

Excellent meal and service at Aurora this evening. Every course very tasty and excellent value, staff friendly and attentive. Nice find for our one and only night in Ipswich.

Service was so shocking I specifically remember details of the evening! I ordered 2 pints of lager at 22:42 which I still hadn’t received at 23:15. I asked where they were and was told service was busy. 10 minutes later I asked again where my...

I took a friend there for a friday eve dinner. Staff were 100% helpful and friendly. Very welcoming. Food was very nice - we both had fish. Desert was delicious! WIne also very good. All reasonably priced. Would go again and recomend to friends.

My wife and I visited Aurora Bar and Restaurant hoping to have a quick drink before we walked home for the evening. How wrong we were! I headed inside to order whilst my wife found a table outside. I was the only customer and I...

I went out with a group of friends to have some drinks before going to another place to it. The staff were very friendly and went out of their way to make us feel welcome. We actually wished we had stayed for dinner once we...

Aurora used to be an amazing venue to visit , professional and buzzing with a great vibe and a classy feel. We visited Saturday for my hen do. The staff outside were so rude. I explained I was pregnant and that I couldn’t select a...

We had been staying on the East coast and driven to Ipswich on our return journey. After some sightseeing, we called in to Aurora for a light meal. So glad we did! The food was incredible, served beautifully, the desserts being outstanding. The drinks were...

We went as family for afternoon lunch & relaxing time . We had worse service by a group of hostile teenagers,who seem not had a professional training in customer care .. They where rude . Arrogant

I’ve always had the image that Aurora was a premium establishment so when I was taken there by a supplier recently, I was looking forward to a nice evening. The reality is my experience was absolutely dismal and the place is hugely overrated. Terrible staff,...

Looks good but they haven’t a clue. Stopped for drinks 16:30 on Sunday afternoon as the outside of the bar looked inviting. Told I must order using the app, which isn’t normally difficult, but this one proved useless and had to ask for help in...

Me and my partner went for dinner tonight as a very rare treat. Aurora has always been our favourite restaurant and we have loved everytime weve been for dinner in the past. But tonight was just so so bad. We got a bread board and...

Their website tels you nothing, no menu or on-line booking. I emailed them to book a table for today. I got a confirmation back and the place is closed. So angry

I don’t know why I go to this place cause every time I do I leave annoyed. Went to Aurora at lunchtime with the intention of spending the afternoon in the sun, have a few drinks and some food. Firstly, we waited at the entrance...

Wonderful meal, and plenty of it. Presentation equaled that of many 'high end' establishments charging a lot more for a lot less! Service was perhaps a little 'unhurried', but that just meant we had more time to chat and enjoy the wonderful views of the...

Myself and my partner visited for a drink on 19th June 2021. On waiting in the queue, the bouncer on shift at the time (5pm) were openly racist about people passing the venue and made his views clear to other customers which was extremely unacceptable....

Absolute great service from Rio. He was very polite and has very good customer services skills. I was very impressed with how attentive he was.

had sunday drinks at aurora lovely atmosphere in a great setting the staff were fast & pleasant in uncertain times the security staff liam & luke were very helpfull guiding & explaining the rules & regulations & they made conversation i will be back after...

Lovely atmosphere. Beautiful views. Great service particularly from Amber S. Attentive and friendly despite it being a busy day. Perfect late lunch on a summer evening.

Great food, great drinks, Nikki the security officer was lovely as she gave my friend a mask during the pandemic. Lovely view and really enjoyed my day, would highly recommend a visit!

I was having a lovely meal at aurora and some lovely drinks, but unfortunately I couldn't leave my table until I had a mask which I dropped on the floor and I couldn't wear, so the kind security officer Nickki was able to get me...

Really disappointed with my visit at Aurora on the bank holiday. This is a lovely bar but unfortunately having the front of house managed by rude and arrogant security staff really lets it down. I had tried to book a drinks table weeks before my...

I feel very hesitant to give this place a bad review after going here as a regular for the past few years. I have always found the food to a very good standard and the Staff very helpful and friendly. Recently before the 2nd Lockdown...

What a great place, excellent service, good food and the best view in Ipswich's harbour !Recommended either for a morning coffee or a lunch or late cocktail.

