Cocktails and Cream Teas with Friends at The Royal Hotel Southend Bar and restaurant

What a sweet surprise, the Royal Hotel in Southend really is a delight. The Royal Hotel Restaurant and Bar in Southend-on-Sea is one of the most historic buildings. Dating from 1791, it has been restored and decorated to reflect its former glory.

Situated in pride of place overlooking the worlds longest pier and Steeped in history. Whilst you sample a cocktail or a even a toasted teacake you will notice the beautiful decor inside and out.

The restaurant has been lovingly restored by local Essex family Terence Garrett and Sons. Bringing it back to its former glory as it was in its heyday and totally in keeping with the period features.

In the 1800’s the hotel was frequented by high society such as Caroline the Princess of Wales and Lord Nelson himself. So this place feels quite special for a perfect lunch, dinner or casual cocktail at the bar.

The ground floor brasserie is delightful, decorated with slightly eccentric touches it serves small plates and platters throughout the day. Meanwhile the bar area is great for a walk in drink or a quick snack with friends.

On the lounge menu you can find warm scones and clotted cream or interesting jacket potatoes and salads. the menu is exciting and served with a twist with things you may have never tried such as, monkfish cheek popcorn, wild boar sausage rolls or smoked salmon scotch egg.

Desserts are cute and quirky mini carrot cakes, Bakewell slices and cheesecakes, My fave macaroons slip neatly in-between.

The upstairs ballroom is exquisite and over looks Southend pier. Open as an alacarte dining room you can enjoy a relaxed 3 course meal cooked by the award winning top chef Howard Webb.

Treat yourself here to oysters, herb crusted duck egg or Pan seared scallops for starters and an amazing main menu choice such as seared venison haunch steak with duck foie gras mousseline or baby beetroot and goats cheese tart.

If you are there with a group or fancy something special you could even try one of the Royal Hotel’s cream tea’s with a glass of prosecco or even bottomless fizz. Watch out for the afternoon tea for gentlemen coming soon!

Serving an array of desserts you will not go hungry, I really want to try The pornstar martini crepe or the expresso martini mocha crepe!

Perhaps the most impressive thing is the cocktail menu, The mixology is amazing , completely reworking every cocktail with new ideas and quirky innovations. With a bar as extensive as this its hardly surprising the magic that they can make.

The bar tender is currently working on ideas with molecular mixology producing cocktails with a quirky difference.

They even have regal names such as the Earl of Grey below which is, pear and gooseberry vodka, earl grey infusion, lemon , basil and pepper!

Have a look at this Easter treat which takes 48 hours to set, giving the illusion of a yolk and egg white it is actually pinocolada with a yolk of pornstar martini! Simply ingenious!

The Mrs Kensington was a delight, Floral Hendricks Gin, St Germain elderflower liqueur, apple juice and cucumber.

Not only did they taste simply amazing but they looked stunning.

The restaurant has a lot more to offer such as traditional 2 and 3 course dinners on a sunday, and events such as open mic Tuesdays where they serve 3 for 2 cocktails.

All the more reason to go back, I can not wait to sample some cocktails.

You can find more information here at The Royal Southend Hotel So next time you are in the area pay the Royal Hotel in Southend a visit you will not be disappointed.

Thanks for visiting.

D x