ONE of Southend’s most famous nightclubs could be transformed into a new seafront bowling alley.
Businessman John Remblance has submitted plans to Southend Council to give the former Talk Nightclub on Lucy Road a makeover.
A sign has been put up at the site advertising a new bowling alley and American diner for the legendary night hotspot.
The club closed in December 2019 after more than 40 years.
The plans come as developer Turnstone is set to build a £50million leisure complex on Southend’s Seaway car park including a Hollywood Bowl opposite the former club.
Initial plans show a six-lane bowling alley on the first floor of the building and then a restaurant and bar on the second floor.
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Seafront traders welcomed the proposals for the nightclub and say the arcade boss would make it a success.
Joan Tiney, 71, chair of the Southend Seafront Traders’ Association and owner of the Borough Hotel, said: “It will help bring people down to this part of the seafront as customers would come down to the Kursaal.
“John will do it well and it will be top notch so I welcome it.”
Southend’s iconic Kursaal closed down its bowling alley in May 2019 after Disco Bowl Ltd left the site, then before that previous bowling venue owners MFA Bowl went into administration in February.
Paul Thompson, 47, owner of Pebbles One Cafe on the seafront said: “I think it’s a really good idea and there’s a big sign about it at the club.
“It’s fantastic and nice to see Southend business people investing in the town and I think there’s nothing wrong with some healthy competition. The old bowling alley closed so I do question if we need two but John knows about running businesses on the seafront and he’s a good business man.”
The former nightclub had been through several different identities during its tenure, and has been open on the seafront since 1973. In its heyday, it was known as TOTS.
It also had four different areas and 11 VIP booths, and hosted high profile singers including Jason Derulo, and Ghanaian music duo Reggie and Bollie from the X Factor.
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