The publicans behind Chinnerys, one of Southend’s best-known pubs and grassroots music venues, have been honoured with a Dedication Award to mark 25 years at the helm.
Essex-born Simon Patterson and Glyn Morgan took over Chinnerys on the seafront in 2001. Since then, they have invested more than £300,000 in the venue, helping to build its reputation as both a traditional local pub and a 400-capacity grassroots music venue.
The award was presented by Star Pubs, which owns the building, in recognition of the pair’s contribution to Southend, Essex and the wider live music scene.
The milestone follows another recent achievement for Chinnerys, which secured a place on the Southend Monopoly board earlier this year.
Chinnerys remains one of the last large-scale grassroots music venues in Essex, hosting around 120 gigs a year. Regional, national and international artists perform across genres including rock, country, ska and soul, attracting music fans from across the UK and overseas.
Over the years, artists including Arctic Monkeys, Snow Patrol, Squeeze and Ellie Goulding have performed at the venue. Local artists including Sam Ryder, Busted and Sam Duckworth have also developed their stagecraft at Chinnerys, alongside Nothing But Thieves, who hold the venue’s record for fastest-selling tickets after all 400 were sold in less than a minute.
At a local level, the venue continues to provide vital opportunities for emerging musicians across Essex. Chinnerys hosts at least two Live & Local events each month, alongside college concerts and other educational music events.
The seafront site also remains a popular traditional pub, known for its drinks offer, award-winning Guinness and Cask Marque accreditation for the quality of its cask ales.
Patterson and Morgan have now signed a further 10-year lease on the business and are marking their 25th anniversary with a month of live music, including tribute act Pynk and Essex band Roxxi Red.
Glyn Morgan said: “Simon and I had been searching for a music pub of our own for many months. When Chinnerys became available, we jumped at the chance to take it on. We’ve never regretted it; Chinnerys brings together everything we enjoy – fantastic music and a great pub.
“We’ve loved every minute of our time here. We couldn’t have done it without the support of our amazing staff, customers and audiences, not to mention all the talented musicians who play here. We’re looking forward to many more good times and booking many more fabulous bands over the next ten years.
“Sadly though, performance spaces like Chinnerys are a dying breed. They’re essential to the next generation of musicians as well as to the well-being of society in general.”
Steve Charlton, Star Pubs Area Manager for Southend, added: “It’s a real honour to present this award. It’s no exaggeration to say that Simon and Glyn make a huge contribution to Southend, Essex and the music industry at large.
“In the face of all the changes of the last 20 years, Chinnerys has stood the test of time, and it’s all down to Simon and Glyn. It’s an amazing achievement. We wish them many more happy years at Chinnerys.”
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