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Eat, drink and dance at new Southend bar and restaurant

The new bar and restaurant now open on Southend’s London Road broadway

Your Southend was invited to the preview night of a brand new bar and restaurant in Southend, East Coast Social, before it officially opened today.

The unit on Southend’s London Road Broadway had previously been occupied by a Yates wine bar and a tapas restaurant. The La Tasca restaurant closed two years ago and the unit remained empty until recently being acquired by two businessmen who see ‘massive potential’ in Southend-on-Sea.

Already owning other quirky bar restaurants in London, they have now brought their unique style to Southend, creating an intriguing venue which is a fantastic addition to the town centre nightlife. Alan Dugard, the Managing Director of Interguide Group, who have taken over the town centre unit, said he has been very excited about opening a venue in Southend.

‘Eat, Drink, Dance & Be Social’ is the ethos of East Coast Social, which joins a range of other restaurants on Southend’s bustling Broadway – Nandos, Bella Italia, ASK, Salsa, Pizza Express, Maya’s and Roosters Peri Peri.

When we arrived at East Coast Social on Saturday night we were greeted with the sound of music from a live band and a vibrant atmosphere with many excited faces enjoying drinks.

A teaser of the quirky wall art inside the venue

The two bars have a wide range of drinks available including craft beers, signature cocktails and a varied wine list.

Past the red telephone box and upstairs, the smell of juicy steaks was in the air as they were brought out from the kitchen, sizzling on hot ‘lava rocks’. Other dishes on the menu include lobster, roast duck and chicken chasseur. The average price of a main meal is around £14, but click here to view the full menu.

Downstairs, the menu is inspired by street food and British tastes with burgers and hot dogs complimenting the social ethos.

A barman making signature cocktails at the upstairs bar

After 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights, a DJ takes over from the live entertainment to create a party vibe, with a late licence until 2.30am allowing dancing and drinking to go on into the night.

With a chandelier hanging as a centrepiece, quirky wall art and large lit up letters spelling booze above the bar, East Coast Social mixes a touch of class with classic British themes and ironical glam.

It’s a friendly venue for the more discerning who want to socialise and enjoy a slightly more mature night out in Southend.