Cornucopia former owners relative calls for it to be rescued

Irene Warne, 77, from Eastwood, is in the Trigg family line and her relatives ran the Cornucopia - believed to be Essex’s smallest pub - in the 18th Century.

Ambrose Herbert Trigg is believed to have run the pub between 1898 to 1910, after taking over the business from William Trigg.

He was later succeeded by Sidney Trigg who ran the pub from 1912 to 1914.

Irene Warne, whose great uncle is Sidney, believes the pub needs to be protected and is iconic to the city.

She said: “I just feel it such an iconic little place and it is something Southend should be proud of.

“It is important to keep things like this.

“I loved growing up in Southend, and all the pubs down there back in the day.

“It has changed so much since, and it will be such a shame to go past it now with the history it has as a pub.

“If not, it would be nice to turn into a coffee, tea, or cake cafe, instead of a takeaway as we just have so many of those and it is such an iconic building.”

The Cornucopia, now owned by leading seafront businessman John Remblance, suddenly closed in December 2023 with plans submitted this month to change its use from a pub into a takeaway. The building dates back to the 1850s when it was used as an inn and has been an iconic pub in the city for decades.

Marion Pearce, a Southend resident, who is the author of the history book “Milton, Chalkwell, and the Crowstone”, also wants it to remain as a pub.

She said: “I am a great lover of Southend; it has a wonderful history. The Cornucopia is a wonderful characterful pub, believed to be one of the smallest in Essex.

“It is a gem, and it should be preserved as a pub. It is a beautiful historic building. I certainly believe it should be kept as a pub -it should be saved.

“It is one of the few original old buildings left. It was once run by the Trigg family who were pub entrepreneurs. It needs to be preserved. Other towns and cities would be delighted with our eccentric buildings.”