AN ELEGANT new bar is ready to throw open its doors in Hamlet Court Road this week, as the regeneration of the area continues. 

The owners of the Westcliff Drinks Co say they are proud to live by the estuary and their business will reflect this, with a menu to include a range of flavoured spirits inspired by the estuary.

It has also planned quirky nights such as ‘Canvey Islands Discs’ - where people can take or choose vinyl records to be played - and piano karaoke.

The bar, which is on the site of the former Chinese restaurant Nu Asyia opposite Ramen and Chill, officially opens to the public this Friday.

The news follows a string of new venues opening in the road including The Craftsman and Isla’s Bar.

The Westcliff Drinks Co is the sister bar of the Leigh Drinks Co, a small shop-bar in Leigh Hill.  

Co-owner Damian O’Boyle, from Leigh, said: “Our shop-bar down by The Ship did so well, we decided to open a bigger bar.   

“The Leigh Drinks Co can probably fit around 20 people standing inside - so this one is a bit bigger, with space for 60-70 people in there.

“It might be a strange time to open a new business, but we felt we needed to be brave and go ahead and do it, what with the opportunity having rose to let the space and also with it being in Hamlet Court Road and being part of a real feeling of regeneration going on. 

“It is a great road, with beautiful architecture. You can see the water from the top as you walk down, and there are some really exciting small businesses opening up.”

Damian said he and his fellow owners - Katie and Dan Fairweather - want to keep everything as local as possible, including working with south Essex suppliers.

He added: “We work with partners to create estuary botanicals to be used in our drinks - flavours exclusive to us - such as samphire flavour.

We name the drinks after local places such as Old Leigh Rum, Crowstone Vodka or Estuary Gin, which is built upon the legend of Sarah Moore. 

“A much further away ambition of ours - a bit of a pipe dream at the moment - is to open a local distillery. 

“We also support The Shark Trust through some of our profits and bottle designs are Thames Estuary inspired. We want people to feel really welcome and special.”

The bar will open under a temporary events licence, which means the bar can open Friday to Sunday. From November 28, it will be open seven days a week.