Southend has been labelled as one of the finest seaside resorts in the world.

Tory MP for Southend West, Sir David Amess, spoke up for the town in Parliament calling on William Hague to back his assessment of the town, which is going through something of a renaissance.

Although sorely disappointed Southend missed out on its bid to be named City of Culture in 2013, with Hull eventually winning that accolade, Sir Amess was happy to praise the town as a seaside resort.

He asked Mr Hague: “Given that he once made a memorable visit to Southend, does he agree that it is absolutely ridiculous the place is not already a city, especially since it is generally regarded as the finest seaside resorts in the country, if not the world?”

Mr Hague said he had once enjoyed a memorable trip to Southend saying it was one he would “never forget”.

Certainly hotel and guest house owners say more and more visitors are impressed with what they find in Southend.

Jacqui Harris, the managing director of the Roslin Beach Hotel, in Thorpe Esplanade, said: “We used to have a guest that regularly came here who had an apartment in Barbados, but he’d sit out on the terrace and say ‘this is better than my house in Barbados, because it’s i n t e r e s t i n g .

There’s always stuff going on here’.

“We have a lot of Japanese and Canadian visitors.

I believe Southend is a town that’s upped its game in the last few years. We’re now matching Brighton.

“Look at the investment in the Golden Mile. We’ve become more of a destination resort, and hotels, like ours, have also upped their game by investing millions.

People come here and say ‘wow, I didn’t expect this in Southend’.”

Southend also boasts the 12th best B&B in the world according to TripAdvisor – Suenos Guest House, in Eastern Esplanade.

Teresa Jones, who runs the guest house, added: “A lot of our residents have flown in from Europe to holiday here and we’re in an excellent location being so close to London yet giving them a coastal town to look around, too.”

Echo: Trip – David Amess

David Amess has heralded Southend

SOUTHEND has a variety of landmarks and attractions that make it a popular tourist destination.

With the heavy investment in Southend Airport, it is hoped the town can add to the six million daytrippers it attracts each year.

The jewel in the area’s crown is Southend Pier, which at 1.33 miles long, is the longest pleasure pier in the entire world.

Adventure Island is widely regarded as one of the premier free-to-enter theme parks in the country.

The town has an array of different beaches with typical seafront amusements such as the historic Kursaal.

Nearby is the working fishing village of Old Leigh, with its picturesque wooden cocklesheds.

Southchurch Hall is also a popular historic attraction for daytrippers, as is Prittlewell Priory, which was founded in the 12th century.

All year round the town’s parks and gardens are always full of colour, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the council’s parks department.

Echo:

Southend still has more to come

IF major projects in Southend become a reality, the town will be able to offer daytrippers plenty more attractions in the coming years.

For shoppers, planned projects including the £60million Marine Plaza transformation and the Seaway car park redevelopment, including a Cineworld.

Both could get planning permission this year.

Despite heavy question marks over its funding, Southend Council still holds out hope of building a museum on the cliffs.

The authority also has a long termaspiration to extend the City Beach redesign eastern past the Kursaal and Sealife Centre, even if the cash isn’t readily available.

A planned airport business park, close to Southend Airport, will generate thousands of jobs and money for the town.