Banqueting suite for Kursaal?

From the archive, first published Sunday 15th Apr 2007.

SOUTHEND'S landmark Kursaal could soon become home to a banqueting suite, it has been revealed.

Estate agents Christie and Co are marketing the first floor of the building which has been unused since it was built in 1998.

New owners Trehaven are also planning to provide new escalators linking the first floor with the ground floor at the back of the famous Dome.

Restaurants, bars or shops could be built on the first floor.

A company spokeswoman said: "We have received two or three expressions of interest and hopefully we can make an announcement soon."

Ann Holland, Southend Council cabinet member for leisure, said the new function suite could help to attract big conferences to the town.

She added: "We do need an extra banqueting suite in Southend especially one which can take a major functions.

"There is only the Cliffs Pavilion which is rarely available and with the closure of the Cumberland suite there is no other really large area in the centre of the town.

"The Essex County Hotel and the new Freemasons' Saxon Hall are out of the town rather than in the centre.

"This is the sort of development which can help attract conferences and hotels to the town and help with regeneration."

John Clayton, chief executive of Essex Chambers of Commerce, said: "I think this could be another boost to the regeneration of Southend.

"The Kursaal is a great landmark in Southend and needs to be used and we need function and banqueting suites in the centre of the town rather than the outskirts."

A function suite was part of the original plan for the Kursaal put forward by the Rowallan Group when they took over the building and carried out the major restoration in the late 1990s.

However, it was one part of the scheme which was never realised and the large first floor area earmarked for the development has never been used.

Proposals to incorporate it in the Rendezvous Casino and build a multi storey car park in place of the existing one were also dropped.

Until it closed in the late 1980s, the Estuary Suite at the Kursaal was a popular venue for dinners and dances, masonic ladies nights and other functions.