Really enjoyed watching this. I have been to Southend several times and have never seen the beautiful Kursaal. I decided to look it up and this is what I found. The Kursaal site was opened in 1894 by father and son Alfred and Bernard Wiltshire Tollhurst on four acres of land purchased the previous year, as the 'Marine Park and Gardens'. In July 1901 they opened a grand entrance pavilion, the Kursaal Palace, designed by George Sherrin and John Clarke, containing a circus, ballroom, arcade, dining hall and billiard room. The word Kursaal is German (literally meaning "cure hall") and refers to the main banquet hall of a spa town. Southend's Kursaal became the largest fairground in the south of England. Very interesting, thank you.
Just catching up, I'm a bit behind, but I am still enjoying your little trips so much 😂. Much love from the Appalachian Mountains in South Central Pennsylvania Somerset Pa USA ❤️❤️👏👏💯💯
Southend is where I spent most of my youth then moved away in 1999. Seen many live bands at the Kursaal. ACDC were amazing. It was a Ballroom back in the day. Love your channel 👍😁.
There is actually no parking at the Park Inn, despite the name 😄 -- but there are public car parks that guests have to use as necessary. Anyway, that hotel has quite a number of migrants enjoying free accommodation at the moment at our expense.
Used to go to Southend as a kid, so thank you for this walk around. And my mum used to be taken to Southend on a day trip by the Sunday school in EC1 in the late 1940s early 1950s
We lived in Ilford Essex when i was young in the sixties and seventies. Southend was our nearest beach. On good hot Sundays we would go with family friends for the day, us the kids loved it. It was nice to see what it looks like today.
Hi both x I agree with you re the cash thing, the mobile apps rely on a good internet signal, which isnt always great. Then youre stuffed and can't pay for parking. My Steve lived there many years ago. You guys should try Littlestone, near us. It's not touristy, it's beautifully quiet and peaceful x
Southend was our closest seaside town and I went there regularly as a child then into my teens. The Kuursal was always our go-to place as back in 1901 is was built as the world's first purpose-built amusement Park. It was one of the reasons we loved Southend. I've lived in the E.Midlands now for over 30 years so when I noticed you had done this video I was hoping to see what had happened to this beautiful old building amidst all the dreaded techie stuff we're being bombarded with. Thank you for walking by it....bought back some lovely childhood memories for me!
Nice to see you in our neck of the woods Richard. The pier has suffered from a number of disasters. The bowling alley at the shore end was destroyed by fire, as was the Diamond Horse Shoe club which was at the far end. A ship also sliced through it. The main lifeboat is at the end of the pier, and is one of the busiest in the country. You went at a good time of the day, and avoided the smell of burgers, onions and candy floss. The bowling Alley on the sea front used to be The Talk of the South. One of the most popular night clubs in the South East. Then night clubs went out of fashion. We avoid Southend, especially in the Summer. You should have tried Leigh on Sea, a much nicer place. I don't know what is happening with the Kursaal now, but the McDonalds closed in 2008 and the bowling alley closed in 2019. There's just a Tesco Express there now.
I agree, it's much better that way! The area your in is great fun for the kids, further along nearer Thorpe Bay is much more sedate. Some very nice parts of Southend on Sea. Thanks for visiting and showing it to us. The Pier is a great walk and there's a train also. I attended your talk by the way and enjoyed it a lot.
Interested to see your Video the kursaal closed down a few years ago and was empty for some time most of the land is now housing it was reopened a few years ago with a new bar and a bowling alley and the land at the side was used i think by tesco but sadly although it was opened with a fanfare think it was not a success and most of it is now closed it was good to see what Southend looks like now
Often wondered what Southend-on-Sea was like. Lee-on-the-Solent, it's arcade & learning to swim in the Sea aged 10 also holds fond memories. Thank you for this! 😊 💜 xx
for a second i really thought bruce Willis was in southend 😎 well done guys , i live here but i soul would say its better place to visit than living here lol
Good luck if you got out of there in one piece. I was born and bread in Southend and when I was kid worked on the seafront as many of us did. Then it was a nice little seaside town and a nice place to live. The only thing you can say about it is it’s a absolute shit hole, I have a son who is a local police Sargent and he discribs it as a war zone. He rarely has shift without having to deal with stabbings or worse. I wouldn’t return there for a kings ransom prefer to remember as it was.
about 3 years ago I got attacked by two drunk lads while walking down the sea front with my pregnant wife. Two very big lads who looked like mixed lads, likely drunk or drugged, I cracked one of them and dropped him, I booted him in his face when he was down on the ground, the other guy shouted "oi mate, that is fackin out of order" he then pulled a knife. Then about 20 or 30 people jumped to my defence - it was bitter sweet
@@Pete1965 Ah yes I remember the Saturday night cruise very well. Used to cruise my 55 Buick and my V8 hot rod there. Big enthusiastic crowds. On to my girl friend's (now wife) house afterwards. Great days.