I wasn't going to leave a review, until I received an unexpected parking fine dated on 1st October 2020 and received on 07/10/2020 which to date has not been resolved after several times of contacting Aurora and speaking to various members of the team. Thus I changed my mind because it has been an utter nightmare.As soon as received the fine I called and spoke to a young lady (I'm not going to reveal names) who was very defensive and suggested I would need to email My email to bookings@aurorabarsandrestaurants.co.uk on 7th October has yet been answered. Sounds like this may be a regular thing I thought, why else would someone be so defensive?She went on to tell me that there is a note on the website which states that you need to register your car and that the car park isn't theirs, however when I did check their website after the call it reads 'Please remember to register your car if using our customer car park'. It says our car park! I booked by phone, so didn't see the note plus I didn't go to the bar area, where I was advised by the same member of staff that the registering machine was. However I was eating. 'Oh well there is a sign upstairs I think'. Well if there is, I didn't see it or the other signs, and by the looks of things I'm not the only person who has been caught out by this! Not a great start it getting this sorted and I knew at that moment this was shambolic and I will never return here. Such a shame because 1 person will tell 10 others when they have a bad experience, something to remember. After not hearing for a couple of days I call back, speak to a really nice guy who after me asking him to, as he wanted me to call back, he finally agreed he would get the stand in manager to call me as Callum the owner is on holiday. Guess what, that call never arrived. The stand in Manager was the only person who could authorise a cancellation on a parking fine which currently stands at £60 about to rise to £100. This fine was received from civil enforcement parking with location of parked car printed as Aurora, Helena Road, Ipswich, IP3 0BT for eating in their restaurant using their car park as it sates on their website with neither three different members of staff willing to take ownership or wanting to particularly resolve the issue. People will start thinking the car park is purposefully placed to add extra income!? we will come on to that.Callum little bit of free advice. You must be a smart man, somethings not working with you signage. In addition if its not your car park, don't claim that it is on your website. In addition and more likely if its your land and managed by a third party I would seriously question why you are not doing enough to protect your customers. Ask your staff to check with their diners if they parked a car this evening, it costs absolutely nothing! People may miss signs, they are not looking out for them as they have come out to spend money in your restaurant.There is a plus point to Aurora though it is located in a magnificent building on the Waterfront but unfortunately there was nothing magnificent about the parking charge from Aurora and civil enforcement. The food was average too, not the fine dining experience all round, but given the current climate I know how difficult it is at the moment therefore I was not going to write a poor review until this happened - but I will not stand for a threatening letter demanding to pay a hefty fine, sorry!Give me a call Callum to sort this please when you return from your break.Thanks!

Great bottomless brunch at Aurora today. Lovely food and the best service from Katie, perfect topping up of prosecco.

Late afternoon birthday lunch on a wet windy Friday. Food and service all great as always. Liam and Elliot smiling and attentive, their recommendations for food and wine work delicious. You can tell these guys love their jobs; such a great assets for Callum after a tough few months.

We went for a very tasty family lunch. Well marked out and a lot of thought gone into it, making movement around the place easy. The staff were great and very attentive, both in the bar area and upstairs in the restaurant. The owner also spoke at length with our party, which you don’t get in many places. He seemed to really care that his customers felt as safe and relaxed as possible. We all really enjoyed our food and left planning our next visit. Well done Aurora in these difficult times

In this very uncertain time for social gatherings we attended Aurora for a bottomless brunch. The staff made us feel very safe and welcome. They were very attentive and their service was amazing particularly Elliott and Verity. The food was fabulous and the drinks were never slow in coming, the glasses were rarely empty. I would thoroughly recommend this Riverside establishment for a special brunch.

Visited Aurora for an evening family dinner. Thoroughly impressed by all the measures put in place, all staff in masks, queuing systems and socially distanced tables. Not to mention the food... Couldn’t decide on what to have, so we had a bit of everything and everything was amazing, although thoroughly recommend the pork belly and the chocolate torte - INCREDIBLE, especially if you have a sweet tooth like me! Staff were brilliant and very attentive, great to see them protecting themselves and customers (unlike the majority of places!!) great work to Callum and his team! Can’t wait to come back!

Myself and my husband visited in August during the government scheme and I visited again recently in September. The food was perfect as always, you could see everyone was working so hard during the scheme and they all done so well to keep up with high demand and in such difficult circumstances. I've always loved the food and dining experience at aurora and wouldn't choose to eat anywhere else in ipswich. The staff are always attentive and polite, the owner goes above and beyond to ensure you are enjoying your evening and the food is always amazing. I feel recent reviews are unfair to a business that is clearly doing it's best to cater to all during exceptional times, under extreme circumstances that is new to everyone. I would highly recommend this restaurant/bar to anyone who realises that restrictions are in place for a reason and are happy to go to a place that is sticking with guidelines in a professional manner. Can't wait to go again!

