Renowned chef Mark Baumann, who runs Baumann’s Brasserie in Coggershall, has signed the lease of the former Tiffin’s Indian restaurant on Eastern Esplanade in Southend-on-Sea and has opened the first of three Bourgee Luxe Lounge restaurants in July.
The chef said Southend was the “next big place to be” and Bourgee will specialise in fine dining, steak and lobster.
Business partner James Welling said the new restaurant takes its name from the word 'bourgeois', adding the restaurant would be a “coup” for Southend and breathe new life into the seafront.
He said, “This is particularly exciting for Southend – for the town and for local businesses – but we’re also looking at venues number two and three in Essex as well, with a second restaurant coming to Billericay.
“It’s very encouraging in that it’s not only us, but others coming with significant investment and we’ve very consciously chosen this town.'