Southend pubs of the past as Shoebury Hotel to close

The Shoe Bar and Eatery at the historic Shoebury Hotel will be pulling its final pints tomorrow as financial difficulties have forced owners Andy Dosser and Michelle Marrs to step away.

Sadly, residents have said goodbye to many iconic pubs and bars over the years for a series of reasons from redevelopment to the impact of Covid lockdowns.

The Cork and CheeseThe Cork and Cheese (Image: Darkstar / ClosedPubs.co.uk)

One of the most-missed pubs is real ale pub The Cork and Cheese, which closed its doors for good in 2007 after the Victoria Plaza redevelopment scheme led to a drop in trade, according to former landlord John Murray at the time.

The Esplanade

The Esplanade (Image: Darkstar / ClosedPubs.co.uk) The Esplanade stood on Southend seafront for more than a hundred years, welcoming famous musicians including US grunge titans Pearl Jam and south Essex's own Dr Feelgood. Sadly, the pub closed due to safety concerns about the building and the cliffs behind it.

The Railway Hotel, Southend

The Railway Hotel (Image: Newsquest) The Railway Hotel closed its doors in April 2021 due to complications from the pandemic. However, Star and Pubs Bars, the brewery which owns the boozer in Clifftown Road, has said it plans to "breathe a new lease of life" into it and is searching for an operator.

Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel has been converted into 18 luxury apartments (Image: Newsquest) Leigh’s landmark former Grand Hotel dated back to 1899 when it was known as The Family and Commercial Hotel. The building was owned by the late television star and businessman Mick Norcross, who died in January 2021, and was transformed into luxury flats following a series of delays.

The Minerva

The Minerva (Image: ClosedPubs.co.uk) The Minerva was on Southend seafront - next to the Kursaal. The building was empty for years before being replaced with the Bourgee restaurant, the 300 Degrees steak house, and now the popular Namaste Village restaurant.