WORK is set to start on two beachfront cafes with sweeping views across the estuary.

Construction work on the long-awaited East Beach cafes will begin next month and be completed in September.

Talks are under way with prospective tenants who will move in to fit out the cafes once construction is complete.

They will be built on the site of a former cafe which burnt down more than 20 years ago.

Paul Collins, councillor responsible for asset management and inward investment, said: “The investment by the council continues at Shoebury East Beach.

“After a competitive tendering process, Southend contractor A W Hardy have been awarded the contract to build the two new cafe premises.

“Work is expected to commence in February with completion expected by September. Lease discussions with prospective tenants are currently underway and we look forward to welcoming these businesses to East Beach.”

The council took back the site which it owns, after a previous tenant failed to proceed with plans for a restaurant, leaving it idle for many years.

The council originally proposed three cafes on the site, depending on the level of interest shown by prospective tenants.

This has now been scaled down to two “based on commerciality and price”. The council was unable to provide any details of the prospective tenants.

The cafes form part of a £2 million regeneration scheme and will feature sail-like canopies for outdoor dining, and could even be licensed to sell alcohol.

A toilet block on the beach, which includes a large greensward, has being renovated, and improvements have been made to a large car park area.

The cafes, which have been given planning permission, will be in a staggered row and are designed with pitched green roofs, similar to nearby beach huts.

Windows will be triple glazed to keep out the fierce East Beach wind on cooler days.

Steel poles will hold eight shade sails over outside patios.

They will have competition from a cafe in The Cart and Wagon Shed at the Heritage and Community Centre, in Warrior Square Road, in the neighbouring garrison which also suffered a series of delays until it finally opened in September.