Away Fans Guide to Southend
Away Fans Guide to Southend United
Everything visiting supporters need for a trip to Roots Hall — travel, pubs, food, hotels, the seafront and a proper Southend matchday welcome.
Quick Matchday Essentials
Welcome to Roots Hall
There are football grounds you visit, and there are football grounds you experience. Roots Hall sits firmly in the second category.
It is old, creaking, stubborn, full of character, and still one of those grounds where football feels close, noisy and real. Whether you are a first-time visitor, a returning exile, or an away fan making the trip to the Essex coast, this guide should help you get the best out of your day.
Getting to Southend
🚆 By Train
Prittlewell Station is the closest stop to Roots Hall and is only a short walk from the ground.
Southend Victoria and Southend Central are also useful if you want to visit the city centre or seafront first.
🚗 By Car
The A127 brings you into Southend and towards the stadium area.
Parking around Roots Hall is mainly on surrounding residential streets, so please park respectfully and avoid blocking driveways.
✈️ By Air
London Southend Airport is nearby and has hotels close to the terminal.
It is a convenient option for supporters making a longer weekend of the trip.
Roots Hall: Where Football Still Feels Like Football
Roots Hall is not polished, modern or corporate. That is exactly why so many people love it.
The West Stand
One of the loudest areas of the ground, packed with long-timers, families and die-hard Shrimpers.
The North Bank
The main source of noise. Away supporters are housed on the east side of the North Bank, left of the goal as you look at the pitch.
The East Stand
A proper old-school stand with wooden seats, tight rows and a feeling of football from another era.
The South Stand
A more relaxed part of the ground these days, but still full of loyal home support.
Pubs for Away Fans
Matchday drinking in Southend has its own geography. The pubs immediately around Roots Hall are generally home-fans-only, so away supporters are usually best heading into the city centre or along London Road.
🍺 The Plough
One of the oldest pubs in the city, dating back to 1654. A proper old-school pub with character, local ales and a welcoming feel.
🍺 The Olde Trout Tavern
A friendly city-centre ale house with a relaxed atmosphere. A useful option for supporters arriving via Southend Victoria.
🍺 The Park Tavern
A cosy, family-friendly pub on London Road with food, outdoor space and a welcoming matchday feel.
🍺 The Last Post
A large Wetherspoons in the city centre. Affordable, central and useful for supporters arriving via Southend Central.
No football shirts allowed — home or away.
Food Before and After the Match
🐟 The Fish House
A respected Southend fish and chip shop near Roots Hall. A strong pre-match option if you want something quick, hot and traditional.
🍔 City Centre Fast Food
McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, KFC and Taco Bell are all available around the High Street and city centre.
🌊 Seafront Food
The seafront is packed with fish and chips, cafés, doughnuts, ice cream, hot dogs, coffee huts and seaside snacks.
Adventure Island & Seafront Food
Southend’s seafront is ideal if you want to turn the match into a full day out.
Adventure Island
Inside or around the park you will find diners, fish and chips, cafés, hot dogs, sweet stands, ice cream and quick family-friendly food.
Marine Parade
Marine Parade has pubs, traditional fish and chip shops, cafés, ice cream parlours, doughnut stands and seaside snack kiosks.
Hotels in Southend
If you are staying overnight, Southend has options around the airport, city centre and seafront.
Holiday Inn Southend
77 Eastwoodbury Crescent, SS2 6XG. Modern hotel beside Southend Airport.
Ilfracombe House Hotel
9–13 Wilson Road, SS1 1HG. Long-established hotel near the Cliffs Pavilion and seafront.
The Last Post Hotel
Weston Road, SS1 1AS. Central and convenient for Southend Central, the High Street and seafront.
Park Inn Palace Hotel
Church Road, SS1 2AL. Landmark hotel overlooking the seafront and Adventure Island.
Travelodge Southend City Centre
33 Chichester Road, SS1 2JP. Budget-friendly and central.
Premier Inn Southend Airport
Thanet Grange, Prince Avenue, SS2 6GB. Quiet, modern and close to the airport.
Premier Inn Thorpe Bay
213 Eastern Esplanade, SS1 3AD. Seafront location in Thorpe Bay.
Things To Do in Southend
🌊 Southend Pier
The longest pleasure pier in the world and one of the city’s most famous landmarks.
🎢 Adventure Island
A classic Southend attraction with rides, arcades, family food and seafront energy.
🦀 Old Leigh
Cobbled streets, seafood huts, pubs and estuary views. Ideal if you are making a weekend of it.
🏖 Southend Seafront
Arcades, beaches, cafés, pubs, fish and chips, ice cream and traditional seaside matchday wandering.
Away Fans: A Warm Welcome and a Loud One
Away supporters now occupy the east side of the North Bank, left of the goal. It is close to the pitch, compact and noisy — a proper lower-league away end.
Roots Hall is friendly, loud and full of character. You will get banter, atmosphere and a proper football experience.
Why Roots Hall Matters
In an era of identikit stadiums and corporate gloss, Roots Hall remains a reminder of what football used to be — close to the pitch, close to the players and close to each other.
It is imperfect, ageing and absolutely ours. If you are visiting, embrace it. If you are returning, welcome back.