Towie's Norcross plans TV show for Leigh Grand (From Southend Standard)

Essex Shore

In other words; he wants someone (else) to finance the project.

Please say this isn't so. I know we all want the Grand refurbished & re-opened, but surely this is a step too far....

Soouthchurch59 wrote:
In other words; he wants someone (else) to finance the project.

A quick check of his current directorships and the accounts of his current interests would make you very right it would seem

"Mick, 48, from Bulphan, has sensationally quit the hit ITV 2 reality show The Only Way is Essex and said his famed Sugar Hut nightclub will no longer be a venue for filming."

Read "sacked" the word is that the production company wanted a different venue and it was to be the Grand, given that if it ever gets started (I suspect not) no TV company is going to wait two years for it to be completed.

First it was the weather, now subsidence - has anybody seen any exploratory excavations??

I suspect that this man is a time waster and just likes to see his name in the press.

i will be putting leigh on the map...he says, its already on the map thanks.

the Grand has subsidence, things are getting delayed already....will it all fall flat on its face.

OH NOOOOOOOOOOO,

PLEASE DON’T

jaguarxxv wrote:
"Mick, 48, from Bulphan, has sensationally quit the hit ITV 2 reality show The Only Way is Essex and said his famed Sugar Hut nightclub will no longer be a venue for filming."

Read "sacked" the word is that the production company wanted a different venue and it was to be the Grand, given that if it ever gets started (I suspect not) no TV company is going to wait two years for it to be completed.

First it was the weather, now subsidence - has anybody seen any exploratory excavations??

I suspect that this man is a time waster and just likes to see his name in the press.

Exploratory excavations..or even 2 blokes in hard hats..?...Mmmm...wel
l someone chopped that tree down that was right next to the front of the building not too long ago...might be a starting point for the refurb.

good luck ,look at leigh ,everywhere is empty ,no money about

good luck ,look at leigh ,everywhere is empty ,no money about

TOWIE gives the most ridiculous impression of Essex. I’m sure the people of Brentwood would be laughing all over their faces if this dross moves to Leigh.

I say again, Nooooooooooo PLEASE DON’T

i was slagged off when i smelt bs last year.
Leigh is struggling and needs real shops and investment not wasters like this to55er!

I was hoping they would turn the Grand into flats for next years eastern european immigrants. Shame

Just what Leigh needs. Not. Day-glo orange vacuous airhead slappers, wannabee idiots and more glottal stops than you'd find at Billingsgate.

How many licensed premises are there in Leigh already - Essex centre for drinking and lunching - there appears to be very little else there.

He should open it as a cockle shed maybe. - Kill two birds with one stone.

(And save a walk down the hill)

Rochford Rob wrote:
Just what Leigh needs. Not. Day-glo orange vacuous airhead slappers, wannabee idiots and more glottal stops than you'd find at Billingsgate.

How many licensed premises are there in Leigh already - Essex centre for drinking and lunching - there appears to be very little else there.

He should open it as a cockle shed maybe. - Kill two birds with one stone.

(And save a walk down the hill)

Nice one babes.....

You're not wanted you fat f**k, nor is your embarrassment of a son.

jaguarxxv wrote:
"Mick, 48, from Bulphan, has sensationally quit the hit ITV 2 reality show The Only Way is Essex and said his famed Sugar Hut nightclub will no longer be a venue for filming."

Read "sacked" the word is that the production company wanted a different venue and it was to be the Grand, given that if it ever gets started (I suspect not) no TV company is going to wait two years for it to be completed.

First it was the weather, now subsidence - has anybody seen any exploratory excavations??

I suspect that this man is a time waster and just likes to see his name in the press.

