IPSWICH – To promote his new song Old Phone, Ed Sheeran stopped by a pop-up bar, the new, Old Phone Pub, with a hundred fans Friday for a pint and his latest song, Old Phone.
The native of Ipswich, England, had just one day, two counting set up, to open the full-service pub on Essex Street. Behind the EBSCO Hall, the pub served burgers, fries, roast beef sandwiches and Guinness beer. The video crew reportedly recorded his appearance in Ipswich for the song’s music video.
Sherran debuted Old Phone Wednesday night on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
The idea for the song came to Sheeran while he was dealing with a copyright infringement lawsuit, during which he had to give up an old phone.
“I switched it on, and it was like going into a time machine,” he told Fallon. “The first text was from my friend that had passed away the year before. The second text was like an argument with an ex-girlfriend. it really, really spun me out.”
Only people, who got a confirmation text could enter the pub, along with one guest, and they had to present a valid ID at the entrance. Admission was granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Crews set up for the pop-up pub on Thursday. It provided a “cozy and warm” feel and was supposed to “blend the nostalgia of times gone by with the comfort of your favorite local establishment” according to its web site.
The Grammy-winning artist appears to have a fondness for Massachusetts. Just last week, Sheeran took the stage for an acoustic performance on St. Patrick’s Day at The Dubliner in Boston.
In July 2023, he set the single-show attendance record at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. At the concert, Sheeran was quoted as saying it was his “favorite place to play in the U.S.” Earlier that day, he surprised a group of young musicians in Boston.
He returned last year to headline the Boston Calling outdoor music festival and was seen at a Boston Celtics game. He also took the time to visit patients at Boston Children’s Hospital. ♦
