Cliffs Pavilion

The Cliffs Pavilion stands on Station Road in Westcliff-on-Sea, a suburb of Southend-on-Sea in Essex. It is the largest purpose-built arts venue in the county and holds the biggest capacity of any theatre in the East of England. The building was designed by Patrick Burridge, who also created Southend Civic Centre and Westcliff Library. It opened in July 1964 with a 1,100-seat theatre and a hexagonal sunken forecourt. The venue won a commendation at the Come to Britain awards in the same year. It has hosted the Southend-on-Sea Festival of Music and the Arts annually. The Cliffs has welcomed major performers since the 1960s, including Jimi Hendrix in 1967 and Paul McCartney in 1991. Oasis filmed their Live By The Sea concert there in 1995, and Blur recorded part of their 2009 set for a free CD giveaway. Comedians like Lee Evans, Frank Skinner and Jimmy Carr have also appeared on its stages. The Maritime Room began as a restaurant before becoming a jazz and comedy venue, launching careers and hosting regular nights. The annual pantomime draws big-name stars, with Diversity winning a 2019 award for their 2018 Aladdin performance. Inside, the main auditorium seats 1,630 after a 1991–92 expansion that added a balcony and foyer bar. The Maritime Room on the lower level remains a smaller space for live music and comedy. Recent refurbishments have added a new entrance, expanded restaurant, outdoor piazza and improved facilities. The hexagonal forecourt still follows the line of earlier foundations. The building blends Art Deco touches with modern upgrades while keeping its role as Southend’s leading cultural hub.