Hamlet Court Road: Why we love the shopping destination

On the road there is Fields Menswear, which has hardly changed since it opened in the early 1950s. Staff are ready with a tape measure around their necks to help customers.

The old Havens department store building opened in 1901 and traded there until 2017 before moving online. The building is now home to Age Concern’s community hub and dementia day service.

Eliza - owner Beverley Ashford and Peter Walsh (Image: Newsquest staff)

Events such as Hamlet Court Road in Harmony festival has been an effective way to bring the community together.

The road today is a blend of old and new, with lots of business popping up all of the time. Beverley Ashford has run Eliza Boutique for 15 years.

She sells a colourful array of clothes with an emphasis on natural fibres and quality.

Beverley said: “I cater to women of all ages and my philosophy is you can wear any colour at any age, it’s all about expressing yourself.

“I listen to my ladies, and I know they want sleeves and natural fibres, especially if they are undergoing chemo, when skin can be very sensitive.

“There is a real sense of community spirit here and every year myself and some other shops get together to organise a fashion show to raise money for Havens Hospices.”

Community revival - Tammy Bowden from Jam Tin Interiors (Image: Newsquest staff)

Tammy Bowden, moved from South Africa to Essex to run Jam Tin interiors four years ago.

She said: “Trade has been down since Covid but there is a real sense of community spirit, especially since Hamlet Court in Harmony Street festival. It would be nice to keep the momentum going with a regular market on the road.”

Relatively new to the road is Isla’s which opened in December.

Owner Samantha Jamal said: “It has been going well due to word of mouth. We are popular for our food and also live music on Fridays and weekends.”

New business - Samantha and Isla Jamal from Isla’s (Image: Newsquest staff)

Many of the shopfronts have been in existence for many decades and new owners coming in, such as with Margaret Raymond Florist and Interiors, like to keep the well known signs.

Audrey Smith’s children Graham and Stacey Siddons run the shop and she is in there regularly helping out.

“Many people recognise the sign because it has been here for many years. The actual Margaret Raymond came in here to visit once, which was wonderful! She said she liked what we had done with the florist and the gift section.”

Trading - Audrey Smit from Margaret Raymond (Image: Newsquest staff)

Shopping

Whether you are shopping for clothes, searching for interiors, or heading for a bite to eat, Hamlet Court Road has a lot to offer.

For clothes there is D’Marie Boutique Fashion and Beauty, Eliza Boutique, and Fields Menswear Ltd, as well as many more.

Great places to stop for a coffee are New West Cafe, the Jolly Roger Cafe, Cheri’s Cafe and Madeira Cafe. For a tasty meal with friends there is the Rumbling Tum, the Basilica Restaurant and old long-established Hamlet Court Road staple, Wimpy.

Timeless - Fields Menswear (Image: Newsquest staff)

If you are out for a drink visit Garden Bar and Eatery and Isla’s has started live music on Fridays and weekends. One popular pub on the road is Hamlet Court pub which has a rich history, previously as a bank.

History

According to southend.gov.uk, the road remained undeveloped in the mid-Victorian period and there were two houses including Hamlet House and Hamlet Lodge as well as Hamlet Cottage to the north.

It was the Westcliff Station opening in 1895 to the south of the area which saw rapid growth on Hamlet Court Road.

It saw some development in the northern section of the road and residential streets to the east.

Visitors would bypass Southend High Street and headed to Hamlet Court Road for their desirable fashionable items.

Buildings were often designed in groups so that there were consistent designs on the upper floors, which added to the overall look and grandeur of the area.

The area fell into decline in recent years with the loss of many traditional shopfronts and also similar challenges faced in many retail areas.

Hamlet Court Conservation Area was designated in 2021 to preserve the area.

With community events such as the Hamlet Court Road in Harmony Festival and new businesses popping up, there’s a sense that community spirit is back – and the shoppers along with it.