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WELCOME TO THE BRIDGE

A space to discover independent businesses, creative ideas and something a little different on Southend-on-Sea’s High Street.

The Bridge brings together an eclectic line-up of local and independent retailers, spanning gaming, fashion, food and drink, crafts and more. It’s a place to browse, play, eat, make and explore, whether you’re visiting for something specific or simply seeing what’s new.

Based at The Victoria Centre, The Bridge is delivered in partnership with Southend-on-Sea City Council, The Victoria Centre and SaveTheHighStreet.org. The initiative supports growing businesses by giving them space to test ideas and connect with customers, while creating a more vibrant, varied and visit-worthy high street for the city.

By visiting The Bridge, you’re directly supporting local businesses and the people behind them, helping independent ideas thrive in the heart of Southend.

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Discover The Bridge Space

Explore the first-floor spaces at The Victoria Centre, now home to a rotating mix of independent local businesses. From gaming and fashion to food, drink and hands-on crafts, each unit reflects the personality and ideas of the people running it.

Every space is different, shaped by the business inside it, and designed to be explored. Whether you’re popping in out of curiosity or supporting a local brand you love, The Bridge is a place to discover something new each time you visit.

Meet the Winning Businesses

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Create 98two | Unit F2

About

Create98two is a creative arts and crafts café by day and a social bar by evening.

Visitors can craft, attend workshops, or simply pop in for artisan drinks, calzone pizza, cakes and excellent coffee. This community-focused space offers ceramic painting, drop-in crafts from £1.99, and unique kits and gifts, especially around the holidays.

A word from Alison Cotteridge, Owner

“We’re absolutely thrilled and deeply grateful to be part of The Bridge initiative. This opportunity allows us to bring something truly special to Southend High Street. We’re excited to help regenerate our high street and showcase to the rest of the UK just how amazing the city of Southend truly is.”

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The Thrift Club | Unit F4

About

Founded by television fashion stylist Aline Cabral, The Thrift Club offers affordable, high-quality second-hand fashion, reworked garments, vintage designer labels and eclectic bric-a-brac.

With a strong sustainability mission, the business rescues and upcycled clothing otherwise destined for landfill.

A word from Aline Cabral (also known as Lili Wilson), Owner

“I can’t believe that I won this competition. It will change my life and bring my business to the next level.”

Dalarna Vintage | Unit F5

About

Inspired by the creative boutique scene of 1970s London, Dalarna Vintage offers a curated selection of vintage fashion, accessories and art. Tessa aims to provide a shopping experience that champions slow fashion and sustainability, with rotating exhibitions from local artists and photographers.

A word from Tessa Hallmann, Owner

“We are thrilled to be given this opportunity. We can’t wait to introduce Southend to Dalarna Vintage.”
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The Princess Emporium | Unit F7

About

Established in 2017, The Princess Emporium offers award-winning, professional singing character appearances for children’s parties and events. Eleanor, a trained musical theatre performer and lifelong Disney fan, now brings magical, one-to-one makeover experiences to Southend High Street. These include hairstyling, nails, glitter, storytime and etiquette lessons with a princess character of choice, all by appointment.

A word from Eleanor Warner-Larthe, Owner

“I am incredibly excited and grateful for this opportunity to bring a little magic to Southend High Street. This is a natural progression for us after successfully attending parties and running events for nearly eight years. I hope to offer an experience that no one else offers locally and that people love it as much as we do.”

Dr Drip | Unit F6

About

Dr Drip is a small fashion brand inspired by the 1990s and early 2000s, selling nostalgic streetwear and gothic styles for all genders and sizes. Ryan and Daisy aim to make the shop a local hub for alternative fashion, featuring clothing swaps, fashion shows and artist collaborations. They are Depop top sellers, offering one-of-a-kind pieces both in-store and online.

A word from Ryan and Daisy, Owner

“We are so thrilled to win the Bridge competition. It’s been an absolute dream to have a shop to showcase our ideas and the nostalgic clothes we have sourced. We are aiming to host competitions and events throughout our time at Victoria Centre.”

Super Side Quest

About

Super Side Quest is a playful, nostalgic gaming space run by Robin and Tony, inviting gamers of all ages to drop in, pick up a controller, and dive into classic and vintage games. For just £5 per hour, visitors can explore a rotating mix of retro favourites, with group discounts available for friends, families and fellow gamers looking to play together.

Alongside the games, the space also features a vibrant selection of anime merchandise, making it as much a place to browse and hang out as it is to play. Super Side Quest is all about shared experiences, community, and rediscovering the joy of gaming in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

A word from Robin and Tony, Owners

“We’ve always wanted to create a space where people can slow down, have fun and reconnect over the games we grew up loving. Being part of The Bridge gives us the chance to build something that feels genuinely social and inclusive. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer, an anime fan, or just curious to try something different, we hope Super Side Quest feels like a little escape in the middle of the city.”