Southend is my hometown - I head back there regularly to see my family who still live there. It’s definitely not what it used to be. They’re trying to make something of the Kursaal, but it’s been closed for a long time now, which is such a shame - a total waste of a building which has so much history!
Hub lived in Southend back in the early 80s when we were first dating. It seemed more run down then. It actually looks smarter now. I remember Ten Pin Bowling on the pier, and the end of the pier all burnt out. I think we walked all the way down and back because there were no trains running at the time. Cheers Richard and Julia - loved your dress and jacket, btw!
Used to spend a lot of time in Southend as a youth being an Essex boy . We would go there to see the lights along the seafront as a kid and would go to the kursaal when it was still a fun fare . When it closed , due to elf and safety I guess , it became a venue for bands . As a teenager we saw Dr Feelgood , Alex Harvey etc , all long gone now . This was all back in the 60 s and 70s . Does the train still run along the pier ?
Thanks for the video, I enjoyed seeing your walk around Southend. You missed the best of Southend, and the statue of Queen Victoria (she loved Southend), including the Cliff Gardens, and the Western Esplanade, and then there was the Priory and Southchurch Hall (both from Tudor times). If you had been able to go on the pier, you could have taken the train if it seemed like too far to walk. We do have too many noisy motorbikes, as well as cars modified to sound like motorbikes. Good quality salt is vital for health, and most people probably need to eat more. The sea does at least give us salty air as well, although I would not drink it as it contains sewage.
Found this from your other channel.. I live there and I am intrigued by what talk you was doing.. I thought everyone was fully asleep in this place !. The anti terror blocks were put in after the Amess death / city status. Kursaal is now empty was rebuilt at the cost of millions in the 90s but left to rot again. It was the one of the first amusement parks in the world. But the land is now a housing estate.
I don't like Southend but it does have it's appeal for som. I discovered Shoeburyness with it's small beach,ample parking and space to picnic. Bit of history and pleasant walks around the Garrison. Go during school time
Lovely walk.Shame to see some of the lack of investment in seaside towns lately, although it's lovely to imagine what the place was like in its heyday.And glad you managed to find a nice b&b and avoid the Premier Inn!
I have a photo taken at the end of the pier under the Ships Bell (if it is still there) 69 years ago! The first and only time I have been on that pier. (although I did visit Southen a few years ago to attend a family funeral - but we were nowhere near the pier!)
Such a shame these places are being neglected, and the polluting water companies need to be held to account as well for making it unsafe for swimming. Dont want to mention the B word but 25 years ago we were amazed to see Brighton getting blue flag status. Now it's like an open sewer, we're going backwards. That's progress folks. Surely cant we do better?! It's so sad.
@the-english-couple Richard for your other channel regarding the taking of salt and why it's now demonised you may wish to look into the Salt Controversy.
Nowadays Very Tacky NOW plastic food and plastic drinks 🥤🙄 Cannot beat The Good old days 🏖️ because they Really was💯 I absolutely loved living in Seaford 🏖️ 🌊 ⛴️ 🐟🐳🦋🐦⬛🦀🌞🎣🎠⛱️
Here's an idea (off topic). Perhaps The English Couple could encourage viewers to get all their old stamps (the one's that are about to be worthless with the introduction of barcode stamps) and use them to send letters or subject access requests, or messages of hope or complaints to the relevant people before they run out at the end of July. Perhaps on another channel. No one approaching this on YT as far as I can see. Do click like for a RV donation so I know you saw it. Be well, M
Hi I dropped RV his tenner as promised in my earlier comment on this video. Only 10% to the big guy though, 90% to the revered helms woman, the lovely Julia. Be well, M.
You didn't venture far. The seafront going the other way towards Westcliff and Leigh shows the better part of Southend. There are limited amusements on the pier as well as a lifeboat station. You could have taken the train to the end and saved some time. Maybe do some proper research before doing your commentary. Maybe do another view of Southend and go further.
What an awful place. I do wish they would put the flagstones back on pavements. The faded coloured tarmac in so many of these towns just makes it look appalling. Then again, this is London in all but name and part of the metropolitan area. No-one cares about beauty that's for sure.
