News of a local Puppet Festival. If puppets are your thing, look out for the Puppet Festival on July 31st, August 1st and August 2nd.

There will be a number of free shows on and near Southend Pier. Kids; bring your grown-ups to see Punch. Grown-ups; bring your kids to see Judy. The shows, from all over the country, are free. Pier entrance at usual prices. Sponsored by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council.

Epic World Leisure, the local firm with plans to revitalise Southend Pier, has had to withdraw its plans, to avoid rejection by Southend Council. This is yet another setback in plans to get the pier back to a major tourist attraction, and once again leaves the future of our pier ‘open’. We’d love to get some comments on your thoughts about the pier, and what its future may have in store…

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In July 2006, the Southend Podcast team were given an exclusive presentation of Epic World Leisure’s plans for the redevelopment of Southend Pier, complete with a rollercoaster, brand new trains, extreme sports, restaurants a conference centre, and much more. As a pilot for our series of upcoming podcasts, we’ve just uploaded a 15 minute exclusive interview with Epic World Leisure’s Chairman, Tony Garner. If you’re interested in the future of the pier, and of our town, listen to the interview online, or download it as an MP3.

Go to www.southendpodcast.co.uk

The Southend Pier head is to open on 5th August 2006 for the first time since the 2005 fire. More on this story

A local businessman has plans to revamp Southend Pier, including new trains, and a reason to visit the end of the pier. Learn more about Atlantis City over on our new Pier Page

Whale sited off Southend Pier – Believed to be connected to the northern bottle-nosed whale that sadly died on 21st January during an attempt to move the stricken creature from Battersea. More.

Pier on Fire – On 10th October 2005, a fire on Southend Pier head caused millions of pounds of damage. More