Breath of life at last for thriving Southend Pier (From Echo)
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Breath of life at last for thriving Southend Pier
2:00pm Tuesday 21st August 2012 in News
Cultural pride – Scott Dolling on the pier
AFTER seven years in the doldrums, Southend’s pier is finally booming once again – and council chiefs are determined to capitalise on the feelgood factor.
Just a week after a free music festival attracted more than 8,000 visitors to the end of the structure, bosses at Southend Council have revealed a packed and varied schedule for the pier’s new
£3million cultural centre.
Everything from art exhibitions to scary films are due to grace the end of the 1.3 mile-long landmark over the coming months.
Chiefs believe the momentum created by the initial public enthusiasm for the new centre will morph into a regular demand for fresh events.
Scott Dolling, the council’s group manager of enterprise and tourism, said: “We’ve obviously put a lot of effort into ensuring there was plenty of stuff on at the centre over its first few months,
but I think after that we will see more and more people coming to us with their own ideas for what they want to organise. We’re entirely open to suggestions.
“As long as it is legal and licensable, we’re willing to consider it.”
The cultural centre, which has taken more than two years to arrive since the idea for it was first publicised, was officially opened to the public last month.
The 350 sqm building, which has a cafe and toilets as well as a performance space, became the first structure to be added to the pierhead since 2000.
It also ended a seven-year wait for a new attraction after a 2005 fire destroyed its pub, shell shop and ice-cream stall.
Visitor numbers to the pier have suffered in recent years as a result, but council chiefs are now confident it will become a new symbol for the town – and not just a seasonal one.
“Previously, the pier has been a very summer-orientated attraction,” Mr Dolling said. “But because the new cultural centre is weather-proof, we can now keep events running throughout the year.”
THE new cultural centre got off to roaring start with the inaugural Wave Comedy Festival.
Hundreds of people travelled to the pierhead to watch stand-up comics or take part in workshops over four days last month.
Its success was followed by a jazz concert at the end of July, with local performers, trumpeter Digby Fairweather and singer Tina May.
Then, on August 11 and 12, music fans flocked to a two-day celebration of Southend’s best bands, including the Jim Jones Revue, Lucky Strikes and Cusack.
Fiona Siggins, who helped to organise the festival, said: “We worked closely with the pier team and Southend Council to host a truly unique event on our stunning, iconic landmark.”
Comments(29)
Dangerous driver
says...
2:31pm Tue 21 Aug 12
v.randy
says...
2:35pm Tue 21 Aug 12
Give it a year,then the funding will end and so will the modest interest it is currrently experiencing.Then it will join the growing list of mothballed bad ideas.
Unfortunately quality comes at a price and SBC loves cheap short-lived projects...shocking!
!!!!!
Dangerous driver
says...
2:36pm Tue 21 Aug 12
Dangerous driver wrote:and not to mention the amount of speed cameras in the town. Another money grabber.
What a loads of crap. Southend Pier is a rip off anyway. Charging people to walk on a dirty bit of wooden walkway, and looking down on dirty water. And when you get to the bottom, you will have more rip off prices in the shops etc!! Sounds a great money burner. Plus most tourists or even locals have to pay rip off prices before they even get onto the pier for the parking! Glad im not living in Southend.
Eric Whim
says...
3:04pm Tue 21 Aug 12
and council chiefs are determined to capitalise on the feelgood factor
shouldn't that be Canvey doing that Down by the jetty on Milk and alcohol?
Audioman
says...
4:29pm Tue 21 Aug 12
The last time it was and a vist to the LifeBoat station was a must.
Nebs
says...
5:28pm Tue 21 Aug 12
Dangerous driver wrote:As a local resident who enjoys what the borough has to offer, I agree totally with your final sentence.
What a loads of crap. Southend Pier is a rip off anyway. Charging people to walk on a dirty bit of wooden walkway, and looking down on dirty water. And when you get to the bottom, you will have more rip off prices in the shops etc!! Sounds a great money burner. Plus most tourists or even locals have to pay rip off prices before they even get onto the pier for the parking! Glad im not living in Southend.
jolllyboy
says...
6:14pm Tue 21 Aug 12
jantone
says...
6:33pm Tue 21 Aug 12
waiting now for all the moaners and groaners to slag it off, as usual!!
Well done to southend council.
Max Impact
says...
6:42pm Tue 21 Aug 12
jantone wrote:Same here, amazing atmosphere everyone was enjoying it, not a grumble to be heard.
We went to the recent music festival on the pier, it was just brilliant, thousands of people enjoying a fun day out!! waiting now for all the moaners and groaners to slag it off, as usual!! Well done to southend council.
Sadly unlike the sad freaks on here who did not go and are commenting for the sake of commenting even if they are from outside Southend!
Unless you have attened one of the events hosted so far how can you judge the venue.
Be like me saying Dangerous driver lives in a tip and is dirty, I have never seen his/her house so how can I make a judgement.
Julie57
says...
6:43pm Tue 21 Aug 12
Max Impact
says...
6:44pm Tue 21 Aug 12
jolllyboy wrote:So because it was photographed between events thats a bad thing is it...
