THOUSANDS of pounds have been invested in creating a new cocktail and lounge bar in the centre of Southend...and it is already proving popular just days after opening.

Switch opened in Queens Road, Southend, for the first time on Friday after owners Greg Moulton and Nessa Narciso took over the former Pong bar.

The new venue boasts funky interior, games - both virtual and old-school board games - coffee and cocktails and Greg insisted it is the perfect place “people arrive as customers but leave as friends”.

Greg added: “We are passionate about being a community focuses, family friendly games bar and coffee lounge.

“We are all about having fun and keeping things quite casual. People come in as customers and leave as friends.

“We are a family-run business and we focus on service and we like to think people come back to us for that too.

“Our feedback has been outstanding and we are known for our service, being approachable and building up a rapport with our customers.

“It’s our staff and team who make us so different, you can’t get us just anywhere. We have the skill sets and it’s one of our biggest unique selling points.

“So far the feedback has been all about our service and how great it is.”

The business, which cost thousands to revamp also boasts a pool table, ping pong, ultraviolet graffiti decorations and much more.

There is also an extensive cocktail list on offer, coffee and milkshakes.

Greg helped run the previous ping pong bar in the same unit, before taking on management of the new venue.

He added: “We want to create a space where all people are welcome and feel they belong in a safe space.

“We want to help people enjoy themselves and our customers do become our friends. We like to make people feel comfortable.

“We have very competitively priced cocktails and good craft beers at great prices too. Our chicken wings are very popular too.

“While the food is a passion of ours, right now we are focussing on our front of house and service too.”