First time out socially with friends due to shielding and very nervous. Thanks aurora for a great evening! I was completely at ease and able to enjoy myself due to all the Covid measures in place.

I made a booking for lunchtime on Wednesday 10th September towards the end of August. This was to be my first outing to a "nice restaurant" in about 9 months so I was obviously really looking forward to it. My friend was off on a holiday the following day, and this meal was to be the start of wind down.At about 9:45am on the morning of Wednesday 10th September I received a phone call from the Aurora saying that my booking had been taken by mistake as they were no longer opening on Wednesday lunchtimes. Apparently they had been opening during the Government Eat Out Scheme and that must have been where the misunderstanding occurred. I was offered alternatives , none of which were suitable. They must have seen that they had my reservation well before the actual day I was due to dine there. Given the level of Customer Service I received over this, to be quite honest I am glad it was cancelled as I can't help but think that the whole experience might have been disappointing, at best.As it was, my friend and I were able to secure a lunchtime booking at the Salthouse on that day and we had a really lovely meal, friendly service and I would recommend them to anyone else who is looking for a "nice restaurant".

As a long standing customer of Aurora, I looked forward to visiting after lockdown. I’ve been three times since it’s reopening before writing this review- and every time was quite honestly HORRIBLE. I’m so disappointed as I used to love coming here. I just can’t believe how rude some of the staff are, made me feel awful and ruined my night. No organisation or coherence. One night I was able to get cocktails, the next told they weren’t doing cocktails yet. One day can queue in bays, the other not. Some people served upon walking to the bar, others told to queue by the door. Go to other lovely bars on the waterfront like the waterfront wine bar or bistro on the quay- so much nicer- nicer, welcoming staff, better atmosphere and drinks! So sad to say this as I used to love it but I won’t be returning :(

Me my wife and some friends visited Ipswich for a weekend away and stumbled upon aurora on the waterfront . Nice Sunday atmosphere and nice staff. Smiley and chatty girl on the bar called fraya was helpful and recommended a grapefruit gin which was a hit . Would visit again if we are ever in the area .

Arrived with friends and sat on separate tables due to Covid 19 rules. A couple of hours later was told there were too many of us and that we needed to move, so one of the group pointed out that we were actually sitting on 3 different tables and he said ok and walked off. Also, if you wanted to get a drink you had to go out and back in again to the appropriate lane and queue with everyone that was trying to enter the place ! One of the group walked up to the bar at an empty section but was told to get in the queue. We did witness other people get up and go to the bar unchallenged though?!?We then asked for a cocktail after seeing the young ladies on the next table having them to be told they weren’t doing them!? We pointed out that, the next table had them and was told they’ve stopped doing them now?! Callum the owner (told us he was the owner) then came over and said the group is too big and we had to move ( even though there were bigger groups sitting together) but it turned out he actually wanted some of the space for the DJ ! He then said he would sit us up stairs and that’s we could hear the music up there still.... no you couldn’t ..that was a lie. We then moved up stairs to be told we could all sit together on a long table?!? Rules changed ?!? We could also now get cocktails?!? It then turned into a youth club and the place was full of youngsters... some very young....all mixing with no social distancing whatsoever. Will not return to this venue as it shambles and certainly didn’t enjoy it.

I visited Aurora with my family for lunch this bank holiday weekend. We had a delicious meal, staff were attentive and safe COVID measures in place throughout the building. We can not wait for our next visit.

We went to Aurora for our first family meal out of lockdown to celebrate missed birthdays and anniversaries. However, upon ordering drinks we were told no cocktails which was odd because my husband and I have had them in other bars recently. Our food selection was mainly the Sunday roast dinner or minute steaks both of which left much to be desired. The roast beef was one slice of dry and tasteless meat accompanied by half cooked carrots, broccoli and cauliflower cheese and the minute steak was grey and unappealing. The staffing levels were good and covid health and safety was evident but the vibe was disinterested and the half empty restaurant lacked any character. We were considering here for Christmas Day lunch but based on this visit maybe not.

Had a confirmed lunch booking for 5 people - arrived at the restaurant only to find it closed, not opening till 5pm! I have given 2 stars only because the barman who was there provided us with some drinks, whilst we tried unsuccessfully to find another lunch venue along the Waterfront. I emailed the manager Callum Hewitt to complain with no response at all.Shocking way to run a business and with other great places along the Waterfront, I would suggest going elsewhere.

