11 places to drink in one High Street

1:00pm Friday 8th June 2012 in Basildon By Melissa Hills

Mark Stevens – pleased with the look of his new bar Mark Stevens – pleased with the look of his new bar

A NEW swish £220,000 tapas bar has opened to rave reviews despite concerns a town is now saturated with places to drink.

Harry’s Bar has opened in the former Emporium shop in Billericay High Street to the delight of customers wanting to sample some Spanish variety in the town.

But its opening has been controversial as it takes the total number and bars and pubs in the town centre to 11.

Harry’s Bar owner Mark Stevens was inundated with complaints from residents when he unveiled his plans, but says the opening is now being supported by locals.

Mr Stevens, who also owns Bar West One and Murphy’s Sports Bar in Brentwood, said: “It has been like a dream come true to finally get the bar open and it looks lovely.

“Its just the way I imagined it would be and, despite the opposition we had before we opened, the customers have been really positive.

“We have even had people who objected to the plans come in and say it looks great and it’s much better than they expected it would be.

A total of 20 new jobs have also been created at the bar including managers, bar staff, chefs and cleaners.

Phil Turner, deputy leader of Basildon Council and a Billericay ward councillor is keeping an eye on incidents coming out of nightspots.

He said: “Billericay residents will not tolerate bad neighbours in our high street and the evidence we are collecting will go towards asking for reviews of licenses up to and including revocation.”

Billericay pubs and bars The Rising Sun The White Hart The Red Lion The Chequers The Blue Boar Stewarts/Vetro Bar Harry’s Bar The Crown The Railway Ivory Rooms Coach and Horses

Comments(35)

TerrySays2 says...
1:17pm Fri 8 Jun 12

Olives and Anchovy, Salami and cheese and chorizo sausage... I never change my order whatever country I eat Tapas. First come ac cross Tapas was in 1967 when I was in Spain and Ive never changed my Tapas order since.

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The Cater Wood Creeper says...
1:28pm Fri 8 Jun 12

could be worse, they could have a MacDonalds and half a dozen Poundshops....

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Red Hand Gang says...
1:38pm Fri 8 Jun 12

Who care if there are two many places to drink. You don't have to drink in them.

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quiksilver100 says...
1:55pm Fri 8 Jun 12

I don't see how there are too many places to drink. Other than the Blue Boar and this new bar all the other pubs have been there for hundreds of years as it was a well used stay over point during the days of horse and cart.

Therefore people knew there were pubs when they moved there. It is very different to any of the other pubs in the High Street too and a welcome change.

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billericay boy says...
2:24pm Fri 8 Jun 12

One good thing is only 25s and over is allowed in, And being a Friday night, I think me and the wife will go there tonight and most probably we will be the only ones in there.

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Horace Wimpole says...
2:55pm Fri 8 Jun 12

TerrySays2 wrote:
Olives and Anchovy, Salami and cheese and chorizo sausage... I never change my order whatever country I eat Tapas. First come ac cross Tapas was in 1967 when I was in Spain and Ive never changed my Tapas order since.
Fascinating.

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Blind Haze says...
4:40pm Fri 8 Jun 12

Southend's just the same, there's loads of places people drink. Under the railway bridge and the doorway of WH Smiths are two of the most popular venues.

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naughtyladyofshadylane says...
4:43pm Fri 8 Jun 12

in your dreams billericay boy, I agree with I think all of the comments on here 'cept perhaps terry,:o) I dont eat those except cheese! i used to live in billericay, loved it. and only 11? what about Leigh?

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naughtyladyofshadylane says...
5:34pm Fri 8 Jun 12

Ha Ha - Blind haze!!

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TerrySays2 says...
6:40pm Fri 8 Jun 12

Horace Wimpole wrote:
TerrySays2 wrote:
Olives and Anchovy, Salami and cheese and chorizo sausage... I never change my order whatever country I eat Tapas. First come ac cross Tapas was in 1967 when I was in Spain and Ive never changed my Tapas order since.
Fascinating.
Try it Horace, the green olives (not black) bring out the flavour with cheese anchovy and salami.. The chorizo sausages are nice in a light garlic sauce..

