League: Football League Two
Hospitality Package: Platinum Suite
- Private table for dining in the Platinum Suite
- Outside Directors Box Seats (East stand)
- Three course pre-match meal
- Half-time tea, coffee and biscuits
- Matchday quiz
- Reserved car parking
- Complimentary matchday programme
- Bar facility
- Teamsheet
- TVs
Stadium
Roots Hall is the home ground of the English Football League Two club Southend United. With a capacity of 12,392 Roots Hall is the largest football stadium in Essex. Roots Hall is situated within a terraced housing estate and has many entrances to the ground in between various houses. All stands have supporting pillars including the relatively new South Stand which possibly has more pillars and more faults than any of the others. If you sit toward the back of the lower tier there are too many pillars to have a clear view and if you sit at the back of the upper tier you have to duck down to see the goal at the far end. However, all four stands remain similar in height and close to the pitch. The East stand is the main stand at Roots Hall, running along one side of the pitch. Originally designed as a section of seating with paddocks of terracing below, it was converted to an all seater stand in the 1990s. The stand also contains executive boxes and, in the back, the Club offices. The dugouts are cut into the stand, covered by the main roof. Hospitality entrance: Entrance for the Platinum Suite is done via the main reception, which can be entered via Victoria Avenue. Here, also the allocated hospitality tickets can be collected from 6PM onwards (for matches with kick-off at 7.45PM). The true Football atmosphere emerges as you pick up your tickets here!
Platinum Suite Lounge
The Platinum Suite is located in the East stand, unfortunately no pitch-view windows! The Suite itself opens at 6PM for matches with kick-off at 7.45PM and is really intimate with seating capacity of about 25 persons. Be expected so see a true ”bed and breakfast” like atmosphere here, very intimate, warm and friendly. Right next to the Suite is a small lounge/bar/pub area where you can order drinks and have a snack before having dinner. The Suite comes with waiting staff, complimentary matchday programmes, teamsheets, matchday quiz, pay bar facility and TV’s showing Sky Sports.
Besides a matchday quiz no matchday activities take place in the Suite. One could argue that this is a pity, however, the atmosphere in the Suite itself is very cosy and intimate and that, in our opinion, is worth something.
Food and Drinks
In the Platinum Suite package, being the premier package, no drinks are included. There is however a pay bar facility and the Suite itself comes with waiting staff so feel free to order anything you like. The pay bar facility is one you would find in a typical local pub, not an enormous range of drinks but the obvious beer, soft dinks and wines are available at a fair price range.
The three course pre-match meal is a set menu served in an efficient and friendly manner. Do not expect culinary extravaganza, however do expect good well cooked food, served in a pub style setting. Very enjoyable! Accompanying bread with different condiments was provided shift.
During half-time tea, coffee and biscuits was provided in an orderly manner. Full-time refreshments were not provided. The private pay bar service ends approximately one hour after the final whistle.
Seating
This is where the package truly stands out, having seats in the outside Director’s Box which are all traditionally wooden seats with a cushion placed on top of them. Truly magnificent to watch a game in this manner! From the Suite itself to the Director’s Box is only a short stroll. Outside Director’s Box seats are located in the East stand on the halfway line offering the best views in the house.
Costs
£55+ VAT per person
Good to know
Right next to the stadium is one of Southends liveliest pubs where a true SUFC atmosphere flourishes: The Spread Eagle on Victoria Avenue. Be sure to have one or two pints here before entering the stadium!
Disclaimer: This is not a paid review and we haven’t been asked to write this. All views and words are our own and have not been influenced by anyone else.
