Southend Borough Council has given the green light to plans from Turnstone Estates to develop a £50m leisure complex on the Seaway car park site, including a hotel and cinema.
The mixed-use scheme comprises a cinema anchored family leisure scheme, which totals 150,000 sq ft, and includes the multiplex on the first floor, eight restaurant units, four indoor leisure units, an 80 bed hotel and public square, together with 555 car parking spaces.
Empire Cinemas will anchor the scheme with a 1,370 seat, state-of-the-art, 11-screen cinema, including IMAX.
Hollywood Bowl has been secured for the large leisure unit on the lower ground floor which will comprise 20 bowling lanes, Hollywood Diner, bar and amusement centre.
Travelodge has also been secured for the 80-bed hotel.
The first two restaurant units have been pre-let to The Restaurant Group, which operates Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito restaurants. A number of restaurant units are under offer.
The scheme is expected to generate around 500 jobs and contribute £15.1m of additional expenditure to the town.
