Southend leisure centres and tourism venues to close following national restrictions

November 6, 2020

Leisure centres in Southend-on-Sea will be temporarily closed to the public from Thursday 5 November, for the duration of the Government’s planned four-week national lockdown.

The closures have been agreed in line with the new lockdown restrictions announced by the Prime Minister on Saturday 31 October. The latest government advice states that leisure centres, gyms and swimming pools must close from Thursday. Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre, Chase Sports and Fitness Centre and Belfairs Swim Centre, which are all managed by Fusion Lifestyle, will be shutting for lockdown.

Members of Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre will have their fees waived for the expected month-long closure. Leisure centre members have been emailed about what this closure means for their membership.

Southend Pier will also be closed for the duration of the lockdown. People with bookings to see Santa on the Pier, which was due to take place during this period, will be contacted shortly. Updates will be available on the Southend Pier website and social media channels.

The town’s museums and art galleries will also be closed. However, Southend Museums will be providing some online activities throughout the period, which will be promoted via social media and online at www.southendmuseums.co.uk or at Visit Southend. Focal Point Gallery’s extensive online activities will also be promoted via social media on online at www.fpg.org.uk.

The visitors’ centre in Priory Park will remain open at weekends for take away drinks only.

The following venues in the Borough will be shut from Thursday 5 November:

• The Cliff Lift
• Cliffs Pavilion including café and coffee shop
• Palace Theatre
• Belfairs Swim Centre
• Chase Sports and Fitness Centre
• Shoeburyness Leisure Centre
• The Tickfield Centre
• Central Museum
• Prittlewell Priory
• Southchurch Hall
• Beecroft Gallery
• Focal Point Gallery

Cllr Kevin Robinson, cabinet member for business, culture and tourism, said: “We will reopen our leisure centres and cultural venues as soon as it is safe to do so. During this time, people’s health and wellbeing are so important. Although our leisure centres are closed, there are other ways we can all stay active, from online fitness classes to exercise outdoors.

“Parks and playgrounds will remain open to allow solo exercise, or to meet with one other person from a different household. Please stay at home except for education, work if it can't be done from home, exercise and recreation, medical reasons, shopping for food and other essentials, or to care for others.

“As more information is provided by Government, further closures may be necessary, so I urge residents to monitor the council’s website and social media pages for further updates, along with local media.

“These are challenging times for us all, but we must all work together to make sure we all come out the other side of lockdown safe and well.”

For more information about closures and changes to council services, please visit www.southend.gov.uk/affectedservices