We Attended the venue on Saturday night and where instantly astounded by the amount of customers in the establishment. I saw zero social distancing measures Being enforced, inside or out, and the staff continued to let people into the already Overcrowded bar in their greed for more revenue. The manager was a young pretentious individualCalled Callum. He has a duty of care to all staff and customers there but unfortunately he was out of his depth. The venue needs a manager with the ability and capability of management before more lives are put at risk due to Callum’s failure to complete any due diligence. If any of the managers line management wish to contact me or my team we have numerous images that can be shared. Ps Callum did wear a mask but unfortunately he took it off every time he needed to speak to someone.

Staff were rude and unprofessional. Callum in particular was abrasive and unnecessarily discourteous.

Just had brunch here with my work friends. Can’t fault a thing. Food and service was excellent. Elliott was on hand for everything as well as the new waitress (sorry, can’t remember her name) Hoping to make this a regular thing 👍🏻

This is a place we have visited many times and was our go to place for special occasions. We went on a Friday night expecting the usual standard pre lockdown. It was a first time that I have ever been in a restaurant with such a limited menu and basic. We looked at the menu and there was no starters on the menu, a very limited choice of main courses and the choice of 3 sweets. The food was ok and tasted good but certainly didn`t have any wow factor. The restaurant was not certainly not observing social distancing and there was a large group of drinkers sitting behind us and some were much less than a metre away from our party.I am afraid after being regular visitors we will go elsewhere for those special meals. I fear for the restaurants future as it now seems that it cannot decide whether it wants to be a top class restaurant or a nightclub / bar.

I have to agree with the other latest reviews. The menu selection was so poor and food wasn't great either. The place seemed to not really be following guidlines on social distancing etc. The toilets were dirty with toilet paper everywhere and loads of people squashed together inside.It's such a shame as this used to be a really lovely high quality restaurant. Not now. Maybe if you are 18 and don't care about Covid you might enjoy it.

My partner and I have previously visited Aurora on many occasions where we’ve had a great evening. However, when we recently went past we were amazed to see that it was heaving both inside and outside with absolutely NO social distancing. You would never think we were in the middle of pandemic and it’s totally irresponsible of Aurora to allow the bar to get so busy. This is the kind of behaviour that will send us straight back into lock down and it’s so disappointing to see when other businesses are doing their utmost to adhere to government guidelines. Definitely will not be returning!

The last couple of reviews are 100% correct and I wish I had seen them before myself and my partner booked to eat there last Sat night 2 AugustThere was no mention of a reduced menu when booking or on their websiteFood was extremely mediocre and £6 for a starter consisting of a couple of sliced tomatoes and some chopped onion was disgusting.This place is no longer a restaurant it’s a low grade Nightclub.Do not go there to eat you’ll be extremely disappointed!The owners need to realise that once the nightclubs reopen that all the youngsters will be gone and they will be left with no business!

I visited the Aurora yesterday with a friend. We arrived at 4pm and during the day it wasn’t too busy and the guidelines for social distancing etc where being seen too. At around 10pm I went from my table inside to queue at the bar like I had been all night. After waiting for around 10 minutes I was told I was in the wrong queue and should queue for the outside tent bar which I did. It took 40 minutes to get my drink order. The place was absolutely packed and none of the government guidelines were adhered to. Once I did that I made my way back inside and was physically stopped by a security guard. He put his hand across my stomach and said I can’t go in. I explained that my friends were inside and that I had been here since 4pm. He said he didn’t care, to get to the back of the queue and he stormed off. A guard next to him said he was so sorry I was just spoken to like that, explained they were very stressed because the place was absolutely packed. I said I understood and it’s okay and that even I was sorry it was so busy and they had to deal with so many people. I went round the side to tell my friends that I had to wait to come in and to give their drinks through the side door where I would then make my way to the queue. I had barely stepped one foot inside to pass the drinks and the same security guard who had physically stopped me before came over to me and shouted in my face asking me to queue, I explained I was sorry and just handing over drinks before I got back in the queue. He then shouted down to me ‘do you speak to everyone like this?’ I was very upset and confused by this because I spoke very kindly to him and every other member of staff I came into contact with through my night there. He said he will go and get another security guard to remove me. I said that’s okay as I was leaving anyway. I left quickly as I was worried he or someone else would try to touch me again. I stood outside the premises waiting for my friend with my drink I just queued over 40 minutes for (in a plastic cup) and a different security guard came marching over to me and took my drink off me and left it on the floor just inside the barrier. I’m so upset and can’t believe I’ve received this treatment. I will never return again.

