Southend seafront kiosk to close as appeal thrown out

The owners of Seathorpe Espresso, at 193 Eastern Esplanade, have been left in limbo for the last two years as they waited for the outcome of an appeal after Southend Council ordered them to shut up shop.

The coffee kiosk was built on a small bit of green space without planning permission, but proved popular and a hit with the community despite Southend Council citing serious concerns about the kiosk causing “noise and nuisance” for surrounding properties.

Owners Beverly Clark, 60, and Ray Clark, 59, have now been left devastated after the Government’s planning inspectorate ruled they must close and the kiosk be removed by June 5.

The appeal was rejected because of concerns on the “living conditions of nearby residential occupiers, regarding noise, disturbance and loss of privacy.”

However, Mr Clark insisted this is not the end of the business and they are now scouring for a new location to open up in.

Mr Clark said: “I am very disappointed, and I am very frustrated for us and our customers.

“We feel aggrieved, the inspectorate’s big reason was that we cause “noise and nuisance”.

“These complaints have come from a minority of our neighbours, but we will abide by this decision, though we don’t agree.

“There is nothing else we can do, Seathorpe Espresso was a successful community venture, and this decision will hurt the community.”

Mr Clark insisted he and his wife have had huge support from the community since opening in the Covid pandemic.

Mrs Clark said: “Some of our customers live on their own and the don’t see their families, they won’t leave their homes out of fright, but they will try to come down to Seathorpe Espressos and talk, make acquaintances and battle loneliness.

“We have a couple in their 90s who always try to come down, no matter the weather and we have both made a lot of friends running it, it is so sad. This is the end of the battle. We have enjoyed being on the seaside.”