I could easily imagine a run of 6 or 8 TV shows, following the restoration of The Grand to its former splendour. Good luck to him.

jaguarxxv wrote:
"Mick, 48, from Bulphan, has sensationally quit the hit ITV 2 reality show The Only Way is Essex and said his famed Sugar Hut nightclub will no longer be a venue for filming." Read "sacked" the word is that the production company wanted a different venue and it was to be the Grand, given that if it ever gets started (I suspect not) no TV company is going to wait two years for it to be completed. First it was the weather, now subsidence - has anybody seen any exploratory excavations?? I suspect that this man is a time waster and just likes to see his name in the press.

Being very local I have seen men excavating the foundations (the south east corner), men with theodolites doing a bit of surveying and people clearing the trees and shrubs at the front. It's pretty obvious now they have cut back the bushes at the front that there is more subsidence than the north east corner (where the grand piano bar was). So as things stand what Mr Norcross says seems pretty reasonable and I'm sure any businessman would see how much he will be getting from the building insurers for the subsidence before starting. Sorry to disappoint the nay sayers. I can't wait for it to start and will be very disappoinred if the project becomes unviable.

RichardAC wrote:

jaguarxxv wrote:
"Mick, 48, from Bulphan, has sensationally quit the hit ITV 2 reality show The Only Way is Essex and said his famed Sugar Hut nightclub will no longer be a venue for filming." Read "sacked" the word is that the production company wanted a different venue and it was to be the Grand, given that if it ever gets started (I suspect not) no TV company is going to wait two years for it to be completed. First it was the weather, now subsidence - has anybody seen any exploratory excavations?? I suspect that this man is a time waster and just likes to see his name in the press.

Being very local I have seen men excavating the foundations (the south east corner), men with theodolites doing a bit of surveying and people clearing the trees and shrubs at the front. It's pretty obvious now they have cut back the bushes at the front that there is more subsidence than the north east corner (where the grand piano bar was). So as things stand what Mr Norcross says seems pretty reasonable and I'm sure any businessman would see how much he will be getting from the building insurers for the subsidence before starting. Sorry to disappoint the nay sayers. I can't wait for it to start and will be very disappoinred if the project becomes unviable.

Richard, fair credit to you that you have spoken well of Mr Norcross from the very start and shown your support for his plans for the restoration of the Grand.
But, I think its in order to question as to what is the hold up is. I hope it doe's not become a matter of.... more the delay..... more the decay. with the only option left being too demolish and sell of the land
Prime spot of land in the centre of Leigh should imagine its worth quite a bit.

i just has a quick look....yes now the greenery has been removed it does look a bit 'ill' in parts as RicardAC said earlier....maybe the Essex chap went in eyes wide shut.

Maybe could get that whats his name bloke in who does rooms up for people and then surprises the owners with the end product.

Nick Knowels its just come to me.

Thanks for the kind words Broadwaywatch. My support of MN is 100% because I think the Grand is a building more than worth saving and it's the old girl's last chance. It is in a really sorry state if you get up close to it. He is the only one who has come up with a feasible plan. In my humble view it's as important a building for the town as the Priory, Porters and Southchurch Hall. It's one of the last Victorian Hotels in the town and by far the best. It is integral to the history of Leigh having been built by Frederick Ramuz who was Mayor in 1899 when it opened and was proud to be called a "land speculator". If you live in Leigh then Ramuz is likely to have owned the land your house is built on. The Grand was magnet for his Leigh Hall Farm estate. He sold most of the roads north of the Broadway for building plots.
If MN pulls this off he should be knighted.
You're quite right. If MN pulls out the Grand will be demolished although I doubt the land is worth much in this day and age and the plot will be left empty for years blighting the whole area. I wish him well.
PS I have an original decorative brick in my shed that was kicked out of the corner pillar by some well wisher. I can't wait to see it cemented back in.

I can quite imagine MN doing a show on the Discovery Channel on the restoration (fronted by Nick Knowles or Tommy Walsh) and then a Leigh Towie if we can all cope with that. He is NOT a fool. He's a sharp cookie.
I'm praying it all goes to plan.

