First mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as Frientuna, meaning 'fenced-in or enclosed town or settlement, there wasn’t much going on in the town until the boom of the seaside in the late Victorian era. Industrialist, Richard Powell Cooper, rejected plans for a pier to be put in place as well as the restriction of boarding houses and pubs, emphasising the need for quality housing. During the late 19th century several developments, including a lido, hotels and housing, as well as the golf course, were created. The town attracted visitors from high society including the Prince of Wales and Winston Churchill and Connaught Avenue, now home to many shops and businesses, was named after the Duke of Connaught. Today, the tree-lined avenues, esplanade and relaxed feel, all ensure it remains a favourite with many. While it’s been known to be a popular place for retirees (and who would blame them!) the town does offer a quieter life, especially for those looking for a waterside location, but there is still lots to do. Sport is a passion in the town and along with Frinton Golf Club, which was founded in 1895, Frinton Lawn Tennis Club has tennis courts, a gym and the opportunity to play squash and croquet… and there’s a heated pool, too. Community is key and established in 1934, Frinton Summer Theatre’s season kicks off on July 5 with Chariots of Fire, a production by Mike Bartlett, and is noted as possibly the most ambitious production undertaken in the McGrigor Hall. Living here, there’s a wide choice of homes, including beautiful art deco properties, sea view apartments, as well as new build options. Education wise, Frinton Montessori provides pre-school education for children between the ages of three and five, and for primary education there’s Frinton-on-Sea Primary School and St Philomenas, the only independent school in Tendring. Tendring Technology College has a campus in Frinton, serving the needs of students aged 14 to 19 while nearby the Thorpe-le-Soken Campus provides for students aged 11 to 14. Frinton is on the mainline railway with journeys to London Liverpool Street Station taking approximately 90 minutes. Road connections via the A133, A120 and A12 connect the town with the rest of Essex and beyond…Frinton really does live up to its expectations.
EXPLORING
Of course, the beach is the star of the show here and it has been awarded a Blue Flag which ensures visitors can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as international bathing water quality standards. Probably its biggest appeal is that it’s not full of attractions so you can switch off and enjoy the surroundings. Lined with colourful old-fashioned beach huts it’s perfect for taking in the sun, playing in the sun or just simply chilling. Booking a beach hut is the ideal way to make the most of your visit and Beach Huts Frinton (beachhutsfrinton.co.uk) has plenty of choice, some of which have wheelchair access. The Greensward is not only a popular grassy area, it provides the option for games and picnics if the tide is in! It’s good to take a walk along the promenade to nearby Walton-on-the-Naze. Just two miles long it follows the sea wall and is accessible for everyone. Children will enjoy the rides and attractions on the pier and you can’t help but notice the Naze Tower, the 86ft landmark which houses an art gallery, museum, café and a roof viewing platform with panoramic views.
SHOPPING
Independent boutiques, shops and services reign in Connaught Avenue. You can pick up anything from those beach essentials to gifts and antiques. Caxton Books (caxtonbooks.co.uk) endeavours to offer the widest range of lovely books from cookery to crime, fun and fiction and everything else in between. Nothing says a good day out, or a treat, than a visit to the local sweet shop and Frinton is proud to have a family-run shop, The Olde Sweet Shop (theoldesweetshop.com). From traditional sweets, there’s also the summer staples such as ice cream and ice lollies and its very own Frinton-on-Sea rock! For gifts and toys for the little people in your life then Spinning Strawberry (spinningstrawberry.wordpress.com) is the go-to place. There’s anything from the popular Jellycat and Charlie Bears range, as well as helpful educational toy advice. The Girls Wardrobe (Instagram@girliewardrobe) is a women’s clothing boutique with everything you need to look stylish this summer and Parker’s Garden (parkersgardencompany.com) has all you need for the garden and home.
EATING AND DRINKING
It won’t be difficult to find a place to eat in the town…first up is local café, Bird and Bean (@bird_and_bean_frinton). Owned by Denni and Dan King, it’s affectionately named after their children’s nicknames. From a full breakfast and lunch menu with evening openings in the pipeline, good coffee and delicious treats are just some of the menu choices including avocado toast topped with roasted mushrooms and sundried tomatoes or those wanting both a sweet and savoury combination, then the bacon donut is a must! Little Bird and Bean is perfect for those wanting a ‘grab and go’ option. Summer is the perfect time for sipping cocktails and Arnie’s Cocktail Bar (arniescocktailbar.co.uk) is named after owner, Hayley Vella’s French bulldog, Arnie. It’s a place to dine in style with a variety of appetisers, mains and sides, and there’s plenty of creative and exquisite cocktails on offer, too. Being the staple meal of the coast, fish and chips can be savoured as a takeaway on the beach or head to Pier One (pieronefrinton.co.uk) for whitebait or crispy squid for starters, while on the main menu choices include plaice, classic fish and chips and surf and turf. It’s dog friendly and only works with 100 per cent sustainable small fisheries.
STAYCATION
Nothing beats a staycation along the Essex Sunshine Coast and local company, Frinton Holiday Lets (frintonholidaylets.com) has every type of property to suit. From couples to groups of 20, the company has everything from apartments to large holiday homes, which will not only suit your requirements, but there’s also choice with a capital C! Take Rookwood, in the middle of Fourth Avenue. Look right and the sea can be seen at the bottom of the road and it’s just a three-minute walk to the Greensward and then to the beach. It sleeps 15 so is ideal for a family holiday or get together for a traditional seaside break. Or, for those looking for a seafront apartment, La De Da has stunning sea views and is a first-floor apartment which sleeps two/six. Whether you stay a night or longer, Lifehouse Spa and Hotel (lifehouse.co.uk) offers peace and comfort in every room at this location just minutes from Frinton and only 90 minutes from London by train. All of the 89 bedrooms are tastefully decorated in a contemporary style with enchanting views over the English Heritage gardens, the lakes or the surrounding countryside. Additional treats can be arranged, and four accessible rooms are available.
Case study – Clive Brill, Frinton Summer Theatre’s artistic director, producer and Frinton resident.
'I first fell in love with Frinton when I first came here in 2012 as an actor. I managed to land parts in two plays that season and got to know the wonderful high street with Caxton Books. I had no idea at that stage, 14 years on, I would not only own the bookshop (still managed by Judith Charlesworth and Beverley Jenkins), but also run Frinton Summer Theatre…the UK’s oldest summer rep. It’s been going for over 80 years and punches well above its weight with terrific productions, giving jobs to many actors across seven productions every season. This year we’re producing some great titles such as The Winslow Boy, Chariots of Fire and Annie Get Your Gun. Do check out our website frintonsummertheatre.org. We’ve had some very famous names start their careers with us, such as Vanessa Redgrave, Neil Dudgeon and Sir Antony Sher. There are many creative high spots in the Frinton calendar such as the excellent Music and Literature Festivals, but also through Caxtons we run a monthly cinema called Cinema on Sea. Every month we transform the McGrigor Hall into a local cinema with a wonderful sound and projection system managed by Mike Woodward. We are unusual in that we always have a ‘comfort break’ in our screenings exactly halfway through the film which also gives patrons a chance to top up their wine glasses or get hold of an ice cream tub or two! It’s a wonderful thing to be able to contribute to the cultural life of such a gem of a town.'