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ShipShape says...
11:18pm Fri 8 Jun 12

The rest of the pub trade seems to be in dire straits, it must be awful for Billericay to have to put up with successful businesses.

Best of luck to them.

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SARFENDMAN says...
6:44am Sat 9 Jun 12

Little town Rochford over 100 years ago had around 8 pubs and were open all day Market Days so no big deal on the numbers. It's the cliental and management that cause issues not the number of outlets. Good luck on the business, looks nice, hope he does well.

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naughtyladyofshadylane says...
11:12am Sat 9 Jun 12

Iron man , he who wrote it is not responding, I do want to know, if its awful someone in the know may report it ?? I hope so !!

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Ironman says...
1:19pm Sat 9 Jun 12

Had a look round the other day. very nicely done out with friendly staff but food and drink a bit 'pricey'. Whether it lasts the distance, who knows. It's in very competitive high street.

At least the owner is trying something different (tapas and over 25's).

Hope, it prospers.

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Lady milly from Billericay says...
9:32am Mon 11 Jun 12

There maybe loads of pubs but everynight they are full of people enjoying themselves. young old and inbetween. If they werent used they would be empty and closed. Far better to have open pubs than closed units making the town centre look delapidated and un inviting.

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muffindamule says...
11:55am Mon 11 Jun 12

Lady milly from Billericay wrote:
There maybe loads of pubs but everynight they are full of people enjoying themselves. young old and inbetween. If they werent used they would be empty and closed. Far better to have open pubs than closed units making the town centre look delapidated and un inviting.
A good point. I was going to add that there are one or two I wouldn't mind seeing close but their customers would then be forced to look for other establishments to spoil so maybe it's a good thing they all manage to stay open , thus catering for a wide range of clientele.

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R85 says...
12:02pm Mon 11 Jun 12

11 pints on a pub crawl if you have one at each place! Well hot-da*n that’s not nearly enough to end up paralytic in a pool of vomit, barely conscious in a back alley somewhere – possibly bereft of certain possessions! Don’t like to double up on pubs on a pub crawl but I guess in this situation I’d have to if I wanted to be incapable or making it home! What a bummer!

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naughtyladyofshadylane says...
2:44pm Mon 11 Jun 12

R85, jus wondering how old are you ??

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Jesslca says...
3:03pm Mon 11 Jun 12

I'd guess 27

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muffindamule says...
3:46pm Mon 11 Jun 12

Jesslca wrote:
I'd guess 27
Hang on a mo ! Is there a prize for this ?

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naughtyladyofshadylane says...
4:14pm Mon 11 Jun 12

A prize, what make you think that. Does someone know him though, or is that recognized to be the silly age for acting like that ??

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muffindamule says...
4:35pm Mon 11 Jun 12

naughtyladyofshadyla
ne wrote:
A prize, what make you think that. Does someone know him though, or is that recognized to be the silly age for acting like that ??
Well, if there's no prize then I suppose anyone can join in. Judging by personal experience I would go for 23 years of age and with a liking for Chinese takeaways.

Would you care to hazard a guess naughtylady ?

I do hope R85 is going to be sporting enough to let us know who has come closest.

:-)

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Andycal 172D says...
5:29pm Mon 11 Jun 12

The Cater Wood Creeper wrote:
could be worse, they could have a MacDonalds and half a dozen Poundshops....
So, you've been to Sarfend then...

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The Cater Wood Creeper says...
5:35pm Mon 11 Jun 12

Andycal 172D wrote:
The Cater Wood Creeper wrote: could be worse, they could have a MacDonalds and half a dozen Poundshops....
So, you've been to Sarfend then...
and Basildon.....

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naughtyladyofshadylane says...
9:19pm Mon 11 Jun 12

My guess is , he is old enough to know better, and older than you all think!! He must work in the city, earn a lotta money , I wonder. He will learn !!, (hopefully) ps there did not have to be a prize for anyone to join in??

