Definitely a high tide only spot – there’s only water for the top two hours of the tide, and it can get pretty shallow pretty quickly. Beware of an ebb tide as it will rip out towards the North Sea away from slack water. We tend to stay close to shore here to keep out of trouble. And don’t ever paddle north of the wooden ‘boom’ as it’s a military firing range! Check out our SUP Weather section for the latest…

South-west and north-easterlies blow cross-shore here, south-easterly is onshore. It’s exposed here, so anything from that half of the wind-rose will mean choppy water. Due west round to due northerly are offshore, resulting in flat water if it’s light to moderate or some small windswell if it’s blowing hard. Check out our SUP Weather section for the latest…

Paid parking inside the gates (£1 per hour, 8am to 6pm) although there are some free parking spaces outside the gates at the northern Blackgate Road end. There is a toilet block mid-way down the beach, and refreshments at the southern end, by the George Street entrance. Beware there is a height limit to the car-park, and the gates are locked around sunset. On the plus side, there’s a really well maintained green behind the beach.

From High Street Shoeburyness (where the station is), there are entrances to East Beach Park via George Street to the south (SS3 9AD – recommended launch what3words.com/gasping.riches.suitably) and Blackgate Road to the north (SS3 9SR – recommended launch what3words.com/invent.twee.snipped).