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Landmark deal reached to reopen Kursaal

Lewis AdamsEssex
News imageStuart Woodward/BBC The Kursaal building in Southend-on-Sea. It has a brick front with a large tower and a domed roof. There is a colourful curved sign at the front which says "Kursaal - the magic returns".Stuart Woodward/BBC
The Kursaal first opened on Southend-on-Sea's seafront in 1901

A landmark deal has been struck to reopen a seaside venue as a "leisure-focused" attraction.

Property group AEW is due to transfer its lease of the Kursaal, in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, to Star Amusements by the end of summer.

Thought to be the world's first entertainment park, the building opened in 1901 and has hosted Queen and AC/DC, but fell into disrepair in recent years.

Daniel Cowan, Southend-on-Sea City Council's leader, said there was finally "a clear path to reopening" the building.

The Labour-led authority had been considering legal action against AEW due to the deteriorating condition of the site.

But it announced the Kursaal would be reopening as a leisure venue during Southend City Day celebrations on Saturday.

The move followed a sustained period during which the historical building has stood empty and closed.

News imageMichael Putland/Getty A black and white image of the Kursaal Flyers outside the Kursaal. They are all wearing funky outfits and smiling while arm in arm. There are five of them.Michael Putland/Getty
Southend hitmakers the Kursaal Flyers outside the venue, which was on the touring circuit

"The Kursaal is woven into the story of Southend and for too long the Kursaal's future has been uncertain," Cowan said.

"Today we can say it has a credible local operator, a leisure vision for the building and a clear path to reopening."

The deal does not involve any financial subsidy from the council and is subject to legal agreements being finalised.

Essential repairs to the building, which had been named on a list of neglected sites, would begin in due course.

News imageLewis Adams/BBC Daniel Cowan is wearing glasses, a grey suit jacket, blue and white striped shirt and navy tie. He has short brown hair and is smiling in front of bushes.Lewis Adams/BBC
Council leader Daniel Cowan described it as a landmark moment for Southend

Bayo Alaba, the Labour MP for Southend East and Rochford, said the Kursaal was "a building of historical significance and architecture".

"Great-grandparents met in the ballroom, children have grown up laughing in its arcades and bowling alleys, and countless memories made here connect generations across our city," he said.

It has not been confirmed what the new leisure operation would involve.

Nick Singer, the operations director at Star Amusements, said it would be a "high-quality" offering that complemented the city.

He added: "There is significant work to undertake, but we are ready to move forward and will share further details as our plans progress."

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