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muffindamule says...
9:31pm Mon 11 Jun 12

naughtyladyofshadyla
ne wrote:
My guess is , he is old enough to know better, and older than you all think!! He must work in the city, earn a lotta money , I wonder. He will learn !!, (hopefully) ps there did not have to be a prize for anyone to join in??
Right you are. I have a feeling that Jessica is relying on the 85 from R85 to relate to his or her year of birth. I'm hoping it is simply a sort of play on words (R8 = irate) but I can't imagine what the 5 represents.

R85, please put me out of my misery.

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Terry2says says...
8:55am Tue 12 Jun 12

harry

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naughtyladyofshadylane says...
10:07am Tue 12 Jun 12

what does harry mean? an R85 is a form for non tax payers , does he work for the I R ? name begins with R and yes born in 85? gosh endless possibilities .

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R85 says...
12:56pm Tue 12 Jun 12

muffindamule wrote:
naughtyladyofshadyla ne wrote: My guess is , he is old enough to know better, and older than you all think!! He must work in the city, earn a lotta money , I wonder. He will learn !!, (hopefully) ps there did not have to be a prize for anyone to join in??
Right you are. I have a feeling that Jessica is relying on the 85 from R85 to relate to his or her year of birth. I'm hoping it is simply a sort of play on words (R8 = irate) but I can't imagine what the 5 represents. R85, please put me out of my misery.
Very astute – it certainly is the year. I’m actually 26 though but 1985 I could of course be 26 or 27. R’s just the first letter of my name – I remember it took me forever because a lot of the usernames I tried were taken!

I was wondering whether anyone would be crazy enough to think my previous post was serious (although it would probably be a bangin night – lol :-) )

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R85 says...
1:00pm Tue 12 Jun 12

I guess Jessica & naughtyladyofshadyla
ne were the most astute but all the guesses were good and logical guesses! Lol – the surprise I had to see this discussion today! Lol

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naughtyladyofshadylane says...
1:26pm Tue 12 Jun 12

ah riddle solved. I do so really hope you were joking young man, as you would seriously be sorry later. You dont realise till you get older. Not that i speak from experience personally, only been drunk a couple of times in my whole life, as a teenager! (And i could be your Nan!!) But I have seen others that get in an awful state! I did wonder if you were secretly watching and having a laugh at us xx

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muffindamule says...
1:27pm Tue 12 Jun 12

R85 wrote:
I guess Jessica & naughtyladyofshadyla

ne were the most astute but all the guesses were good and logical guesses! Lol – the surprise I had to see this discussion today! Lol
Thanks for clearing that up and congratulations to the ladies.

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R85 says...
2:08pm Tue 12 Jun 12

naughtyladyofshadyla
ne wrote:
ah riddle solved. I do so really hope you were joking young man, as you would seriously be sorry later. You dont realise till you get older. Not that i speak from experience personally, only been drunk a couple of times in my whole life, as a teenager! (And i could be your Nan!!) But I have seen others that get in an awful state! I did wonder if you were secretly watching and having a laugh at us xx
Lol, nah I just don’t normally go on the net very much when I’m at home is all so I don’t normally post in the eve!
I was joking about the pub crawl but my mates and I do enjoy a nice drink on many weekends – definitely livens things up by breaking down inhibitions (which is normally a good thing when around close friends)! I plan to cut down more and more the older I get though, as I know the risks. The liver and most organs regenerate very quickly once you stop putting the intoxicant into them though.
When I think about it I can’t imagine still getting drunk when I’m in my 40s, 50s, 60s – I’d expect to have something seriously wrong with me if I did it for that long!
Luckily, at the moment I don’t get hangovers either so I’m going to continue to enjoy it whilst in my 20s!

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naughtyladyofshadylane says...
4:02pm Tue 12 Jun 12

me and u cud now be mates lol. muffundamule we deserve to know a bit about you now, any takers? I will start then, erm..... older, older than who/ what i hear you all saying?? older than R85, male?? younger than me? i don't know ? oh and erm, quite intelligent, well spoken ??lives very near if not in B'cay ?

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naughtyladyofshadylane says...
4:04pm Tue 12 Jun 12

Terry2says, I feel so silly now, jus re read the article harry's bar, Duh !! Am I forgiven ?

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