Shopping Areas in Southend-on-Sea

I used to go to Southend-on-sea when I was a very young child, with both my parents and grandparents. Then it was just for a day at the seaside, with a paddle in the sea, a candy floss, a walk down the pier and returned back on the ricketty old pier train. Then back on the normal train with my stick of rock in my hand to go home after a very enjoyable day. The memories are still very clear in the back of my mind, so I still try to get to Southend about half a dozen times a year, but this time it is for shopping. Quite a few years back Southend wasn't the most pleasurable place to visit, on many a occassions I said after a visit I'm not bothering to come back ...  Read the complete review

I should really start by explaining a bit about Southend, and what it has to offer, but i find it hard. As a local, and a past retail worker in the high street, i feel Southend as a shopping complex, does not offer good competition compared to local Chelmsford, and Lakeside. Although i feel this way, i keep loyal to my town, and buy all i need local, never wandering farther afield, as i know the local traders are suffering. Although its hard not to feel down when alot of good stores have closed down. As shops go, southend does have alot to offer, with many speciality shops, but the layout of the high street is wrong, and is not really shopper friendly. We ...  Read the complete review