The Kursaal, a historic amusement park in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, is set to reopen after being largely closed for six years. The Grade-II listed building, which first opened in 1901, is considered the world's first amusement park. Property group AEW will transfer its lease to Star Amusements by the end of summer, paving the way for its revival.
The park closed in 2020 and has since fallen into disrepair, despite once hosting major acts like Queen and AC/DC. Essential repairs will be carried out before reopening. Southend-on-Sea City Council leader Daniel Cowan said the Kursaal is “woven into the story of Southend” and that the new operator has a “leisure vision for the building and a clear path to reopening.”
Originally opened in 1901, the Kursaal featured arcades, a circus, a ballroom, dining halls, bumper cars, a ghost train, a ski jump, and a figure-of-eight rollercoaster. It also served as Southend United FC's home ground from 1919 to 1934. Large parts closed in 1973, and the site shut completely in 1986 before reopening in 1998. It closed again in 2020, leaving only a Tesco Express on the ground floor operational.
Residents have expressed excitement about the reopening on social media, with hopes for ballroom facilities, concerts, exhibitions, and ice or roller rinks. The Kursaal is located near Southend's Golden Mile, a popular seafront area with amusement arcades and entertainment venues.
