The Alex in Southend-on-Sea

I don't know what Stonegate are thinking. I will happily praise the staff who work there and I've always had a great time. I've been a regular for over 10 years and Tuesday was my regular night due to the great deals they have on. Even though over the years those deals have changed and not for the better. I've come to find out though that the Tuesday cheap deals will now only be available on the student card. Good job stonegate, you've just lost regulars and a good chunk of money due to this decision. As I said the staff are great, the company The Alex are under are terrible and just want to ruin a great establishment.

Upper management should be ashamed. This is / was one of the best pubs in Southend. The staff are lovely and as a whole the vibe is good, but upper management seems intent on destroying this place. The cheap Tuesday’s are apparently going. They’ve been slowly killing Tuesday night at the Alex for a while with change in deals / closing at 11pm (it used to be 1am), and now the final middle finger to the locals who keep this place alive, deals will now only be available to students with a student card on Tuesdays. For shame Stonegate management… you’ve killed what was an awesome pub… for shame.

A couple of friends and I visited Saturday for the bottomless brunch. The food was lovely. Cooked perfectly and severed hot. What makes this experience even better was our waitress Callie. She was fantastic so attentive without being intrusive. She was friendly and cheerful and made sure we had everything we needed. Will 100% return in the future.

We had booked for bottomless brunch and really enjoyed it, got served by Couch?(I'm sorry if I've misspelled your name) really lovely and patient with us haha. Great service and enjoyed the food options, thank you! Will definitely be back again ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I used to work the door at this pub and found the people to be friendly and DJ very good !

Was goid went for a bottomless brunch .. I can't remember much, so it must be a good sign.

Always a great experience here. The staff are friendly, the drinks are reasonably priced, and the vibe is relaxed. My favourite local venue.

Booked a brunch; lovely host, very friendly. The staff member couch was very easy to talk to, and accommodating, if I could score 11/10 I would!

I didn't eat, just had a drink. Whilst most other bars in Southend seemed empty, The Alex was busy, warm, inviting, friendly, karaoke and student vibe.

Still a great choice for meeting, dining and drinking with friends, and pool tables upstairs in case you want a game. Always seems to be some great people to chat and bump in to.

Great night watching comedy show 👌

Not my sort of pub, gambling tables and very tatty!

Decent pub for football but quite pricey for beer compared to others. Not far off London prices.

The experience has now gone because all of a sudden it's not a bottomless brunch after 2 drinks been told its a 8 drink limit even though it's not in your t&c sorry will not be returning felt uncomfortable

I really like this pub. And the food is really good.

Great pub. The staff is welcoming and I enjoyed the food.

Bottomless brunch today was amazing such great food from Daryl and service by Chris and Henry plenty of drinks for us and well looked after too! Will be coming here again for another one soon!

Nice large student pub, with real ales. Plenty of large televisions for sport.

Good staff nice selection of beers and plenty of deals to be had.

We had a bottomless brunch here and Bex and Couch were very attentive and considerate to our dietary needs (I needed some sugar free options and they offered lots of alternatives!) plus they went to the effort of making personalised drinks to our needs! We will be back thank you!

Couch & the lady server (who I didn't get the name of) were absolutely brilliant - we came for brunch and they were super quick with all the drinks, the minute a drink was empty, they were taking order for another! Which is normally the case for brunch! Cam also did amazing getting all the food out together!

Absolutely fantastic time, celebrated my birthday with a bottomless brunch with 21 people. Couch and the serving staff were fast and prompt with the drinks, and Cameron, Darrell and James making the wonderful food which all came out together. Couldn't ask for more, cheers guys

Came for a quick drink, first visit, located a short walk off the main street between the train station and the pier. Service was very friendly and helpful. Drinks were nice and reasonably priced. The venue itself is brilliant, great size, outside is large with covered seating and open seating as well. I can imagine it gets very busy in the evenings but we went just after opening time on a Tuesday so it was very quiet. Well worth a visit.

A shame to change my review but the bar really wasn't busy yet took a long time to get served and the staff were completely unaware of who was next. They seemed stressed and understaffed without someone available to change barrels. Not their fault at all, feels as though management has gone downhill a little.

Great pub for watching Sport. Good music, decent food and cracking atmosphere.

All over this establishment, there are advertisements to download the app and receive a free rum drink. We had downloaded the app, spun the game, and won a drink which we showed to our server, and they refused to offer it, even after said server had apparently messaged the manager about honoring the deal. For our first time experience, you can imagine we were not impressed, and the cocktail and food we ordered was mediocre at best.