About the Initiative

The Bridge was launched in late 2024 to bring life back to long-vacant units on the First Floor of The Victoria Centre and create space for independent businesses to grow. The initial response was overwhelming, with over 150 expressions of interest submitted and a shortlist of 50 businesses progressing through a rigorous judging process.

Since then, The Bridge has evolved into an ongoing initiative, supporting a rotating mix of local businesses with flexible occupancy, prime retail space and tailored support from SaveTheHighStreet.org. The aim is simple: to give independent brands the opportunity to test ideas, build momentum and connect with customers, while creating a more dynamic and engaging destination for visitors.

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SEE THE BRIDGE IN ACTION

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Visit The Bridge

The Bridge is a place to explore, support local and discover something you won’t find anywhere else on the high street. With a constantly changing mix of independent businesses, every visit offers something new to see, try or experience.

Whether you’re coming for a game, a coffee, a craft session or a browse, The Bridge is built around real people, real ideas and a shared belief that high streets work best when they’re local, social and a little unexpected.

Head up to the First Floor of The Victoria Centre and see what’s happening now.

WORDS FROM OUR PARTNERS

As the Centre Manager of The Victoria Centre, we are delighted to host The Bridge and can see the potential it has to bring new energy to the centre and the local community. This initiative is very exciting, bringing in projects that will support and mentor local businesses. Having seen the difficulties businesses can face, I know how important it is to have this kind of support and collaboration. The Bridge is a great opportunity for Southend-on-Sea, and I’m pleased to be part of something that will make a real difference to our city.
Dennis BaldryThe Victoria Centre
The Bridge project perfectly illustrates why the Council purchased the Centre – to re-invigorate the City Centre. We are very excited by the project which will attract new and existing customers to The Bridge, The Victoria Centre and the High Street, whilst providing opportunities for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and thrive locally.
Jonathan MatherAsset Manager for Southend-on-Sea City Council
It’s time to turn vacant shops into incubators that attract, launch, and sustain the most promising independent high street entrepreneurs. We’re proud to be partnering with so many amazing local businesses, community champions and others across Southend-on-Sea to make The Bridge a reality. Successful high streets benefit everyone and the more of us who join the stronger we all become.
Alex SchlagmanSaveTheHighStreet.org
This is a fantastic initiative to work with entrepreneurs, or start-ups, and give them a helping hand. We really want to encourage people with new ideas and new businesses to take that risk and go out there and try and make it work.
Cllr Matt DentCabinet Member for Business, Culture & Tourism
As someone who has been involved in running events and PR in Southend for the last decade, I’m incredibly excited to see a scheme like The Bridge at The Victoria Centre. This initiative is all about leading the next generation and fostering innovation within our community. It's refreshing to see a project that not only focuses on business growth but also emphasises the importance of collaboration and mentorship. I'm proud to be a part of this initiative and look forward to contributing to its success. It's projects like these that make me optimistic about the future of Southend.
Natalie SolomonsKiwi Productions
The Bridge is such an exciting idea, especially for local businesses like ours. It's all about supporting each other and sometimes, all you need is a little leg up to make a big difference. This initiative provides that crucial support, creating opportunities for networking, collaboration, and growth. By bringing together a diverse range of businesses, The Bridge helps create a community spirit that is essential for the local economy. We're thrilled to be part of this community-driven project and can't wait to see how it helps businesses grow and thrive in Southend. It’s inspiring to see such a forward-thinking approach to local development, and we’re proud to support it.
Jake LinesBeyond Co.

OUR GROWING SUPPORTERS

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We’re happy to announce that all seven of our units are currently in use by wonderful tenants. However, serious applicants can always join our waiting list to be considered for future opportunities.

Southend-on-Sea Council secured funding from SELEP and partnered with SaveTheHighStreet.org, Kiwi Productions, Beyond Co. and other partners to turn the idea for The Bridge into a reality.
SaveTheHighStreet.org is an industry-wide movement delivering projects like The Bridge to reimagine empty space, empower community champions and help high street entrepreneurs succeed, from startups to scaleups in the UK.
It certainly is. No rent, no service charges and no business rates to pay for the whole 6 months.
If the winners choose to stay after the initial 6 month period, there will be a service charge and rent payments linked to the performance of their business, so they only pay what they can afford.

Each winner receives 5 months free on JoinJo.com – the end-to-end support system developed by SaveTheHighStreet.org to help local independents achieve their potential.

SPREAD THE WORD

We’re delighted to see that all seven of our units are occupied by a range of fantastic tenants.

If you feel as passionate as we do about reducing the number of empty shops filled by exciting new brands on our high street, please visit The Bridge to support them.

Successful high streets benefit everyone, and together we are stronger! Share with your family, friends and community to help spread the word.

Contact

The Victoria Shopping Centre
362 Chartwell Square
Southend-On-Sea
Essex
SS2 5SP

Contact Us
t. 01702 460931

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