RichardAC wrote:
Thanks for the kind words Broadwaywatch. My support of MN is 100% because I think the Grand is a building more than worth saving and it's the old girl's last chance. It is in a really sorry state if you get up close to it. He is the only one who has come up with a feasible plan. In my humble view it's as important a building for the town as the Priory, Porters and Southchurch Hall. It's one of the last Victorian Hotels in the town and by far the best. It is integral to the history of Leigh having been built by Frederick Ramuz who was Mayor in 1899 when it opened and was proud to be called a "land speculator". If you live in Leigh then Ramuz is likely to have owned the land your house is built on. The Grand was magnet for his Leigh Hall Farm estate. He sold most of the roads north of the Broadway for building plots.
If MN pulls this off he should be knighted.
You're quite right. If MN pulls out the Grand will be demolished although I doubt the land is worth much in this day and age and the plot will be left empty for years blighting the whole area. I wish him well.
PS I have an original decorative brick in my shed that was kicked out of the corner pillar by some well wisher. I can't wait to see it cemented back in.

but did the others(the mariners/bellini pub company) have a feasible plan too..?

it should of been restored to its former glory with lottery cash or something...would of created many visitors too that would really appreciate it.

Do you really think the Towie clan that will frequent it really appreciate Frederick Ramuz and his Grand ol Building...? Nahhh he probably would spin in his grave at the antics and the embarrassment of it all.

i am also surprised the statue is still there.

Has no one else got anything better to do than say nasty things. Hes going to make tht horrible building which was an absoulote drugs den when it was open into a nice building. This brings ppl work aswell in the local area. Theres nothing bad about it atall if everyone thought like most of u it would look like an ice soar forever. And if ur so put out by it finance the project urself but its obvious no one commenting could do tht

just had another look at the old girl getting my Sunday papers. Whilst I'm not a structural engineer the stability of the front is pretty crucial. The idea is the 6 current windows either side of the entrance will become French doors opening on to a new build terrace. Fantastic. However this will surely weaken the structure when the walls under the windows are taken away so the main weight of the building will be on the narrow bits of brickwork between the current windows. These don't look in too good a shape.
It's a really great project. The plans are on line on the Council website and are well worth a look. My fingers and toes are crossed the dream can be turned in to reality.

http://planning.sout
hend.gov.uk/PublicAc
cess/tdc/DcApplicati
on/application_detai
lview.aspx?caseno=MC
UU1CPA5Q000

I think Ramuz would actually quite like Mr Norcross. Both are entrpreneurs willing to take a risk. BTW Ramuz lived in a house called Shorefields which was where the Cliffs Pavilion now stands.

Rubythedoggy wrote:
Has no one else got anything better to do than say nasty things. Hes going to make tht horrible building which was an absoulote drugs den when it was open into a nice building. This brings ppl work aswell in the local area. Theres nothing bad about it atall if everyone thought like most of u it would look like an ice soar forever. And if ur so put out by it finance the project urself but its obvious no one commenting could do tht

I'd really hate for it to end up looking like an ice soar, although it may then be in keeping with the rest of the TOWIE intellectual levels.
Just what Leigh needs, not!

Whilst I'm no fan of Towie, I think overall this is a fgood thing for Leigh - the building urgently needs to be saved and restored, and the bar and restaurant scene in Leigh is thriving. I expect there to be a large influx of City types from London buying up property around here in future (as the housing market there overheats), and high end places to eat and drink will be in demand. I'd imagine a building as large as the Grand would employ a significant number of local people, especially youngsters, so is no bad thing.

Another TV show to avoid!

DannyK86 wrote:
Whilst I'm no fan of Towie, I think overall this is a fgood thing for Leigh - the building urgently needs to be saved and restored, and the bar and restaurant scene in Leigh is thriving. I expect there to be a large influx of City types from London buying up property around here in future (as the housing market there overheats), and high end places to eat and drink will be in demand. I'd imagine a building as large as the Grand would employ a significant number of local people, especially youngsters, so is no bad thing.

As long as Mr Norcross promises not to bring the TV cameras and the orange people with the ridiculous teeth and accents.