Editing Cliffs Pavilion (section)

== The buildings history ==
===Early history===
Plans for a theatre, the Shorefield Pavilion,<ref name=star>{{cite news|url=https://pin.it/76sPPhtl9|title=The new pavilion is taking shape|newspaper=Southend Star|date=11 February 1964|page=84}}</ref> on the site started in 1935 when the borough council purchased the location to build a 500-seat theatre and concert venue, with work starting four years later on construction but was suspended by the outbreak of [[World War II]].<ref name=echodec23>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24009493.southend-cliffs-pavilion-history-much-loved-theatre-venue/|title=Southend Cliffs Pavilion: a history of the much-loved theatre venue|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=25 December 2023}}</ref><ref name=yearsley>{{cite book|title=Southend in 50 Buildings|author=Ian Yearsley|date=2016|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |isbn=9781445651897}}</ref> After the war, the site was known as Southend's white elephant, with the site laying empty due to budget constraints, until 1963, when work was started on a building that could host shows, concerts and private functions.<ref name=star/> The building was designed by the borough architect Patrick Burridge, who also designed [[Southend Civic Centre]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=The war with sludge and a seawall|journal=The Municipal Journal, Public Works Engineer and Contractors' Guide|volume=68|issue=3515–3528|date=1960|pages=2463–2466|publisher=Municipal Journal}}</ref><ref name=Essex>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/essex0000bett/page/715/mode/1up?q=%22cliffs+pavilion%22|title=Essex|author=James Bettley, Nikolaus Pevsner|date=2007|page=715|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-11614-4 }}</ref> The 1,100 capacity theatre was opened by the actor, writer and director [[Bernard Miles|Sir Bernard Miles]] in July 1964, with the first show opening the next day starring [[Norman Vaughan (comedian)|Norman Vaughan]] and his troupe of dancers, the Swinging Lovelies.<ref name=echodec23/><ref name=yearsley/> The hexagonal sunken forecourt that was at the front of the theatre (prior to the 2024/25 refurbishment) followed the line of the pre-war foundations.<ref name=yearsley/> The theatre won a commendation at the ''Come to Britain'' awards held by the [[VisitBritain|British Travel & Holiday Association]] 
in the same year.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_great-britain-board-of-trade-board-of-trade-journal_1964-10-30_187_3528/page/942/mode/1up?q=%22cliffs+pavilion%22|title=BHTA Come to Britain award to Ulster Avenue|journal=Board of Trade Journal|volume=187|issue=3528|date=30 October 1964|publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office|page=942}}</ref> The Cliffs was the venue for the annual ''Southend-on-Sea Festival of Music and the Arts''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5IcYAAAAIAAJ&q=%22cliffs+pavilion%22|title=The Music Guide to Great Britain. England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland|author=Elaine Brody, Claire Brook|date=1975|isbn=9780396069553|publisher=Dodd, Mead|page=143}}</ref> In April 1974, extra seating that had been purchased for the summer season and stored in the underground car park under tarpaulin, caught fire, however the building was not damaged.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pin.it/8qkrWHKhZ|title=Show Goes on After Blaze Scare|website=Pinterest|date=26 April 1974}}</ref>
[[File:Statue at Cliffs Pavilion Southend.jpg|thumb|260px|Statue and forecourt at the Cliffs Pavilion]]

