Cliffs Pavilion

Cliffs Pavilion is a theatre at Station Road in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, a suburb of Southend-on-Sea. It seats 1,630 and offers an assortment of variety acts.

Cliffs Pavilion
AddressStation Rd
Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS0 7RA
England
LocationWestcliff-on-Sea
OwnerSouthend Borough Council
(operated by HQ Theatres & Hospitality)
Capacity1,657
Construction
Opened1964
Renovated1992, 2010
Website
Venue Website
Statue at Cliffs Pavilion

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.

On 19 July 1991, Paul McCartney performed one of his six "secret" shows at the Pavilion during his 1991 Unplugged Summer Tour.

From July 1991 to December 1992, the building was closed to be redeveloped 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.

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