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Cliffs Pavilion

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox venue Cliffs Pavilion (locally known as the Cliffs) is a theatre, sports, exhibition and concert venue located on Station Road in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, a suburb within the city of Southend-on-Sea. It is the largest purpose-built arts venue in Essex,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and the largest capacity of any theatre in the East of England.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2006, the operation of Cliffs Pavilion, along with the Palace Theatre, were handed to HQ Theatres by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> HQ Theatres merged with Trafalgar Entertainment in 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In February 2022, the Cliffs played host to He Built This City concert, a tribute to the murdered MP for Southend West Sir David Amess.

The buildings historyEdit

Early historyEdit

Plans for a theatre, the Shorefield Pavilion,<ref name=star>Template:Cite news</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>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=yearsley>Template:Cite book</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>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=Essex>Template:Cite book</ref> The 1,100 capacity theatre was opened by the actor, writer and director Sir Bernard Miles in July 1964, with the first show opening the next day starring 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 British Travel & Holiday Association in the same year.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The Cliffs was the venue for the annual Southend-on-Sea Festival of Music and the Arts.<ref>Template:Cite book</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Statue at Cliffs Pavilion Southend.jpg
Statue and forecourt at the Cliffs Pavilion

1990s redevelopment and 2000s refurbishmentEdit

From July 1991 to December 1992, the building was closed to be re-developed and enlarged, with funding from 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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=yearsley/><ref>Template:Cite book</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>Template:Cite book</ref> The theatre re-opened with the pantomime The Pied Piper of Hamelin starring Wayne Sleep, Peggy Mount and Richard Marner.<ref>Template:Cite periodical</ref> The refurbished Cliffs Pavilion received a Civic Design Award in 1993.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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

In 1998, the Arts Council allocated £850,000 of 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>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</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>Template:Cite news</ref>

Pavilion refurbishment 2024-2025Edit

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>Template:Cite news</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>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Maritime RoomEdit

The Maritime Room is a smaller venue than the main theatre, and is located on the lower level. The venue was originally opened as a restaurant, but after a short trial negotiated by local musician Peter Morris, the venue was used for jazz music events, before expanding into country and western.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> From 1986 until 2014, the venue was home to the Joker Comedy Club, and it was at the club that local boy Lee Evans started his comedy career.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The club hosted Frank Skinner, Stewart Lee and Bob Mills among others.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Jazz remains a staple, with both the Jazz Mix and Open Mic club nights taking place at the venue.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The venue is currently home to the Balls Out Comedy Club<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> as well as Tropicana 80s nights.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Cliffs Pavilion - geograph.org.uk - 12321.jpg
The Maritime Room from the exterior

Performances at the CliffsEdit

The Cliffs has been the venue for a mixture of music, variety and theatrical shows, hosting some of the biggest names in entertainment since it opened in 1964.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Here is a selection of notable performances:

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|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tony McCarroll recalled in his book, Oasis. The Truth that "nobody had told him they were filming that night, but luckily they had a storming gig".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

  • In 2003, the last show of the Bottom Live 2003: Weapons Grade Y-Fronts Tour was performed and recorded for VHS and DVD at the Cliffs. It was the final time that Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson played their characters Richie and Eddie.<ref name=trafalgar>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Micky Flanagan performed at the Cliffs in May 2011, which was recorded for his DVD The Out Out Tour.<ref name=trafalgar/> Flanagan opened the show saying, "The tour people, they asked me. They said, Mick, where do you want to go for the DVD. Do you want to go East? Do you want to go West? And I said I want to go to Essex! The only way is Essex!".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • After the closure for the COVID pandemic, Jimmy Carr filmed his Netflix special His Dark Material as the first show at the re-opened venue.<ref name=trafalgar/>

Annual pantomimeEdit

The Cliffs hosts an annual pantomime with a big name celebrity cast, including Nick Berry and Melvyn Hayes in 1988,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Timmy Mallett, John Virgo and Anne Nolan in 1993,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Melinda Messenger, Jonathon Morris, Patrick Mower and Little and Large in 1997.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2018, Diversity were the celebrity performers for the production of Aladdin and won the Best speciality/double act at the 2019 Great British Pantomime Awards.<ref name=Awards>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rylan Clark starred in the 2024 production of Jack and the Beanstalk, and was nominated for Best Newcomer at The Pantomime Awards 2025.<ref name=Rylan>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rylan was confirmed as returning in the 2025 panto Cinderella.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Pantomimes since 1983 have included:

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  • 2004 Peter Pan - Russ Abbot<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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He Built This City concertEdit

On 13 February 2022, the Cliffs was the venue for the He Built This City, a concert held in honour of murdered Southend West MP Sir David Amess and part of week of celebrations held in Southend-on-Sea which culminated in Charles, Prince of Wales, officially granting the borough city status.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The concert included performers such as Digby Fairweather, Lee Mead, the Music Man Project and Leanne Jarvis.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The BBC at the CliffsEdit

The BBC have completed live broadcasts or played recorded shows from the Cliffs over the years, including a special Silver Jubilee programme celebrating the first 25 years of the venue called Happy Anniversary! on 22 April 1989.<ref name=prog4>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Other shows have included:

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  • Saturday Night is Gala Night<ref name=prog2/>
  • Vienna-City of Song<ref name=prog2/>
  • Treble Chance<ref name=prog3>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Sport at the CliffsEdit

The Cliffs, in addition to shows, comedy and music performances has hosted a variety of sporting events.

  • The first televised professional wrestling event shown by the BBC came from the Cliffs on the 4 January 1965 featuring Mike Marino, the World Mid-Heavyweight Champion v Harlem Jimmy Brown from the U.S.A.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The venue would continue to host wrestling.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

  • Boxing was previously a regular event at the Cliffs, including the 9 June 1971 Jack Solomons promotion featuring Dan McAlinden v Roberto Davila that was shown on the BBC,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the 1987 Terry Lawless/Matchroom Sport promotion featuring Gary Mason v Andre van den Oetelaar.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

  • The World Darts Federation hosted the 1982 WDF Europe Cup at the Cliffs, with the men's singles won by Bobby George, the women's singles by Sandra Gibb-Lee, the men's pairs by Stefan Lord and Bjørn Enqvist, while the women's pairs were won by Charlotte Eriksson and Carina Sahlberg.<ref name=WDFOverview>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Party conferences and exhibitionsEdit

The Cliffs has hosted several political party conferences, with the National Conference of Labour Women taking place in 1967,<ref>Template:Cite periodical</ref> while in 1993 it hosted the Young Conservatives annual conference.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The venue hosts a regular variety of exhibitions, from the Southend Art Club,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> career fairs <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to awards evenings.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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