Cafe on Southend pier for Jamie and TV pal

3:04pm Friday 7th September 2012 in News

All change – the redesigned pavilion, and inset, Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty lean out of a hatch All change – the redesigned pavilion, and inset, Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty lean out of a hatch

TV chef Jamie Oliver and farmer Jimmy Doherty opened a new cafe on Southend Pier as part of a new food show.

The duo, both from Essex, took over the old building and rebranded it Jamie and Jimmy’s Food Fight Club.

The programme, of the same name, is due to air on Channel 4 later this year. It will see the old friends team up to unite British food lovers.

It is the second time in a year celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has visited the town after sampling seafood on the beach last October for Jamie’s Great Britain.

And Jamie is well and truly coming back to his roots as he once famously revealed he was conceived on the pier.

Derek Jarvis , Southend councillor responsible for culture and tourism, said: “I am aware a film company is using the pier for a while and it involves Jamie Oliver. I am delighted the pier is being used as a filming location.

“Southend is great because as a seaside location it has brilliant lighting and it is always bright on the estuary even on a dull day.

“I hope more film companies will consider filming here.”

The first day of filming took place this week and the Fresh One production team is due to return on Tuesday, October 4, and Thursday, October 16.

Southend Council agreed to close off a section of the pier during certain times.

Jamie Oliver has been a TV favourite since he shot to fame in the Naked Chef in 1997, and has since campaigned for healthy eating in schools.

Jimmy Doherty is known for presenting a number of farming programmes for Channel 4 and the BBC, including a documentary called Jimmy’s Farm which charted setting up the Essex Pig Company in the north of the county.

Comments(26)

ColeS. says...
4:49pm Fri 7 Sep 12

About time someone else took this cafe over - it was dire the last time I went in there: vowed never to go in there again...Good luck to them !

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supershrimper says...
5:55pm Fri 7 Sep 12

School dinners were fine before Jamie Oliver got involved. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH TURKEY TWIZZZLERS!

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yaymar says...
6:02pm Fri 7 Sep 12

supershrimper wrote:
School dinners were fine before Jamie Oliver got involved. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH TURKEY TWIZZZLERS!
I loved them as well!!!

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Max Impact says...
6:13pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Reading the article it looks like it is just for the filming.

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Cliff West says...
6:17pm Fri 7 Sep 12

This is good news as I don't think much of the cafe in the cultural centre.

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APR says...
7:05pm Fri 7 Sep 12

That's changed hands a few times. It used to be run by Barry and Peter, who used to own most of what was on the pier at one time.
Who remembers the "Diamond Horseshoe" ?
They sold it to a fish and chip chap. No idea who ran it then ?

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OBL says...
7:13pm Fri 7 Sep 12

supershrimper wrote:
School dinners were fine before Jamie Oliver got involved. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH TURKEY TWIZZZLERS!
Did you ever watch them cooking and see the amount of fat that came out of them?! I know they did taste ok, but they were definitely restricted in this household!

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tws123 says...
7:48pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Max Impact wrote:
Reading the article it looks like it is just for the filming.
Yeh I got that impression too BUT fingers crossed it goes well and it means even more publicity for the town!

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lucy10 says...
7:59pm Fri 7 Sep 12

bring back van looys fish and chip shop the best fish chips in southend nice to go up on the train have fish chips then walk back

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v.randy says...
9:40pm Fri 7 Sep 12

So what happened to the old cafe?
Last time I visited the pier it was still open (JUNE)
The story reads as though they have acquired the building for a photoshoot and then it's handed back in october.
It's purely a back drop for his new show.
It will open twice in October for shooting but the public wont be invited as the pier will be partly closed for the duration.
Then the 'set' will close for good.
Even Mr Oliver would struggle with a cafe like this as so few use the pier.

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SARFENDMAN says...
10:11pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Pity they can't do a revamp of GERRY'S NOSH. Remember that one? Now that's what I called "Sarfend culture food" and those doughnuts.Mmmmmmmm Yummy!

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Alec Cikes says...
10:27pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Great news, let's hope that Jamie Oliver makes all the difference on the Pier. We will welcome his appearance on the stage & enjoy his forthcoming TV programmes televised on the Pier.
Good luck mate, we're really looking forward to seeing you here.
Maybe you could also go on a driving tour around SOS showing off the front, the oysters, Chalkwell, Leigh-on-Sea, etc, on the TV. A lot of followers would be inspired !

