Lets go shop..or can we?? (Shopping Areas in Southend-on-Sea)

Member Name: Superlexia24

Product:	Shopping Areas in Southend-on-Sea
Date:	17/11/01 (133 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: National chains, good food, reasonable

Disadvantages: open air, bad layout, banks

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 have all the major chains, BHS, M&S, Woolworths, Boots, Whsmith and many more. Situated alongside these stores are banks, banks, and more banks. In total Southend offers you a total of 16 banks and buildings, which is great if you are mortgage hunting, but if you're clothes shopping forget it, as the shops are far spaced out.

Another problem with the town is it is all open air, which means on a bad weather day 60% of southends shoppers will take the 30 minute drive to local Lakeside. Southend does have one shopping complex undercover, the Royals, although there are only a few big name shops worth visiting, and there are only about 20 shops.

However all the bad aside, southend during the summer offers a full day out. We have the seafront, which offers Adventure Island, amusement arcades, sealife centre and many more. At night there are five nightclubs to chose from, as well as many lively bars.

Food in southend is not a problem, with all the major fast food chains, as well as many restaurants situated just off the high street, including chinese, indian and italian.

As a whole, its not a bad place to shop, but would not advise it during bad weather. There is a lack of toy shops in Southend, so it is advisable to visit Basildon for its Toys'R'Us st
ore. All the major chains are available, and food shops are plentiful. During the summer months southend is a very popular place for all, and can get busy.

HOW TO GET HERE
ROAD: A127 or A13
BUS : Numerous services into southend
Rail: Fenchurch Street line, and
Liverpool Street line

WHAT TO DO
As well as shops, why not visit the famous seafront, and the longest pier in the world? There is a theme park, amusements, sealife centre and much much more.

IN CONCLUSION
Southend has an average high street, but its what the rest of the town has, that brings people back, year after year.

Summary: