She said: “It was amazing, fabulous and fantastic. “Everyone came in the doors with huge smiles on their faces. “It was so wonderful to welcome everyone back and our bar and restaurant have had a refurbishment so it was great to show it off to all our customers. “Our staff have been amazing and in a way it felt like we didn’t close. “The best thing is we do not need to rely on the weather and yesterday we served more than 150 afternoon teas.” Sadiq Chikte, 42, director at the plush Seven Hotel, in Clifton Terrace, Southend said it was great to see their customers again.