Really nice bar with fantastic viewing options for sports on various TVs Staff are very helpful and good options for drinks. My only negative is that the mens toilets are not in good condition. A deep clean is required. The taps don't function properly as you need to keep your hand on the tap to keep the water running.

Very polite and friendly staff, good priced lunch deals

I love the food at the Alex, especially if Couch is cooking!!! Just had a bottomless brunch, and was not disappointed, as always!!! Ash was super responsive to anything we needed and so so polite and professional! Thank you again for a lovely time!!!

Great venue for all sports and even better in the late night

Great venue amazing location easy to get to atmosphere was amazing we went for one of the England matches it was electric team Alex you are awesome

Got drinks order wrong, then didn’t deliver an app ordered drink, food was not as described on menu… also £5 for ‘bday suit cookie dough’ aka. A small burnt cookie with smarties (yes, those are standard size smarties pictured) and a slug of ice cream

We had couch serve us for our bottomless brunch and cannot daily the service or cocktails

Great experience as always especially the service by Couch have been to the alex several times now, the bottomless brunch is well attended and drinks was continuously flowing. Very impressed as per always. Highly recommend and will continue to come back.

Couch was so amazing !!! He was so attentive and our drink never were empty at our bottomless ! Thank you so much to the amazing team at the alex for making my sisters birthday so good !

had a lovely bottomless brunch at Southend. our glasses were never empty ! food, drinks and service were impeccable!! couch was the best server we could have asked for and made a birthday very special today !

A pint here is an ethereal experience. Would reccomend. Wings also very good.

The service was fantastic. Been going here for fourteen years, and the service has always been top notch. The duty manager, Couch, was excellent. Always recommended to the Southend area.

Female bouncer with dark hair & glasses likes to throw her weight about, ruining peoples night. Won’t be going back & will tell my mates not to either.

Had a good evening with friends. Pool table and outdoor area.

Very nice people, and dog friendly

Becky was amazing! Cameron the food was beautiful! drinks following constantly and never had to ask. Even came outside while we were smoking to make sure we had a drink waiting. Will always come back! Great for the price, with a selection of drinks and foods for everyone.

I have been going here for years and I enjoy it so much. However planned a night out to be turned away at the door by a young (female) with glasses security staff member who told me "I can't let you in because you drank in a car which is illegal". I was a passenger sipping some pre drinks before being dropped off for a planned fun night of karaoke at the Alex. I then saw her on her phone, then smoking a cigarette at the venue doors. I was in tears after this, I don't understand how security staff are authorised to look at me in a car as a passenger without any understanding of what I was drinking. She just assumed and there is no law stating a passenger cannot consume small amounts of alcohol as a passenger. I am so concerned at the lie about the law because if they are making them up, what else can they decide if they are altering the law?! I am really upset and cried so much because I was made to feel like a criminal for having two sips of drink (with a lot of mixer!!!) before a night out in a private vehicle. What about rented limousines where champagne is drank from the back seats?! I don't understand how laws can be made up and unfairly enforced. The security staff kept staring at me while I cried in the car and made me feel so intimidated; I am worried to go back. I have had people fall on me from being too drunk, spike drinks, smash glasses in front of me at the Alex and that seems to be allowed as they were not told to leave. But I was watched from a distance outside and targeted for something done in a parked car as a passenger. It is deeply concerning that people are targeted for made up laws by staff in a position of power here.

Disgusting customer service, extremely rude staff. I would avoid!

I’m disgusted with staff behaviour. Rude arrogant member trying to throw his weight around. Told me pub was closed despite people still drinking on another table. No fair warning of time to drink up. Served a drink at 10.45 pm at the bar. Shouting we are closed straight after But no bell for 20mins drinking up time. When questioned about my obligatory time to finish my recently purchased beverage I was told they are closed and a female member of staff snatched the drink out my hand! Won’t be coming back as I was told I am barred ! Little did the staff know I was engaging in a write up for the good pub guide 2024

Bottomless brunch is great the staff are amazing great cocktails service and food! Big thank you to couch amazing service and really funny!

Had a brunch and was served by the ever lovely Couch. Thank you for your outstanding service, you're the reason we will be back 💕

The pub was clean and well decorated. We went for a bottomless brunch and had an amazing time with great value for money. Becky was very attentive bringing our drinks and was a very good laugh. The food cooked by James was lovely. We both had the breakfast which was served hit and fresh. Would definitely return. Well done guys.

