The challenge encouraged children to keep reading over the school holidays, helping to build confidence, spark imagination and discover the joy of reading through books, comics, poetry, graphic novels, audiobooks and more. Thanks to the enthusiasm of young readers, families, volunteers and library staff across the city, this summer saw:
The Southend Jazz Festival is back for 2026, with another incredible line-up celebrating the best of the local jazz scene and some of the most exciting artists from across the UK.
Southend is set to approve its ‘Food & Feed’ Safety Plan for 2026-27, which explains how the council will help keep food for human consumption - and animal feed - safe and protect public health across the seaside city.
Southend city centre will come alive with festive cheer on Saturday 14th November 2026 as Christmas in the City returns for a day packed with entertainment, family fun, and seasonal celebrations.
For a show so tightly packed with musical numbers, the singing has to be good. It is: without exception every cast member is pitch-perfect.
The Essex Police Marine Unit has been supporting work to tackle illegal shellfish harvesting on Southend beaches. Officers attended Chalkwell beach to make checks on people reported to be harvesting mussels, clams and periwinkles
Alongside the additional aircraft, easyJet has announced a new route from London Southend to Rhodes, providing customers across Essex and the wider region with even more choice for their summer holidays.
A female long-finned pilot whale has been found dead at Canvey Island following a major operation to guide a pod of around 25 whales out of the River Thames and towards the North Sea.
Visible progress is being made on one of Southend's most recognisable landmarks, with major external repair works now underway on the iconic Kursaal dome.
A church full of people gathered for a welcome service for Captains Andrew and Nicola Hammond, the newly appointed Salvation Army Officers for Leigh-on-Sea.
The first flight to the German city took off on Thursday 17th September and provides customers across Essex and the South East with even more choice at great value fares.
The £21.8 million project will modernise port infrastructure, helping to secure the long-term future of Leigh-on-sea's fishing and cockling industry while protecting the area's unique maritime heritage.
The sound of live music, laughter and cheering filled the streets of Old Leigh-on-sea last weekend as the annual Leigh Regatta brought the community together for two days of entertainment and traditional waterfront fun
The Choir of Man promises only to take people on “a bloody good night out” – and for the vast majority of the audience, it’s clear that that’s exactly what it did.
Old Leigh-on-sea will be buzzing this weekend as the annual Old Leigh Regatta returns on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September, with a packed programme of traditional competitions and activities both on the beach and out on the water.
Old Leigh Regatta is back this weekend with a full list of music spread across two stages.
Southend-on-Sea City Council will be focusing on relentlessly delivering for residents, in response to the Government's decision to pause and review plans for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Essex
The sense of togetherness felt fitting for a show that radiates with collective warmth and companionship, and I left the theatre feeling uplifted: that perhaps, doing something just for the fun of it matters way more than being the best
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