Saarfend
We’ve come away for a couple of days to Saarfend Southend, though we opted to stay near Rochford at the Cherry Tree pub. It wasn’t a bad drive down, considering M1 & M25 were involved, and we started agreeable with lunch, then a walk and a attempt to get the train into Saarfend. I say ‘attempt’, as there was a strike on, but they’d neglected to say so on the ticket machine. Ho Hum. Taxi, again.
We went for a walk up the Pier, which is indeed long, but otherwise unremarkable, and then a wander to a few pubs: The Borough Hotel, the Cornucopia, The Castle, and a decent Chinese meal (unlike anywhere near home, as a rule, and then a taxi back for the night).
The next day saw us back in town for a stroll: Head out towards Westcliff and the town get less tatty, and the glorious sunshine helped. A foew more pubs: The Esplanade, The Borough Hotel again, a walk in and back out of the Wetherspoons, and back again to Rochford.
More pubs: The Kings Head, the Horse and Groom (food!), and the Golden Lion.
Southend itself is fairly typical seaside: some rough bits, some nice bits. It’s a big town too, so it has the attributes of one.
One thing I couldn’t believe: Blokes in pork-pie hats. I though that was a stereotype, but no, they exist.
July 31st, 2009 at 19:28
Nobody should have to go to Southend!
Try the “Plough and Sail” in Paglesham for some Paglesham Pie.
August 1st, 2009 at 20:57
Actually, despite a bad first impression (where we got dropped off), Southend is OK. A bit rough around the edges, but not so bad.
The bus we used ended at Pagglesham, but we never made it there.