Southend hotels and guesthouses up for sale

The three businesses have all been placed for sale on Rightmove, although it appears each site wants to continue as a guest house, rather than closing for good.

James Courtenay, councillor responsible for tourism, admitted it would be a shame if they did close - insisting there is room for major hotels and smaller guest houses to co-exist, since they provide “different services” attracting “different kinds of customers”.

He said: “I think there is always that risk of over division, but I don’t think it is something we are facing here.

“I do think our smaller hotels and guest houses offer something completely different to some of our larger hotels.

“From conversations I have had with owners of guest houses, it is very seasonal business, in the summer business is fantastic, but during the winter it drops off, it just depends how you deal with that.

“There is no doubt we have a wide offering in Southend, and all the little guest houses offer something completely different to the hotels, and attract a different kind of person as well.

“There is no doubt we have some fantastic hotels in the town, but there is also space for these guest houses to succeed, it will never be one or the other.”

The Pleasant Court Guest House, on Pleasant Road, is listed on the market for £325,000.

The guest house includes four en-suite rooms, as well as separate staff accommodation.

A member of staff at the Beaches Guesthouse, on Eastern Esplanade, Thorpe Bay, which is listed for sale for £990,000 insisted he did not want to discuss the issue with a newspaper when contacted.

But the guest house is listed on Rightmove as “Southend’s Premier Guest House” boasting 11 elegant en-suite rooms.

While a six bedroom hotel, at 2 Wilson Road, is up for sale for £745,000.

This site would remain as a hotel, with the sale of assets only.