Southend plush seafront restaurant delays opening again

Zinnia, run by the Elysium Group, is part of a £125 million Clifftown Shore development in Southend’s Western Esplanade - where almost 90 per cent of the homes have already been sold.

The seafront restaurant and cocktail bar was set to open alongside the apartments back in September, however at that time bosses, said it isn’t expected to launch until “shortly before Christmas”.

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However, with no opening date publicly announced, the Elysium Group confirmed there was “no update” and opening had been pushed back to the New Year. 

A spokesman said: “At present we have nothing to update. In the new year we hope to have a firm opening date and shall be in touch.”

The project has been years in the making, built on the site of the old Esplanade pub and the Marriott’s fish restaurant next door. 

The majority of the 51-apartments have been sold already and alongside the apartments and restaurant, there is a gym and secure parking.

The restaurant will offer food lovers a menu designed around the culinary fusions of North and South America, the Polynesian islands, eastern Asia, and Australia.

Back in September, bosses blamed construction delays, but stressed they were on site “building it”.

The firm was unable to give us a further update on this.

Councillor Matt Dent said it is frustrating to hear of yet another delay.

He said: “It is always frustrating with these things, especially with it not being the first delay.

“I understand the issues with inflation and increased costs, but it would have been good to get it in place, open and up and running before Christmas.

“So, I understand frustrations, but I think in these difficult times we just have to keep our fingers crossed and wait for more updates.

“It is kind of the situation we are in; it is just how things are.”