Looks like an empty shelter to me.
Surely showing the space avalable will let people see the size of the venue with out anything cluttering the floor space.
Still looks a lot more full than that thing you call a brain at least its not full of faeces.
jayman
says...
7:10pm Tue 21 Aug 12
its success will depend on its ability to pull in great acts. the capacity to make a profit and its unique nature.
thats 1/3 at least..
or weddings (lol) or functions (probably/mostly)
Nebs
says...
7:15pm Tue 21 Aug 12
It never ceases to amaze me how many locals can't remember the last time they went on the pier. Offer them as many trips as they like for a photo and a tenner a year. The coffee shop profits will soar as well as the pier always looking busy.
Max Impact
says...
7:41pm Tue 21 Aug 12
Nebs wrote:Southend Council tax payers can get a discount.
How about a discounted pier season ticket for borough council tax payers. Let the tourists pay the full price, and locals get a discount. It never ceases to amaze me how many locals can't remember the last time they went on the pier. Offer them as many trips as they like for a photo and a tenner a year. The coffee shop profits will soar as well as the pier always looking busy.
Get an Advantage Card
http://www.southend.
gov.uk/info/451/spor
ts-information_and_b
ooking/714/advantage
_card_scheme/1
Chymes81
says...
8:50pm Tue 21 Aug 12
SARFENDMAN
says...
10:06pm Tue 21 Aug 12
The weather has been kind over recent weeks but the real test will be through the harder months of late autumn and winter. Here's hoping.
Dangerous driver
says...
12:05pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Max Impact wrote:I bet it was absolutely great this music festival. s h i t music, no drugs, and maybe a bar that charges £5 for a pint of fosters.
jantone wrote:Same here, amazing atmosphere everyone was enjoying it, not a grumble to be heard.
We went to the recent music festival on the pier, it was just brilliant, thousands of people enjoying a fun day out!! waiting now for all the moaners and groaners to slag it off, as usual!! Well done to southend council.
Sadly unlike the sad freaks on here who did not go and are commenting for the sake of commenting even if they are from outside Southend!
Unless you have attened one of the events hosted so far how can you judge the venue.
Be like me saying Dangerous driver lives in a tip and is dirty, I have never seen his/her house so how can I make a judgement.
Max Impact
says...
1:16pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Dangerous driver wrote:Unlike you the majority of the people of Southend are cultured and intellectual, they are not stupid enough to more or less admit to drug use on an open public forum.
Max Impact wrote:I bet it was absolutely great this music festival. s h i t music, no drugs, and maybe a bar that charges £5 for a pint of fosters.jantone wrote: We went to the recent music festival on the pier, it was just brilliant, thousands of people enjoying a fun day out!! waiting now for all the moaners and groaners to slag it off, as usual!! Well done to southend council.Same here, amazing atmosphere everyone was enjoying it, not a grumble to be heard. Sadly unlike the sad freaks on here who did not go and are commenting for the sake of commenting even if they are from outside Southend! Unless you have attened one of the events hosted so far how can you judge the venue. Be like me saying Dangerous driver lives in a tip and is dirty, I have never seen his/her house so how can I make a judgement.
If all you have in life is drink and drugs than you really do have a sad pathetic parasitic life.
Wherever you are from stay there and don't come to Southend, as a matter of fact why comment on a Southend story when you don't live in Southend.
Dangerous driver
says...
6:06pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Max Impact wrote:Southend is full of crackheads. End of. And im a Brentwood boy too.
Dangerous driver wrote:Unlike you the majority of the people of Southend are cultured and intellectual, they are not stupid enough to more or less admit to drug use on an open public forum.
Max Impact wrote:I bet it was absolutely great this music festival. s h i t music, no drugs, and maybe a bar that charges £5 for a pint of fosters.jantone wrote: We went to the recent music festival on the pier, it was just brilliant, thousands of people enjoying a fun day out!! waiting now for all the moaners and groaners to slag it off, as usual!! Well done to southend council.Same here, amazing atmosphere everyone was enjoying it, not a grumble to be heard. Sadly unlike the sad freaks on here who did not go and are commenting for the sake of commenting even if they are from outside Southend! Unless you have attened one of the events hosted so far how can you judge the venue. Be like me saying Dangerous driver lives in a tip and is dirty, I have never seen his/her house so how can I make a judgement.
If all you have in life is drink and drugs than you really do have a sad pathetic parasitic life.
Wherever you are from stay there and don't come to Southend, as a matter of fact why comment on a Southend story when you don't live in Southend.
Max Impact
says...
7:24pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Well appart from from the fact it comes naturally from the people of Brentwood, I was mugged last time I went there, Brentwood is full of druggies, dunks, homeless, incest and just about every std & sti you can think of.
Most of the male population of Brentwood are batty boys.
Dangerous driver
says...
10:46pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Max Impact wrote:hahahahaaha. You make me laugh you w an k er. Southend is the most scummy place in Essex. Basildon is better then Southend by miles. I was born and raised a Basildon boy and to be honest it aint that bad. Southend is a over rated town, claiming for city status and never got it because its absolute s h i t.
