Visitors to Southend think they’ve ended up in Clacton after ‘wrong’ sign installed

An entertainment activity venue in Southend has issued an apology after a sign reading “Welcome to Clacton-on-Sea” was ‘mistakenly’ installed opposite the entrance to Southend High Street, greeting people as they leave Southend Victoria train station.

The rogue sign caused a stir among visitors, shoppers and commuters, many of whom were left wondering how it could happen and if the person responsible would be “fired”.

The signage was installed as part of new window vinyls to promote Caddies in Southend – the popular activity venue.

Carol Hellyar summed up the general confusion with: “Imagine the disappointment thinking you are in Clacton then realising it’s actually Southend.”

Another local, Tracey Lockyer, added: “If you are drunk you will think you have got on the wrong train!”

However, it wasn’t a case of signage gone wrong. The stunt was deliberate work from Caddies, which is known for its quirky sense of humour and unique attractions — including custom-designed crazy golf holes, battle bumper cars, and a giant ball pit.

Still, not everyone was convinced.

Graham Lucas questioned: “Was it to prank visitors or an almighty screw-up by the installers?”

Kevin Smith commented: “Hats off to Caddies for marketing this as ‘a prank’ – someone’s still getting fired.”

A spokesperson for Caddies issued a statement this evening saying:
“Southend, we’re sorry! We do apologise for any confusion it may have caused, to all of the commuters, shoppers, and especially to the Deliveroo driver who drove all the way from Frinton-on-Sea to mistakenly deliver to a house in Southend.”

To smooth things over, the venue has offered a 15% discount on Crazy Golf bookings made online using the promo code clacton15 – valid throughout May.

And in a final touch, they added:
“PS: To the family affected by the Deliveroo driver detour, we will be sending out a replacement chow mein and sweet ‘n’ sour chicken balls to you soon.”