SOUTHEND’S much-cherished Kursaal is at the centre of debate for next month’s elections as Tories pledge to re-open the landmark building – but are these promises realistic aims or pie-in-the-sky?

The symbol of Victorian leisure, constructed in 1901, has been shut up since 2020 after the Rendezvous casino moved out, with the bowling alley having shut one year earlier.

Southend Council owns the building after buying it up in the 1990s.

However, the Kursaal is on a long-term lease and it is believed London-based property group AEW has a contractual agreement whereby they will hold the keys to the building for another 200 years.

Now, politicians are outlining their priorities to resurrect the Kursaal, with parties pledging to start discussions on how to bring it back into public control.

Tory leader, Tony Cox, councillor for West Shoebury, said talks had to start so the Kursaal’s future could be secured.

He said: “First of all, it’s about having discussions with the leaseholder about what their intentions are and where they are with it. It’s about working with others to see if other people would be willing to take it on and leaving no stone unturned to do so.

“The ownership is a bit of a stumbling block, but AEW still have the responsibility to maintain the appearance of the outside.

“But it’s very hard to say anything about the future of the site until we have discussions with them. Things have been shrouded in secrecy.”

James Miller, leader of the fledgling Confelicity Party in Southend and director of Adventure Island owners, Stockvale, believes Southend Council would have no money to develop the site if they imposed a compulsory purchase order.

He said: “Ideally, yes it should be brought into public hands, but we need a viable project plan and somehow win government funding, but there’s a lot of work and a lot of ‘what ifs’.

“The council’s expertise is not business, but the business plan could simply see themselves as landlords of a Kursaal broken down into smaller areas where businesses could take long-term leases.”

Labour Kursaal ward councillor Matt Dent says pledges to reopen the Kursaal ignore the financial reality of the situation.

“Reopening the Kursaal is a priority for everyone in Southend, including us,” he said.

“The problem isn’t the desire to do it. The problem is how we get there. As long as the leaseholder isn’t willing to play ball, the fact is we are stuck.

“We all want to reopen it, but the fact of the matter is it will cost a lot of money, and without any new ideas from the other parties, it’s all pie-in-the-sky stuff from them.

He added: “It’s important to remember the Conservatives are responsible for the length of the lease and lack of get out clauses.”

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