please empty your brain below
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Ah. The memories of more than a few childhood 'days out' to Southend on mud.
I still go there today when I'm bored, when I fancy a drive or when I fancy a bit of fresh air.
Tom Reynolds | Homepage | 10.02.08 - 11:24 a.m. | #
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I always thought the oldest was Steeplechase park Coney Island, opened 1897
Miichael | 10.02.08 - 11:34 a.m. | #
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According to the sign in the Kursaal's foyer:
"Originally opened in 1901, the Kursaal was the world's first ever theme park, pre-dating Coney Island USA."
The building's 1901, the park may be older.
Take your pick.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 10.02.08 - 1:21 p.m. | #
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What with Margate and now Southend-you are really punishing yourself DG!
Anonymous | 10.02.08 - 1:33 p.m. | #
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Canvey Island - that would be real punishment...
Venichka | 10.02.08 - 3:48 p.m. | #
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Southend- a national treasure, and not a bad train ride either. So handy for hopping over to QiniteQ's privately run island of Foulness
http://uk.geocities.com/foulnessisland/
complete with bus service, church and pub
http://www.cambridge-camra.org.u...nique-
pubs.html
,provided one's paperwork is in order...
And don't write off Canvey Island either,DG
http://canveyisland.org.uk/
felix | 10.02.08 - 5:18 p.m. | #
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1953, Bank Holiday Monday in Southend and it was raining (again). With parents who believed it couldn't last, and anyway fresh air was good for growing children, however wet, there was no option and no argument: a train ride on the pier had to be paid for by a good long walk. On the way, we passed a proto Ena Sharples, who said with a glare "Loovly bloody holiday". Funny how things stick in your memory.
Autolycus | Homepage | 10.02.08 - 6:11 p.m. | #
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The redevelopment of the Kursaal was a great opportunity for Southend but sadly it's never been used to its full potential. The bowling alley is rarely full, the bar at the front was refurbished many times but finally closed and the amusement arcades aren't enough of an attraction to get people from the bright lights of the other amusement arcades on the seafront.
Not too surprisingly, the council are trying to clean up the seafront's image and have come up with plans to demolish the arcades and turn it into a Brighton Marina-style area. The handful of families who own (and make lots of money from) them certainly have something to say against this idea!
Rob | 10.02.08 - 8:02 p.m. | #
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When I was a youngster we used to pronounce Kursaal to rhyme with Worzel as in Gummidge. Are there any other pronunciations out there?
Great Aunt Annie | 10.02.08 - 8:48 p.m. | #
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I remember going to Southend several times when I was young and having some quite good fun there.
The problem is, however, that many people now see seafront promenades with too many amusement arcades and flashing lights as tacky. Blackpool seems to survive by doing this, but it seems to be an exception.
In my opinion, if seaside resorts such as Southend are to regain their popularity, they need to reinvent themselves. In Portsmouth, for example, they demolished dilapidated old buildings such as the Brutalist 1960s-built Tricorn Centre, and built rather more tasteful developments such as Gunwharf Quays and the Spinnaker Tower. Heavy marketing of this has since brought tourism back to Portsmouth's shores.
Personally, I believe that Portsmouth has demonstrated how best to rejuvenate our seafronts. Authorities should allow the building of new Gunwharf Quays-style developments where it would fit in with the resort's character, but should also make the best use of historic buildings and structures such as Victorian piers and theatres. It would then just be a case of carrying out the appropriate marketing programme to attract visitors.
Andrewh | 10.02.08 - 9:53 p.m. | #
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Visited Southend a while ago. Thought it was horrible.
Richard | Homepage | 11.02.08 - 8:21 a.m. | #
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Seeing Southend mentioned always makes me want to leave Essex and return to Kent. I am far too fickle.
Laura-Ann | 11.02.08 - 9:19 a.m. | #
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It's not that bad. The walk along the front from the pier towards Westcliff is a good one. There are some lovely art deco appartments overlooking the estuary.
The shopping centre is admittedly grim.
Mikey | 11.02.08 - 12:03 p.m. | #
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Westcliff (and further west, but still officially part of Southend) Leigh, especially, have much to commend them - and the walk along the clifftop above all. But east of the high street (and the high street itself,) in Southend proper - that's grim indeed. Shoeburyness is grim too - post-military decline: some things suggest that possibly some of the bits between Southend & Shoebury might be allright (there is a branch of Waitrose in that broad area, for example), but I am yet to explore these areas to find their delights or horrors...
Venichka | 11.02.08 - 1:20 p.m. | #
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I should also say that the High Street is a lot less grim than it was say 20 years ago - and hosts a fairly decent farmers market one or two saturdays a month, and other agreeable food stalls at other times, while the old Victoria Circus shopping centre (60s concrete in despairing windswept location) is currently getting a major overhaul - it now has a roof, and the greyness covered up with some more attractive facade: here's to better shops being attracted inside sometime soon.
Venichka | 11.02.08 - 1:23 p.m. | #
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We always walk back to Leigh and have a couple of pints in the Smack or Peter Boat.
Adventure Island is great for the little 'un as it's only 25 minutes down the road.
Was the sea life centre closed the day you went?
MarkM | Homepage | 13.02.08 - 8:55 a.m. | #
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