Southend Ravens former department store to be auctioned off

The old Ravens store, which closed in 2017 before becoming a bar and restaurant, will be sold next month and Dedman Gray Auctioneers have set a guide price of £1million.

Plans for student accommodation made up of 19 student rooms to be built on the upper floors was granted by Southend Council previously, while the ground and basement levels are set to be retained for commercial purposes.

The ground floor and first floor of Ravens were turned into a bar and restaurant in 2017, also called Ravens, following the closure of the family business.

However, the business suffered as a result of the Covid pandemic, and shortly after new plans were agreed for the site.

Mike Gray, managing director of Dedman Gray Auctioneers, said: “It would be wonderful to see this high-profile town centre property moved forward as there is now planning consent in place for improvements to the commercial space, and additional students’ accommodation being provided on the upper floors.

“The premises, which has always been so well known as the Ravens store, trading for several generations, could now provide much-needed town centre residential accommodation, which is the way forward for the immediate area.”

The iconic Ravens department store closed down at the end of October 2017 after 120 years serving customers in Southend.

Speaking at the time, Neil Raven, the managing director of the store and the fourth generation of the family to run the business, said: “My family and I are proud to have been a part of Southend’s history.

“We have built many personal relationships with our customers over the years, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our loyal staff, customers and suppliers without whom we couldn’t have continued or been so successful.”

The public auction will take place on December 4, at 12pm, and is live-streamed via the Dedman Gray website. Those interested can bid by telephone, proxy, and online.