AS the grand old lady of Southend seafront - the Kursaal - stands virtually empty, with shattered windows and crumbling brickwork, historians are pleading for action to return it to its former glory. 

The Grade II listed building opened in 1901 and housed one of the first purpose-built amusement parks in the world. 

However, since the Rendezvous casino closed its doors in 2020, the only business left occupying the Kursaal is Tesco.

Despite failed campaigns to “restore it to its former glory”, much of the building is vacant.
Southend City Council owns the freehold of the land but London-based property group AEW has a 200-year lease on the building.

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Under the terms of the lease, the company must maintain the condition of the building, but in recent years it deteriorated, as our pictures show.

Southend historian Marion Pearce said: “It is a disgrace that it has been allowed to get into this position. The Kursaal is unique, it should be valued.

“It should be cherished, as a wonderfully unique building. Surely something could be done to bring it back to life.

“The Kursaal is of huge importance to our new city of Southend - it should be celebrated.”

Fellow historian and campaigner Dee Gordon, 76, has lived in Southend since 1983.

She said: “It’s so sad to see what it’s like now compared to how it used to be and what it could be. The potential has been wasted and it’s been neglected.”

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When it first opened, tourists flocked to enjoy the side shows on offer, such as hoopla, coconut shies, and rifle shooting. At the back, there was a large outdoor space with a “wall of death” and a rollercoaster.

The Kursaal even had a small zoo, which expanded to include lions, tigers and an elephant at one point. However, a fire in the 1930s reportedly put an end to it.

Dee fondly remembers visiting as a child in the 1950s.

She said: “The Kursaal was always the first port of call. What else is there now? Just a rather sad pier.

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“There is the potential to bring back the entertainments. It had a huge ballroom which was renowned for its sprung floor for dances.”

Several iconic bands played there in the 20th century, including Black Sabbath, Queen, and AC/DC.

Dee admits “it won’t be cheap” to restore the Kursaal to its former glory.

She said: “It’s been neglected for so long. It will take money and persistence.

“It’s absolutely the most iconic landmark on the seafront. The pier is older, but it doesn’t have the same romance or history as the wonderful building near it.

“We’re just not making use of a potentially really useful resource when we haven’t got many. Ballroom dancing is very popular these days, even with young people, but there are no facilities for it.

“Meanwhile, the Kursaal’s just sitting there deteriorating.”

Stephen Habermel, Mayor of Southend, says he moved to the city aged 11 and fell in love with the “nostalgic” seafront.

He said: “I would like to see a good and fitting use for the Kursaal. But what the future holds for it is down to the council.”