The iconic pier, miles of beaches and a guaranteed good time are just some of the reasons Southend has been voted the 36th best coastal destination in the country.

A survey of 2,000 adults, commissioned by WWF-UK in partnership with Sky Ocean Rescue, has revealed the 50 best UK beaches.

While Bournemouth was voted the nation’s favourite beach, Southend is flying the flag for Essex, with it being the only town in the entirety of the county to make the cut.

Martin Richardson, owner of the Happidrome Arcade in Marine Parade, feels there is a case to be made for Southend to be even higher in the charts.

The businessman said: “Southend has seven or eight miles of sandy beaches and, unlike other places, that does not disappear at high tide.

“It doesn’t come as a surprise that we are the only Essex town to make the top 50 because we have everything you could want.

“We have the best beaches, full stop. On top of that, there are shops, amusements and Adventure Island on the beaches’ doorstep.

Martin Richardson

Martin Richardson

“There’s something for everyone and the beach welfare officers, who were in place as volunteers last year, should return because they make everyone feel safe.

“We’re never going to beat places like Bournemouth or Brighton because we’re on a river but, in my opinion, we have the best beaches you could imagine.”

Allen Johnson, 30, lives a stone’s throw away from Southend seafront on Plas Newydd.

He swims in the Thames Estuary every day - including when snow fell last week - and feels Southend stands out from the pack when it comes to ranking the coastline.

Allen, a personal trainer, said: “I am really lucky because I live a 20 second walk away from the beach.

“I walk along the seafront everyday and there is so much to admire.

“You have boats moored up, a host of businesses, ships going past draws day trippers and we should also take pride from the fact we have the world’s longest pleasure pier.

“Southend seafront is not just a nice place for day trippers - when coronavirus restrictions are lifted - but it’s a fantastic place to live.”

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The survey carried out by WWF-UK and Sky Ocean Rescue also found 75 per cent consider the beach or sea to be an iconic British landscape, while a third reckon holidays to the UK’s seaside are underrated.

Kevin Robinson, Southend Council cabinet member for business, culture and tourism, said: “It’s pleasing to see Southend in the top 50 because the community has done a lot of work recently to keep the beaches clean.

“Our seawater is improving and the wildlife plays its part in making Southend a desired destination.

“The different types of wildlife that come down the Thames Estuary make it somewhere people want to visit and its great.

“Being the only Essex town in the top 50 also speaks volumes because other places like Clacton and Walton take great pride in their beaches.

“The length of the beaches and Thames Estuary means we have plenty to offer and hopefully we can improve on our placing in the future.”

Joan Tiney, chairman of the Southend Seafront Traders’ Association, feels Southend’s proximity to the capital played a key role in the town fairing well in the ratings.

She said: “A lot of it has to come down to the accessibility to London.

“There are two main roads leading into Southend and plenty of train stations, so it’s an ideal destination for day trippers.

“It’s good to see Southend rated so highly.”