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The Eastern Esplanade restaurant is housed in a stunning Grade II listed building in a prime seafront spot. Today, it has a loyal fanbase and has even been visited by Prince Edward and the Princess Royal, but it hasn’t always been plain sailing for the Labworth. It was built in the 1930s, designed by the renowned engineer Ove Arup to resemble the bridge of the now retired RMS Queen Mary ship.

It was designed for tourists visiting the then fast-growing island resort and is thought to be the only building still standing solely designed by Mr Arup. A café opened in the building in its early days but it became neglected as the popularity of English seaside holidays slumped. The building escaped demolition in the 1970s and 80s, when a £104million redevelopment of Essex’s flood defences was completed.



Despite falling into disrepair, it was awarded Grade II listed building status by English Heritage in 1996 and was snapped up by its current owner, chef and National Lottery winner Chris Topping, two years later. A restaurant, today known as Savor, eventually opened upstairs which was later followed by the café downstairs. Now retired, Chris still owns the Labworth and his family continue to play an active role in running it.

Lifelong Canvey resident and former long-standing borough councillor Ray Howard fought to save the building from being torn down in the 1970s. “It’s the only place on Canvey where the seawall went around the building, so it felt like a victory,” th.

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