THE Cliffs Pavilion is ready to welcome theatre-goers to its new-look building after seven weeks of refurbishment work.

All 1,630 seats in the main auditorium have been replaced, and capacity has risen to 1,650.

A total of 92,904 nuts and bolts were needed to hold the new seats together.

The entire foyer area and its bar have been re-carpeted after 18 years of wear and tear, while the Pavilion restaurant has also been redecorated and given a new floor.

The project was funded jointly by Southend Council, which owns the buildings and HQ Theatres, which manages the theatre.

Derek Jarvis, councillor responsible for culture, said: “The Cliffs Pavilion is a premier regional venue, and we are delighted to fund more than 1,600 seats.

“We are very fortunate to have such an attraction which enables top-quality artists to perform here. It gives residents first-class entertainment in Southend, and brings audience members flocking into our borough from elsewhere.”

The theatre has been closed to productions during the summer holiday, but reopened yesterday with the touring production of the Rocky Horror Show, starring Christopher Biggins.