For a proper Essex seaside wedding, it would be hard to beat holding your ceremony at Southend’s iconic Cliffs Pavilion, built in 1964.
For smaller gatherings, the recently refurbished Maritime Room can accommodate up to 160 guests and comes complete with bi-fold doors opening onto a terrace overlooking the Thames Estuary. The views are just as good from the smaller Pavilion Room (100 capacity) while the Admiral’s Room is even smaller still, with room for up to 40 guests.
Weddings for up to 600 or more guests can be held in the famous Cliffs Pavilion Main Auditorium, with its tiered layout of plush red seating, where your ceremony can be held on the same stage played by some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Paul McCartney, who performed one of his six ‘secret’ shows here in 1991.
The views over the Estuary are stunning whatever the time of year, but especially in summer, when barbecues can be held on the terrace if the idea of a three-course wedding breakfast sounds too traditional.
Two packages are on offer – one for Fridays and Saturdays, and one for Sundays to Thursday, though beyond the difference in price – £4,950 vs £3,850 – they offer the same experience, for 50 daytime and 40 evening guests (additional evening guests can be added for £15 per person).
Things start with a wedding manager to help you plan every aspect of the process. On the big day itself, there’s a separate room for the ceremony and the wedding breakfast, with tables and chairs dressed to look as good as the happy couple.
Guests are greeted by a reception glass of Prosecco ahead of a three-course wedding breakfast including half a bottle of wine per guest, and a glass of Prosecco for the toast. A buffet is served in the evening, when there’s a resident DJ.