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Ma white62 says...
10:45pm Fri 7 Sep 12

The old cafe is disgusting would never go there again just wish some warned me it had such bad reputation

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Saxonpride says...
11:59pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Stay out of my town you two-bit charlatan.

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EssexBoy1956 says...
8:46am Sat 8 Sep 12

Saxonpride wrote:
Stay out of my town you two-bit charlatan.
Harsh! This is my town too Jamie, and you're welcome to it!

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Rich~Carol says...
10:47am Sat 8 Sep 12

Cannot stand Jamie Oliver, big head pig and he jumped on the band wagon and messed up the school dinners, hes granddad was very arragont and thats who he takes after. He is a bully of a man.

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JuliaM says...
11:36am Sat 8 Sep 12

Alec Cikes wrote:
Great news, let's hope that Jamie Oliver makes all the difference on the Pier. We will welcome his appearance on the stage & enjoy his forthcoming TV programmes televised on the Pier.
Good luck mate, we're really looking forward to seeing you here.
Maybe you could also go on a driving tour around SOS showing off the front, the oysters, Chalkwell, Leigh-on-Sea, etc, on the TV. A lot of followers would be inspired !
He'll have to be quick if he wants to see any oysters before they are all gone!

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Matthew of Basildon says...
1:45pm Sat 8 Sep 12

lucy10 wrote:
bring back van looys fish and chip shop the best fish chips in southend nice to go up on the train have fish chips then walk back
I know it's not quite the same but you can always go to Van Looys thats off the high street ( I think it's called Clifftown Road?), just opposite Southend Central on the South side.

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lucy10 says...
7:02pm Sat 8 Sep 12

van looys now under the pier he sold clifftown rd the new one named VLhad fish chips there to day it was great

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SARFENDMAN says...
10:09pm Sat 8 Sep 12

Checked it out. It's only a film set at this stage. Old tenants now serving their expensive coffee at The Culture Centre. As for that thing, it's was shut! It's Saturday surely an exhibition or something to see. Nothing going on inside just rows of empty chairs. Could that be it? A Turner Prize? Rows of empty chairs? Different to piles of bricks.
End of the pier remains a joke. A poor one, no fun at all.

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Alec Cikes says...
12:05am Sun 9 Sep 12

I totally agree Julia M, that's why I mentionned the oysters ! JO could be filmed touring the muds, looking for oysters for his dishes & state his findings on their quality, how you prepare them (to prevent intoxication if not treated properly, etc).
The subject of the oysters being picked up by asians on the seafront could be revealed (just as a statement of fact).
Southend Borough watching the TV show could be swayed towards acting more responsably if a bye-law exists from the 1200's, etc. It may draw in a few more concerns and how the problem could be tackled.

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John928 says...
9:56pm Sun 9 Sep 12

I was on the pier today with my partner and we think its great that the new cafe is open. The new culture building looks brilliant and the pier is starting to look good with the new station etc. we get fed up with people putting southend down but you all know where to come when the sun comes out Southend!!!!! As for jamie Oliver why knock someone who as made it though hard work and helped lots of under privileged kids etc it can only be good for the town.

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Alec Cikes says...
10:10pm Sun 9 Sep 12

Yep, Jamie Oliver could definitely add a bit of spice to the town. Good luck to him!

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APR says...
8:57am Mon 10 Sep 12

lucy10 wrote:
van looys now under the pier he sold clifftown rd the new one named VLhad fish chips there to day it was great
He buys up old cafes, turns them into fish & chip shops, then sells them again. Seems like a hobby of his :)

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Dubaholic says...
11:07pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Took a walk up the peir on sunday, was very busy. Looks like the new build is making an attraction, a good cafe/restaurant would be spot on. Hopefully jamie does something witn it after, or whoever carries it on puts in the effort and does a good job.


And how did jamie oliver ruin school dinners????? He done a great job there. Kids will concentrate better learn more eating healthy food rather than smiley faces and turkey twizzlers.

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SARFENDMAN says...
5:52am Wed 12 Sep 12

CAN WE HAVE SOMEWHERE TO BUY IN ICE-CREAM OR AN ICE LOLLY?

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