Beecroft Art Gallery

A fairly large, local, free to enter art gallery containing a mixture of different exhibitions-at my time of visiting (July 2018) I saw a gallery dedicated to old paintings, photographs, fashion and a brand new modern paintings exhibit being set up so you're sure to find something to interest you.The staff who run the gallery are really friendly and polite, making for a great visit.If you wish to support the gallery I'd strongly recommend making a purchase at the gift shop which is filled with a wide variety of different products.

Well worth a visit, there is some great art but the best part is the basement and the Jazz Collection. If you are lucky Digby or one of his colleagues will give you a personal tour, which he did for us. Both he, and it, were fascinating. It tracks the history of jazz from New Orleans to date with some fabulous artifacts and curated play lists on Spotify. You can park right next door to the gallery or it's a short walk from Southend Victoria station. Worth a day trip from London if you like jazz. PS don't miss the museum next door which has an extraordinary Saxon find.

Brilliant vibe on SaturdayLots of fresh exhibits..including the wonderful double take" with Simon Monk and Jennie Sharman Cox on till 28th May 23.The Old Leigh Studios Time & Tide collection with some amazing ceramics and a great hum from the jazz peeps downstairs."

Great friendly gallery. Check out the 59th Open exhibition. It’s free until Dec 31 2023.

Splendid soaring 50s modernist cavern with a few modest galleries lost inside. Impressive above all is the optimistic architecture of the complex of the five centre and surroundings I fear mostly lost on contemporary residents.

Took my 96 yr old Dad to the Jazz Museum at Beechcroft At Gallery. Had a brilliant time.will be going back and looking forward to seeing some of the concerts as well.

Ever changing exhibitions with a local flavour, like this one about youth tribes gathering in southend over the years. Has some permanent parts too, like the Jazz archive. Do go in for a wander.

Attended Jazz event (The Great British Jazz Band: From Dixieland to Swing) in the onsite theatre space. (It was sold out but they kindly put chairs outside the open theatre door so anyone who hadn't booked could sit outside and still hear and partially see the performance.)We arrived and had a decaff coffee in the Jazz Centre UK (downstairs in Beecroft building) first - run by volunteers. Loads of interesting jazz books, artefacts, items to buy etc. There is a lift down to the jazz centre from the ground floor - you have to press the button continuously while lift arrives and then hold the lever down in the lift all the time you want it to move.Went upstairs for performance and were greeted by Digby Fairweather himself who was obviously delighted the event was full to overflowing. The band consisted of world class jazz artists and the music was incredible. They obviously enjoyed making music together and they were superb.