Southend pub could become extra seating for Neptunes Fish Bar

The Cornucopia pub in Marine Parade, Southend, which dates back to the 1850s and is one of Essex’s smallest pubs, closed permanently in 2023.

Owners Star Amusements said the pub was no longer viable and have now submitted plans to Southend Council to repurpose the listed building as additional seating for the adjacent Neptunes Fish Bar with a new entrance between the parting walls of the two buildings.

Nick Singer, operations director at Star Amusements, said: "We completely understand the loss of another pub will be disappointing to some people, and we certainly don’t underestimate the importance pubs can have within local communities.

"However, in this particular case, the Cornucopia has sadly already closed.

"Our planning application is therefore not about removing a thriving pub from the area, but about finding a viable future for a building that is currently no longer operating."

Expansion - The pub is planned to provide extra seating for Neptunes Fish Bar

He said the proposal would give the historic building a "new lease of life" against a background where pubs are struggling nationally.

Mr Singer said: "This would allow us to bring the building back into use, invest in the premises and create a sustainable future for the site rather than potentially leaving it empty for years."

A previous application to convert the pub into a takeaway was refused by Southend Council, which raised concerns about the loss of a community asset and potential harm to the listed building.

The latest plans include revised external signage and propose a use that would create eight full-time jobs.

Mr Singer said: "We would much rather see pubs thriving and being supported within our communities.

"But ultimately, pubs and hospitality businesses can only survive if people use them and support them."

He pointed to national trends in the pub industry, noting that 161 pubs closed across England, Scotland and Wales in the first three months of 2026 alone.

Mr Singer said: "We recognise the emotional importance of losing another pub, but we also have to be realistic about the current economic environment

"Our intention is to give the building a new lease of life by incorporating it into an established local business, rather than allowing another vacant premises to become a long-term issue.

"If the proposed change of use is not supported, there is a very real possibility that the premises could simply remain empty for the foreseeable future.

"We don’t believe that is something anyone locally would want to see."