Good service but owners fell over in front of me and didn't bid me farewell

Bottomless brunch Excellent food, brilliant service, Ruby was amazing never had to wait for drinks, will definitely coming back well done guys

Visited at lunch time with our children during half term, food great as always and staff very friendly and welcoming.

Staff does a fantastic jobs, especially when you need help or in a situation. Friendly environment great service. Very popular.

Great in the evenings. 2 for 1 cocktails on Friday. Karaoke. And an outside area with a pool table (which is cash only!!)

Omg, what good value! Loved the pints of Bacardi. Chef Couch’s karate burger burned my arse hole! Service a bit slow sometimes but added some time on…

Booked to watch football upstairs, really smooth process. Only niggle was that upstairs bar wasn't open so had to go downstairs each round

The big boned woman with the black hair and eyeliner is the worst security guard I have ever witnessed. No duty of care whatsoever. And there is no atmosphere since they have hiked the prices up.

The doorstaff obviously had a bad day yesterday, So they decided to take it out on the punters. 10 years I’ve been coming to that bar and for some reason I didn’t get in last night. Despite the fact there was no one there in the pub, female door staff were rude and condescending.. unempathetic. Urgently need replacing… Also £9.50 for a double rum and coke is a bit steep… especially for a pub..

Ight place need more pool tables

Ell made our experience. First time at the Alex, won’t be the last! Thanks so much Ell for being such a great bar person

Thank god for ELL behind the bar! What a superstar, looked after us all day, a real credit to The Alex!

First time for bottomless brunch at the Alex it was amazing!! We've been to the golden fleece in Chelmsford before which is the same company but this one was much better!! Our hostest was Sophie and she was very attentive, there wasn't a point where we had an empty glass before she was back asking what our next drink was. Food was delicious, very, very good selection of drinks for a bottomless brunch, very wide selection. Multicoloured lei's, funky sunglasses, gloves and promotional codes on the table for the whole party to enjoy. We will definitely be back. Thank you Sophie for making our first experience a good one!!

5/5 experience all round. We went for a bottomless brunch and it was honestly one of the best we've had. Everything was exceptional, the service, the food, the drinks. Our hostest for the afternoon was Sophie. She went above and beyond expectations and was a top factor in us rating so highly. The presentation of the table and accessories set out was a personal touch we wasn't expecting. Would definitely recommend a bottomless brunch here. We will be coming back here.

We had a bottomless brunch today and Sophie was our waitress and she was lovely and friendly. Definitely recommend this place us girls had a lovely time

Super amazing bottomless brunch at the Alex with Couches serving us! Thank you so much!

Wonderful day at the Alex! We were served by Becky and Simon and chef was Daryl! We had the bottomless brunch, Becky was our server and she was so polite and attentive, Simon made our cocktails and they were beautiful and our breakfast by Daryl was gorgeous! Thank you guys so much! We have now made this our monthly catch-up spot! Can’t wait for next time !

This venue has a lively vibe with friendly helpful staff. Quick service with a smile.

Pub was busy. Was showing the rugby. There was police presence in the garden, I presume to make sure the atmosphere stayed calm. Service was OK-didn't take too long to be served. Even though the pub was very busy

THEY ARE FAKING THEIR OWN REVIEWS!!! Totally rubbish place . 0 star. Food no good. They using overdue dated products and to hide this they overcooking all meals. You can poison your stomach easily. Venue very dirty, smells like urine so they keeping dimmed lights so customers can't see that. Avoid people any cause!!!

Food was really nice and we got a lot of drinks in our bottomless. Couch was always coming over asking if he can help!

Came for St Patrick's Day bottomless brunch today and was such an excellent time. Served by Couch the whole time and he made such an effort to serve us quickly and keep us entertained.

Great pub serving great beer. Shows ppv sport.

Bottomless brunch excellent, couch was amazing

2 diners , each ordered a chicken dish and I swear they split 1 breast between 2 dishes and made then both as tough as boots. Skin on fries were not, just frozen fries. Dressed salad was not dressed. Onion "rings" were just 1 onion ring. And the drinks bill was£10.05 for a pint and a small non alcoholic beer. Just really disappointed.

Let me be honest it's not what it once was. It used to be booming with a better menu and clientele. However that may just be me getting old. The menu still needs some work and it a bit on the pricey side for what it is with exception to the breakfast/brunch menu. Service is hit or miss but never rude. I can see they are trying to do new stuff such as comedy nights which are very good and the student Tuesdays are still a staple! Overall it's still a safe environment for anyone who wants a night out and the riff raff is avoided!

