Some folk who like to check out my blogs may have picked up that besides posting mostly on more serious stuff going on in the world, I fancy myself as a restaurant, and the like, critic and have from time to time posted on one or other eating establishment, particularly cafes serving up my favourite meal – a full English breakfast.

I haven’t done so for a while and given the positive experience I had earlier today I thought I would seize the opportunity of writing about an establishment I have frequented on a number of occasions. Much as I love to tuck into a full English at cafes more leaning to workmen than posh, especially if the food, service and value is veering toward very good, sometimes it is well to have a change. Today was one of those occasions, so having done my work out at the gym, I drove down to the Southend sea-front to nearly opposite the Sea Life centre, at the Beach Road Bakery, for brunch.

Having got into a groove from previous visits, I ordered my favoured combination of the best steak and kidney pie in town, a freshly made to order seafood salad roll and one of their excellent forbidden cakes. While there were two customers in front of me, ordering their bespoke meal, I was soon served by the attentive, efficient, cheerful and pleasant assistant, who has served me on previous occasions. The food, like the value and service, was excellent, and it didn’t matter that it was to take away because to round off my time away from my home / office I could enjoy eating my brunch at some quiet spot going toward Shoebury, while looking out to sea watching boats and people pass by and reflecting on the meaning of life.

There are a lot of food and refreshment establishments along Southend’s Golden Mile, where Beach Road Bakery on the outskirts of the Kursaal estate sits on the edge off. I suspect this tucked away bakery may not be noticed by out-of-town visitors to Southend Sea Front. But I reckon that doesn’t matter much as many locals have and, like me, enjoy what Beach Road Bakery has to offer.