TL;DR - Shocking, no social distancing, could be mistaken for a low grade nightclub, not the romantic restaurant it is made out to be. Avoid. We have been to Aurora many times which have all been delightful. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for this evening. For a start there was in excess of 150 people inside and out, not adhering to social distancing AT ALL. There were tents pitched outside where drinks were being served. We booked a table for 8.30 but were advised to arrive early to enjoy a couple of cocktails before our table was ready - upon arrival we were told to queue outside for the drinks, when inside started to clear slightly we were advised to go in for our drinks. One of the sole reasons we booked is because the cocktails are delightful, when we got to the bar we were then told no cocktails being served inside?! Inside itself was like a nightclub, not like we have experienced before, which was disappointing as the atmosphere usually is great and relaxed but today was awful. The staff were so busy they had no time to really be attentive to customers - not that this is there fault but solely and clearly management. I understand businesses need to earn money in times like this, but measures put in place by the government for safety reasons have been completely flouted. There was a lady taking track and trace details, but with the amount of people inside I wouldn't be surprised if the local area sees a peak in cases after this. The ladies toilets were clearly not being cleaned regularly, there was toilet roll all over the floor and minimal toilet paper in the holders - even wine glasses and unknown "fluids" on all surfaces. This is to be expected from a low grade club -not a supposedly upstanding restaurant/bar. We had one drink and left, paid for 2 taxis to have 1 drink... Me and my other half were out for our anniversary, that has been essentially ruined. Will not be attending anytime soon and I honestly believe they will shortly be shut down for not adhering to social distancing measures. Just avoid at all costs...

I went to Aurora last weekend to have a few drinks with friends Saturday night. I was disgusted by the amount of people allowed inside. There was absolutely no social distancing being observed and they were not taking contact details from people entering the vicinity. I understand local businesses are trying their best to make up for the money lost during lockdown however, if things don't change, we will be heading for a second lockdown. Needless to say by the way, I did not stay very long!

Great staff , fab location but go to Waitrose for a meal deal as they could serve up a decent dinner !!!Waited two hours for a main course with the restaurant half full ( now I know why ) Don’t waste your time as we did

Have been a couple of times. February storm Denis so worth the trip. Even better than summer. Amazing better than anywhere in London . This place is super special. All staff fabulous but special thanks to Elliot who remembered us from before. It is a special and enigmatic place very addictive in a great way. Like Prozac from air con.more than worth the trip from London.Janet and LizThanks for looking after us.

This is a lovely location for a romantic meal . Beautiful interior and lovely food .The salmon was particularly gorgeous. A limited choice on the menus but never the less very good .Our waitress was very polite and attentive, however clearly very nervous! Maybe a little bit more training is needed before staff are given tables to look after alone to reduce stress for them .We will be returning in the summer to make use of the balcony upstairs for an evening drink,it was just to cold and windy for us on this visit !

Beautifully cooked and presented brunch. Very attentive service with glasses topped up as soon as the level dropped.Stunning location. Would recommend for any special occasion.

Be aware that when you are ordering drinks the bar staff will continue to have a group chat with Callum, considering the price of the cocktails you would expect the bar staff to have basic manners. The same bar person who served us also backed straight into me and instead of being a gentleman totally ignored the fact that he did it! Speechless! If you want to run a classy establishment teach your team how to behave!

We enjoyed a pre-Christmas family meal here. The service was good and the menu varied and well presented. The restaurant has a great view over Ipswich Marina.

Really nice food shame about the parking fine .. didn’t realise that you had to sign in your car so now have a £60 fine ... maybe staff could notify customers when taking your food order... that’s not to much to ask is it

I went here Sunday afternoon for my nieces baby shower. The staff had for a great job with the table and her friends had added to this. It was a lovely setting, sat in a long table but the window. We had sausage rolls to start and then afternoon tea of sandwiches, scones, jam and cream and cakes shared between two with ample tea and coffee.Staff were friendly and helpful.. in all a great experience!

A warm welcome followed by excellent attentive service, a good choice on the menu and each dish very well presented and tasty.

Been back to Aurora this evening, food was really good and the service too. Not the cheapest place in town, but you get what you pay for!

Amazing venue, pre dinner drinks in a beautifully decorated location on the Ipswich waterfront.

our last visit which was a long time ago was a disaster, HOWEVER, this was the opposite and I have to thank and recommended the staff and great night we received on this visit.........well done, we have the best time and will be back, great way to start the new year. The team are a credit to the owners.