The five-storey hotel opened yesterday next to the Harp House Roundabout, which is adjacent to the Airport terminal. It features a fully sound-proofed rooftop bar and restaurant and a separate conference and banqueting facility for up to 150 guests.
Holiday Inn’s managing director Steve Brazil said: “Our aim is to provide a great hotel that guests love, one that offers outstanding customer service and memorable experiences – in short, a hotel that everyone in Southend can be proud of. We are delighted the Holiday Inn is now opening its doors and so everyone can come and experience it for themselves.”
In a bid to accommodate the variety of guests that will be using the Airport, Holiday Inn Southend includes an array of twin, double, family and interconnecting rooms as well as 28 executive rooms and four king superior rooms (pictured). The hotel is also dog-friendly and has rooms adapted for wheelchair users.
Restaurant & Bar
The 1935 Rooftop Restaurant & Bar (so-called in reference to the year the Airport opened to the public) features panoramic views, with 70 covers and a private dining room for 10.
Head chef Kieran Moore brings 30 years of experience to the restaurant, having trained under Marco Pierre White and worked alongside Raymond Blanc. The 1935 Rooftop Restaurant & Bar will offer classic British cuisine with a contemporary twist, using as many local and seasonal ingredients as possible.
Holiday Inn Southend Airport also offers a conference and banqueting facility in the form of the Laker Suite, which has space for up to 150 guests – the name selected as a tribute to Sir Freddie Laker, the airline entrepreneur who operated from Southend Airport in the 1950’s.
Quality and convenience
There is also a choice of smaller meeting rooms entitled Ambassador, Britannia and Carvair, in homage to planes that feature prominently in London Southend Airport’s history.
London Southend Airport’s managing director Alastair Welch said: “High quality and convenient hotel facilities are an essential ingredient of successful airports and an important part of our plans to redevelop London Southend Airport.
“The new hotel will hugely improve facilities for passengers and flight crew using the airport whilst also becoming an exciting new resource for local people and businesses.”