Great comedy night lots of fun 😊

very unwelcoming and unpleasant blonde woman behind the bar. this used to be a very upbeat, friendly place, that me and my group of friends would regularly go to. however i will not be coming here again. EDIT: i actually did wind up coming here again. and i had a much better experience, surprisingly enough. in regard to the response (not sure whether it is still visible), but it seems like the original girl who served me was perhaps having a bad day, as i had no issues with my ID this time around. I was served by Ruby, primarily, on the upstairs bar and she was an absolutely phenomenal bartender the entire night. there are a lot of lovely staff here, so i have updated my prior rating from a 2/5 to a 4/5. would definitely have been 5*'s had i not have had the previous bad experience (:

Very nice lunch and at a decent price. Staff very nice.

The door staff were disgustingly rude with a huge (despite being small) sense of entitlement, the venue very clearly did not want to have live music and couldn’t have cared about the situation and borderline insulted one of the bands, Do not recommend for a night out, and certainly don’t recommend any band use this venue.

Rude door and bar staff, wont be returning.

First time I've been in the Alex for probably 18 years Completely different to how I remember but I definitely recommend it.

Good food and drink at a good price. A pool table outside and a couple upstairs. 40p a chicken wing on Wednesdays and karaoke Fridays!

Absolutely horrible experience. Felt very unwelcomed. Order a drink via their app was handed a warm drink 25 mins later. Another 25 for aside of loaded chips which was not to far off from cold as well.

Been going here for years but I just had the best vegan burger ever. It was 2-4-1 burgers as well so it was only £13 for me and my friend’s dinner! The burger had this onion bhaji and yogurt thing going on, seriously good stuff. When they brought the burgers out, me and my friend both looked at each other and said “ahh man that smells so good” and the people on the table next to us turned around and looked, you know they wanted it! This is a vegan burger, man, a vegan burger! And it was banging, of course. Now, a chain pub you never really expect the chips/fries to be much, but these ones were great, really can’t complain at all. Overall, really glad we chances a drink out on a Tuesday. Managed to get in and out before too many people turned up and we both left feeling good.

This might be called the Alex but it's not I remember the real Alex by which I mean pound a pint student night that's when it was the Alex this place is just a sorry excuse for a niech pub that is now frequented by hipsters and it is so sad to see how bad this pub has become bring back Alex Tuesday with the real niche crowd not these hipsters

Lovely bottomless brunch at the Alex! Lovely pub and the service is always amazing. Callie served us and was very attentive, asking us if we wanted more drinks before we had inside our current ones. Managed to get 6/7 cocktails in two hours at a steady pace! Excellent value for money! Only thing is that more food options for the brunch would be great as it used to be a lot more options 2/3 years ago. 10/10 would reccomend.

Terrible, expensive pub. Service is outrageously bad. Refused to change or refund a beer that was vinegary, warm and flat. First and only pub I've ever experienced this in. Minus £6. Tap water is free though... Never going back

The drinks are reasonably priced. The food is hit and miss but ok. The staff are not always overly friendly and seem fed up most of the time.

First time visitor here, experienced the bottomless brunch. Couch was the host with the most, was wonderfully attentive throughout the 2-hour session regularly getting more drinks. Created own mocktails which tasted delicious albeit disappointed the last one will not be named after me! But was a lovely experience and one to remember so thank you to Couch and to the Alex

Expensive and very loud. Seems to have now turned into a football pub with a variety of screens around the place and everything that comes with that. 2 pints nearly £12. To quote The Jam, We "sup up our beer and collect our fags" and left.

Nice and tidy, great food and drinks. Very silent place

Friday night Eleoke is a great crowd. Brings people together of all ages for fun night.

I love the alex! Good beer, good wings. Good people...what more could you ask for?! Big t.vs and pool? check! doggo friendly? check! Best pub eveerrrr! 😘

Personally, the food didn't meet my expectations and overpriced.

Awesome atmosphere on a Tuesday night

Have been coming to The Alex for some time. Anthony in particular is always friendly, polite and accommodating. Selection of beers is great and the food never disappoints. Will continue to come for our Sunday get togethers

What a hidden away little gem of a bar...Great service lovely atmosphere...definitely going back

Had a fabulous brunch at the Alex Paris was our server and was so lovely!

Parys is awesome! Service was great! Couldn't do enough for us- would recommend the Alex it is the best brunch in town!! Good value, excellent service, have been many times before and will continue to do so! Thank you Parys

Decent food. Service was incredible. Paris was amazing

Paris was amazing, great service and couldn't ask for more.