The Suffolk Gazette is, indeed, a spoof newspaper but the basis of the article is true:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-51620577
I was born and raised in Ipswich and, having returned to my home county after a couple of decades in Sheffield, I've lived 9 miles down the road from there for the past 30-odd years. (I've been shopping in Ipswich this afternoon). It's a town that's very much 'on the up', especially in the Waterfront district (which is packed with bars and restaurants)
https://allaboutipswich.com/highlights/the-waterfront
and in the classy shopping areas, such as The Saints
https://allaboutipswich.com/blog/2020/indie-shops
The town is worth a visit in its own right for a weekend, or a few days, but it really comes into its own as a great base for discovering East Anglia over a week or two.