===1990s redevelopment and 2000s refurbishment===
From July 1991 to December 1992, the building was closed to be re-developed and enlarged, with funding from [[Southend-on-Sea City Council|Southend Borough Council]] and was designed by Tim Foster Architects. The stairs were rebuilt, a new Foyer Bar added and a balcony added to the auditorium increasing the capacity to 1,630.<ref name=echo26224>{{cite web|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24141478.cliffs-pavilion-major-8million-refurbishment-hit-delays/|title=Cliffs Pavilion major £8million refurbishment hit by delays|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=26 February 2024}}</ref><ref name=yearsley/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/makespacedesignf0000burn/page/5/mode/1up?q=%22cliffs+pavilion%22|title=Make space! Design for theatre and alternative spaces|author=Burnett, Kate|date=1996|page=122|publisher=Society of British Theatre Designers|isbn=0952930900}}</ref> The new extension was completed in an Art Deco style.<ref name=Essex/> The total cost for the redevelopment was £3.4 million.<ref>{{cite book|title=Architects' Working Details|date=1997|publisher=Emap Construct|page=135}}</ref> The theatre re-opened with the pantomime ''The Pied Piper of Hamelin'' starring [[Wayne Sleep]], [[Peggy Mount]] and [[Richard Marner]].<ref>{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZclBAQAAIAAJ&q=%22cliffs+pavilion%22|title=Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea Opens after refurbishment|periodical=Plays and Players|issue=466–471|date=1993|publisher=Hansom Books|page=35}}</ref> The refurbished Cliffs Pavilion received a [[Civic Trust Awards|Civic Design Award]] in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abtt.org.uk/people/foster-wilson-size/|title=Foster Wilson Size|website=Association of British Theatre Technicians|access-date=27 August 2024}}</ref>

[[File:The Iconic Rossi's Ice Cream parlour - geograph.org.uk - 521542.jpg|thumb|The Art Deco style 1991-92 extension]]

In 1998, the [[Arts Council England|Arts Council]] allocated £850,000 of [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)|Lottery]] cash to Southend Borough Council to investigate a £20 million stage 2 redevelopment. The plans included building a new raked seating stall area, reducing the capacity to 1,601 seats, and a new stage house with dimensions for the stage and fly tower meeting the minimum requirements for major touring companies - an increase in the maximum height from 19 metres to 29 metres. The council brought in Levitt Bernstein Associates to oversee the design, however in 1999 the bid for £12 million of Lottery funding from the Arts Council was overlooked and stage 2 of the redevelopment was withdrawn.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/5527120.southend-cliffs-loses-lottery-bid/|title=Southend: Cliffs loses Lottery bid|newspaper=Daily Gazette|date=12 July 1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/archive/cliffs-pavilion-theatre-southend|title=Cliffs Pavilion Theatre, Southend|journal=Architects Journal|date=30 April 1998}}</ref>

In 2010, the Cliffs was closed for seven weeks while a refurbishment took place. The theatre's 1,630 seats that had been in the venue since the 1991-92 redevelopment were replaced, while the carpets in the Foyer were changed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/8271720.cliffs-pavilion-refurbishment/|title=Cliffs Pavilion refurbishment|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=15 July 2010}}</ref>

===Pavilion refurbishment 2024-2025 ===
It was announced in November 2021 that the operator, Trafalgar Theatres and owner, Southend-on-Sea City Council had applied for planning permission for a major refurbishment of the Cliffs Pavilion costing £8 million, with £5.5 million provided by the UK government through the Levelling Up fund.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-59165618|title=Cliffs Pavilion: Plans approved for multi-million pound theatre refurbishment|website=BBC|date=4 November 2021}}</ref> The plan would see extensive improvements, with a major expansion of the restaurant, a new entrance and lobby to improve the customer experience, an upgraded ventilation system, a new outdoor piazza, bars, toilets, changing facilities and lifts. The redevelopment was due to begin in early 2024, with the building works to be completed by contractor [[Willmott Dixon]], and were planned to take a year to complete. The Cliffs managers said the venue would remain open throughout the refurbishments. However, by February 2024, it was announced that there would be a delay to the start of the refurbishment works as the price had risen above the original cost.<ref name=BBC15723/><ref name=echo26224/> It was announced in August 2024 that work was due to start later that month, with Auburn Group awarded the contract after a recommissioning of the tender process. Work officially started on the 22 August.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2nnnyp1v0o|title=Multi-million theatre revamp due to begin|website=BBC|date=5 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24537568.cliffs-pavilion-works-begin-upgrades-renovation/|title=Cliffs Pavilion works begin for upgrades and renovation|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=26 August 2024}}</ref>