Twenty One reopens as a creative community café

October 26, 2021

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and Focal Point Gallery are delighted to announce the reopening of Twenty One in partnership with Elwira Middleton, restoring this cultural and community café to the heart of Southend-on-Sea.

Building on the successes of the venue over the past four years, Twenty One returns to open daily as a café and exhibition space whilst hosting events led by Southend’s diverse creative community, ensuring this is a venue for all.

Elwira Middleton was selected to run Twenty One following an open process over the summer. Currently running Temple Café in Chalkwell, Elwira’s vision for the venue is for ‘Twenty One to be a cultural centrepiece in Southend, a place for originality and creativity, nurturing local artists and performers and driving to be a nationally recognised venue. The eclectic schedule of cultural events will be set to a background of amazing coffee and great food, focusing on high quality locally sourced ingredients, with plant based and gluten free options.’

Prior to Covid-19, Focal Point Gallery ran Twenty One for community pop-up events and cultural programming, and will continue to be involved to support its development.

Hayley Dixon, Deputy Director, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Elwira and her team to realise the full potential of Twenty One and re-establish a much needed venue in Southend to be a platform for the vast creative community here, and a place for residents and visitors to come together to support culture. We are excited to develop our own contemporary programme of performance and live events here in this unique space.”

Acknowledging the devastating effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the creative sector, in particular live venues, and the impact on mental health and wellbeing through lack of social gatherings, the venue is well placed to be a catalyst and enabler for Southend’s economic and social recovery, supporting local activity, encouraging events hosted by local community groups and individuals, as well as bringing nationally recognised performers to Southend-on-Sea. 

There is great excitement for the reopening of the venue from the local community, with acclaimed musician MG Boulter saying: “I’m really excited Twenty One is reopening. It’s a superb venue and an asset to Southend. I’ve played so many enjoyable shows there and am looking forward to returning.”

Cllr Carole Mulroney, cabinet member for environment, culture, tourism and planning says: “I am delighted that Twenty One will be returning to service our diverse creative sector and I look forward to the events that will be taking place here, rebuilding our communities by providing a new space to come together to experience all the benefits that culture offers us.

“Temple Café is a thriving, dynamic space in Chalkwell, I wish Elwira and her team every success in bringing their talents to central Southend. This is a great partnership that will also be of great benefit to visitors to Southend, by providing a new seafront café offer for all to enjoy.”

Twenty One is located on seafront, opposite the entrance to Southend Pier at the bottom of Southend High Street. It is now open daily from 11.00am to 4.00pm.

Events at the venue will restart from Monday 1 November , if you would like to book the venue for a cultural or community event, please email twentyonesouthend@gmail.com. Follow Twenty One on Facebook @twentyonesouthend, Twitter @twentyone_South and Instagram @twentyone_southend for the upcoming events programme and menu.