The 17 shops standing empty on Southend's high street

The retail sector and outdoor hospitality were finally allowed to reopen on April 12, but some stores appear to have remained closed for good.

As a result of the numerous lockdowns, many businesses have had to rely on government grants and schemes to survive.

We took a wander through Southend town centre to see which shops are now standing empty. 

It total we found 17 shops standing vacant.

These were units that are no longer trading and are either on the market or closed down with no news to report on - with the count beginning at the top of the high street near WHSmith down to the bottom near The Royal Hotel.

Former stores now abandoned include Quiz, Ponden Home Interiors, Ann Summers and Dorothy Perkins, with the former Monsoon building advertised on Rightmove.

And in May Debenhams confirmed its store at the Royals Shopping Centre was closing. 

New data has shown the number of empty shops in high streets, retail parks and shopping centres has increased in the past three months.

Read more >> The big name brands which are leaving south Essex's town centres

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Local Data Company (LDC) found that fashion retailers had been hardest hit with the continued surge in online business in the sector and the closure of high street institutions including Debenhams and Topshop.

Shopping centres were the hardest hit, with nearly one in five units sitting empty – a 19.4% vacancy rate – followed by high streets with a vacancy rate of 14.5% and retail parks at 11.5% in the second quarter of the year compared with the first three months of 2021.

Overall vacancy rates were 14.5% in Britain, up from 14.1% in the first quarter of the year – meaning the number of empty shops has increased for the past three years.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: “It comes as no surprise that the number of shuttered stores in the UK continues to rise, after retailers have been in and out of lockdown for over a year.

Read more >> Our high street: 17 shops empty in Southend town centre

“While vacancy rates are rising across all retail locations, it is shopping centres, with a high proportion of fashion retailers, that have been the hardest hit by the pandemic.

“Almost one in five shopping centre units now lie empty, and more than one in eight units have been empty for more than a year.

“Retail parks have also been impacted from the loss of anchor stores and their vacancy rate is rising quickly.”

She pointed out that there is a sharp north-south divide with the south of England, including London, with lower vacancy rates compared with the north of the country, where disposable income is lower.

The boss of the BRC, which represents retailers across the UK, added: “The vacancy rate could rise further now the Covid-19 business rates holiday has come to an end.

“The Government must ensure the ongoing business rates review leads to reform of this broken system, delivering on its commitment to permanently reduce the cost burden to sustainable levels.”

Speaking back in May Lynda Taylan, manager at Evapo in Southend, says she is tired of seeing takeaways, barbers and charity shops and would rather see a better variety. 

She said: “I would like to see more niche businesses, something that catches your eye and is a bit different, at the moment a lot of it is the same.

“It could be somewhere for home decor or an art shop. Not somewhere you go looking for, but somewhere you know you’ll go back to.

“Besides the cinema and golf there’s not much to do in town. It would be amazing if there was space for a mini roller-rink.”

In a bid to tackle the issue, Southend Council is offering zero percent loans for people wishing to take over vacant units.

Despite the empty shops, a number of businesses have opened mid-pandemic, including Salon Tinted in Westcliff and Our Remedy in Leigh.

Emma Dadswell, manager at Toys ‘N’ Tuck, would like to see a “gaming centre” for college students and crafts for the little ones.

She added: “I also think people would want to see smaller independent shops or different activities.”

Echo reader Sharna Marie Alderman would like to see a business selling roller skates, ice skates, baking kits and outdoor activities.

Karen Allen added: “Nespresso, Flying Tiger, Foot Locker or Foot Asylum and maybe rescue Debenhams.”

Scott Dolling, Southend Council’s director for culture and tourism, said: “We know that high streets up and down the country are facing unprecedented challenges, with many large scale retailers being forced to close their doors, leading to more empty units than anyone wants to see.

"However, we are taking action to reduce this number, by offering zero percent loans for those wishing to take over a vacant unit in the high street.

"This is in addition to a shop front grant scheme, where local businesses can benefit from a grant of up to £5,000 for shop front renovations.

"We have also seen a number of projects take shape, such as the Victoria Circus and London Road improvement project, which will see new paving and features, additional lighting, trees, planters and bike storage, whilst also providing additional outside seating areas for the many restaurants in this area of the town centre.

"We have also overseen a large investment into CCTV in the town centre.

“It’s important that we all work together to see the high street recover to the highest possible level.

"Over the years, we have seen a change in shopping habits to more of an online marketplace, but we need people to help buck this trend so that investment in local businesses continue.

"Seeing thousands return to our high street and seafront has been welcomed by our local businesses, and we are all looking forward to what we hope will be a bumper summer season for the town as we continue to follow the Government’s roadmap to recovery, and see the Southend economy get back to where it should be.”