A COCKLE shed in Old Leigh is being transformed into a seafood restaurant.

The first cockle shed in the row is taking shape as the Simply Seafood restaurant with 24 seats inside for diners.

It was a cockling factory 20 years ago, but is due to open next month as a restaurant.

Work is still taking place on the inside and the owners plan to provide seating for a further 20 people outside on its wooden decking.

Town councillor Mike Dolby, who sits on the licensing sub-committee, said the change was a sign of the times.

He added: “Things have changed because cockling isn’t done today like it used to be when I was a boy. We went out to the Maplin Sands, waited for the tide to go out and pick them up. Now they use a vacuum.

“But the restaurant’s very nice. I was quite impressed.

“It’s not like the old cockle sheds. The old town has always had the three pubs, boat clubs and cockling sheds.”

The town council supported the owner’s application to serve alcohol on site from 10am until midnight on Monday to Thursday, and from 10am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, until 1am the following day. However, they only wanted it to be served with food.

Southend Council’s licensing committee will now make a final decision about serving alcohol at the restaurant.