Work began on the original Cliffs Pavilion during the 1930s. It was intended to be a 500-seat theatre incorporating the art deco style of the times. With the outbreak of World War II, however, the building work halted. The site remained boarded-up until 1959, when the original building was leveled. It was then moved to one side and slightly closer to the edge of the cliff to form the basis of the present Cliffs Pavilion, which opened in 1964.
Re-developments
From July 1991 to December 1992, the building was closed to be re-developed and enlarged, with the funding of Southend Borough Council and designed by Tim Foster Architects. The stairs were rebuilt, a new Foyer Bar added and a balcony added to the auditorium. Since re-opening, annual audience figures increased from about 200,000 to about 340,000.
Pavilion refurbishment 2024-2025
It was announced in July 2023 that Trafalgar Theatres who run the cliffs and Southend-on-Sea City Council who own the Cliffs Pavilion had applied for planning permission for a major refurbishment of the Cliffs Pavilion costing £5.5 million. The plan will see extensive improvements to the following, a major expansion of the restaurant, new entrance and lobby to improve the customer experience, Upgraded ventilation, a new outdoor piazza, Bars, Toilets (including a changing places facility) and Lifts.
The work is due to begin in early 2024 with the building works due to take a year to complete, the cliffs announced they would remain open throughout the refurbishments.[1]
