A CELEBRITY chef is opening a new restaurant on Southend seafront.

Mark Baumann, who runs Baumann’s Brasserie in Coggershall, has signed the lease of the former Tiffin’s Indian restaurant on Eastern Esplanade and plans to open the first of three Bourgee Luxe Lounge restaurants in July.

The chef said Southend was the “next big place to be” and Bourgee will specialise in fine dining, steak and lobster.

Business partner James Welling said the new restaurant takes its name from the word “bourgeois”, adding the restaurant would be a “coup” for Southend and breathe new life into the seafront.

He said: “This is particularly exciting for Southend – for the town and for local businesses – but we’re also looking at venues number two and three in Essex as well, with a second restaurant coming to Billericay.

“It’s very encouraging in that it’s not only us, but others coming with significant investment and we’ve very consciously chosen this town.

“We’ve got some really interesting people on the project financially and in terms of recruitment – it’s going to be a real coup for Southend.”

Mr Baumann detailed some of his reasons for choosing Southend in a blog in the Stir It Up catering magazine.

He said: “Southend has had a massive amount of investment put into it and I believe it’s going to be the next big place to be in the next year or so.”

Mr Welling added the council had been “unbelievably supportive”

and South Essex College has also pitched in on recruitment –with student Jack Pearce being one of the first to be employed at the restaurant.

Derek Jarvis, councillor for leisure, said the restaurant would be a very welcomed addition to Southend.

He said: “That area of town is always changing and on the move and, with developments like the new Sealife Centre, it’s an area which will be constantly improving. It could add a whole new dimension to the area.”

SOUTHEND AND BILLERICAY CHOSEN FOR EMPIRE EXPANSION ‘Southend has had massive investment. It is the next big place to be in the next year or so ý Mark Bauman – bringing a new dimension to Southend cuisine Picture: AL UNDERWOOD BA54530 A STUDENT at South Essex College will start work at Bourgee this summer.

Jack Pearce, 19, right from Billericay, is a Level Three professional cookery student at the Southend campus and was recently shortlisted for the national Hotelympia Hot Talent Awards, set up to nurture the best young talent in the hospitality industry.

This has placed him the top five of his peers across the country and, while the winner will receive two weeks on work placement with top chef Ben Spalding at events management company Creative Belly, Mr Pearce has already become the first apprentice who will be working with Mark Baumann at Bourgee.

It will not be the first time he has worked with a top chef, however.

The teenager was inspired to follow a career in professional cookery when he took a work placement with award-winning chef Matt Gillan at his Michelin star restaurant The Pass in West Sussex.

A CELEBRITY chef is opening a new restaurant on Southend seafront.

Mark Baumann, who runs Baumann’s Brasserie in Coggershall, has signed the lease of the former Tiffin’s Indian restaurant on Eastern Esplanade and plans to open the first of three Bourgee Luxe Lounge restaurants in July.

The chef said Southend was the “next big place to be” and Bourgee will specialise in fine dining, steak and lobster.

Business partner James Welling said the new restaurant takes its name from the word “bourgeois”, adding the restaurant would be a “coup” for Southend and breathe new life into the seafront.

He said: “This is particularly exciting for Southend – for the town and for local businesses – but we’re also looking at venues number two and three in Essex as well, with a second restaurant coming to Billericay.

“It’s very encouraging in that it’s not only us, but others coming with significant investment and we’ve very consciously chosen this town.

“We’ve got some really interesting people on the project financially and in terms of recruitment – it’s going to be a real coup for Southend.”

Mr Baumann detailed some of his reasons for choosing Southend in a blog in the Stir It Up catering magazine.

He said: “Southend has had a massive amount of investment put into it and I believe it’s going to be the next big place to be in the next year or so.”

Mr Welling added the council had been “unbelievably supportive”

and South Essex College has also pitched in on recruitment –with student Jack Pearce being one of the first to be employed at the restaurant.

Derek Jarvis, councillor for leisure, said the restaurant would be a very welcomed addition to Southend.

He said: “That area of town is always changing and on the move and, with developments like the new Sealife Centre, it’s an area which will be constantly improving. It could add a whole new dimension to the area."