So why comment about Southend, stick to your own town, lets face facts Brentwood is **** it is worse than Basildon hell it is even worse than Canvey! and that takes some doing...
Well appart from from the fact it comes naturally from the people of Brentwood, I was mugged last time I went there, Brentwood is full of druggies, dunks, homeless, incest and just about every std & sti you can think of.
Most of the male population of Brentwood are batty boys.
bignosechaff
says...
11:17pm Wed 22 Aug 12
bignosechaff
says...
11:26pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Max Impact wrote:All the towns in Essex have some lovely caring people and some scumbags and some that are in between. I am from southend by the way and have to admit that its not the place it used to be. Oh and I dont agree with your comments either. You can't generalise. We all think our towns are better on here. But to be honest most of the comments on here are from people playing devils advocate
So why comment about Southend, stick to your own town, lets face facts Brentwood is **** it is worse than Basildon hell it is even worse than Canvey! and that takes some doing...
Well appart from from the fact it comes naturally from the people of Brentwood, I was mugged last time I went there, Brentwood is full of druggies, dunks, homeless, incest and just about every std & sti you can think of.
Most of the male population of Brentwood are batty boys.
bignosechaff
says...
11:36pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Max Impact wrote:Thats a duff link
Nebs wrote:Southend Council tax payers can get a discount.
How about a discounted pier season ticket for borough council tax payers. Let the tourists pay the full price, and locals get a discount. It never ceases to amaze me how many locals can't remember the last time they went on the pier. Offer them as many trips as they like for a photo and a tenner a year. The coffee shop profits will soar as well as the pier always looking busy.
Get an Advantage Card
http://www.southend.
gov.uk/info/451/spor
ts-information_and_b
ooking/714/advantage
_card_scheme/1
Recruit1989
says...
5:25pm Thu 23 Aug 12
Dangerous driver wrote:What is wrong with some people!!
Max Impact wrote:I bet it was absolutely great this music festival. s h i t music, no drugs, and maybe a bar that charges £5 for a pint of fosters.jantone wrote: We went to the recent music festival on the pier, it was just brilliant, thousands of people enjoying a fun day out!! waiting now for all the moaners and groaners to slag it off, as usual!! Well done to southend council.Same here, amazing atmosphere everyone was enjoying it, not a grumble to be heard. Sadly unlike the sad freaks on here who did not go and are commenting for the sake of commenting even if they are from outside Southend! Unless you have attened one of the events hosted so far how can you judge the venue. Be like me saying Dangerous driver lives in a tip and is dirty, I have never seen his/her house so how can I make a judgement.
Your probably the idiot driving to southend to throw rocks at people.....
Max Impact
says...
11:43pm Thu 23 Aug 12
bignosechaff wrote:http://www.southend.
Max Impact wrote:Thats a duff link
Nebs wrote:Southend Council tax payers can get a discount.
How about a discounted pier season ticket for borough council tax payers. Let the tourists pay the full price, and locals get a discount. It never ceases to amaze me how many locals can't remember the last time they went on the pier. Offer them as many trips as they like for a photo and a tenner a year. The coffee shop profits will soar as well as the pier always looking busy.
Get an Advantage Card
http://www.southend.
gov.uk/info/451/spor
ts-information_and_b
ooking/714/advantage
_card_scheme/1
gov.uk/info/451/spor
tsinformation_and_bo
oking/714/advantage_
card_scheme/1
A lot of the problem is that the postings get broken down in to short lines of text which can cause a problem with links.
Or you could just Google Southend Advantage Card
tatersalad
says...
10:53am Sat 25 Aug 12
Nebs wrote:More like a discount for council workers. I assume this building is not in daily use ? I would love to see something other than a cafe or lifeboat shop after the bumpy ride in the train with square wheels.
How about a discounted pier season ticket for borough council tax payers. Let the tourists pay the full price, and locals get a discount.
It never ceases to amaze me how many locals can't remember the last time they went on the pier. Offer them as many trips as they like for a photo and a tenner a year. The coffee shop profits will soar as well as the pier always looking busy.
openspace
says...
8:26am Tue 28 Aug 12
Dangerous driver wrote:Not sure how you can make a judgement from 25 miles way, but I am glad it is that far, please stay there !!
Max Impact wrote:I bet it was absolutely great this music festival. s h i t music, no drugs, and maybe a bar that charges £5 for a pint of fosters.
jantone wrote:Same here, amazing atmosphere everyone was enjoying it, not a grumble to be heard.
We went to the recent music festival on the pier, it was just brilliant, thousands of people enjoying a fun day out!! waiting now for all the moaners and groaners to slag it off, as usual!! Well done to southend council.
Sadly unlike the sad freaks on here who did not go and are commenting for the sake of commenting even if they are from outside Southend!
Unless you have attened one of the events hosted so far how can you judge the venue.
Be like me saying Dangerous driver lives in a tip and is dirty, I have never seen his/her house so how can I make a judgement.
Leighdweller says...
2:13pm Tue 21 Aug 12