Kitchen Art, London Road

At Kitchen Art, Laurence Dempster took a genuine interest in what I wanted from my new kitchen.
He asked about my family and how I like to cook and made informed suggestions about the appliances I should consider and the vareity of kitchen styles available. Although this is a small showroom the red and white gloss lacquer kitchen at the back of the shop and the cream painted shaker display at the front were designed to appeal to traditional and modern tastes. He showed me door samples so I could see some of the other gloss colours and said, "We sell kitchens from Germany, Italy and the UK in many colours and styles so we will have something you like."

Score: 7/10
Laurence was interested in me as a customer and confident he could supply me with my perfect kitchen

B&R Barnes, London Road

Established in 1945, B&R Barnes has an impressive shop front stretching from 307 to 313 London Road.
The large, full height windows show a good selection of kitchen and bedroom furniture.
The shop is clean and bright and the assistant I met was friendly although she was unable to answer some of my questions. She could tell me that the kitchens were German and the bedroom furniture British and she pointed out that prices for each display were attached to the wall. However, she didn't know if the installers would be able to tackle small building work as part of my kitchen refurbishment, or what timescale B&R Barnes were currently working to.

Score: 6/10
Well presented shop but a lack lustre sale.

Eye Design, Rectory Grove

Despite its location in a grey concrete block next to the post office, John Dobson has created an Aladdin's cave of a shop.
This isn't a large showroom but it is fun to wander round unearthing unusual pieces beneath tile samples and stacks of brochures. There are glittering mosaic tiles on the walls, shower heads and towel rails suspended from the ceiling and an organised jumble of sanitaryware, including sculptural Il Bagno Alessi by Laufen.
Most of Eye's customers are based in London but for local business John can recommend a fitter, "You may have to wait for him as he is usually quite busy but we won't recommend anyone else as he does such a good job," he said.

Score: 7/10
This shop has character and John obviously has many years' experience in the bathroom trade

Harpur & Company, The Broadway

From the smart silver and grey exterior to the freestanding Cabuchon bath in the window and working Raindance shower, Harpur is aimed at the middle to top end of the market.
Located in the affluent Thorpe Bay area this boutique showroom with its subtle lighting, white walls and wooden floor feels calm and sophisticated but Neil Donovan's easy manner and enthusiasm also makes it highly accessible.
Neil joined me as I wandered round admiring the displays and we chatted about what I wanted for my bathroom and the options available. He showed me images on screen of current projects and discussed how he would be able to put together a design based on my wish list but also in keeping with my budget.

Score: 7/10
Lovely showroom and Neil's enthusiasm for the products he sells is infectious

Stateline Kitchens, London Road

I told Pete Morrish that I was planning a completely new kitchen but couldn't decide on the style.
He walked me round the showroom, pointing out the quality of the solid wood doors in their Sagne range. "We recommend a French manufacturer as they do wood doors particularly well," he said. Then we moved through to the back of the shop where a Nolte kitchen combined purple and grey gloss doors. Pete asked if I have a family and when I mentioned two growing teenagers showed me a great storage solution in the form of a corner larder unit. He then introduced me to his son Robert who works with him in the shop.
We then discussed my penchant for cooking with gas and Pete extolled the merits of an induction hob. "We will be having a Neff cookery demonstration in a couple of months so if you give me your details I'll send you an invitation to that," he said. "Or if you want to bring your own food in you can experience an induction hob for yourself. Even better, come at lunch time so we can experience your cooking too."

Score: 8/10
Lovely showroom with friendly, enthusiastic team. I'd buy my kitchen here

JA's Bathrooms, London Road

It's hard to miss JA's thanks to the giant black and white lettering announcing its presence on the London Road.
Billed as 'the South East's biggest bathroom showroom' there is definitely plenty to see inside with a warren of rooms leading from sanitaryware to brassware to furniture. Presentation is not a priority here, JA's falls squarely into the 'stack it high sell it cheap' category. Un-branded items are plentiful with a Victorian style WC pan and cistern on offer for £199. Or for customers looking for a recognisable name, Ideal Standard's Mondial basin and pedestal was labelled as a 'cash and carry bargain' for £95.
The carpet is held together with tape, the strip lighting is fierce, empty boxes and stray lengths of pipe clutter the floor and the product is not very clean - I found a cigarette butt in one WC. However the staff were friendly and the shop was busy. I asked about installation and was given a card for a local fitter. "Get Garry in to measure up for you, choose what you want and then he can come in and pick it up."

Score: 5/10
For a no frills bargain, JA's is the place

Bath World, London Road

This showroom created an excellent first impression with its large, well styled windows and smart silver on black sign.
There is also a small car park at the rear of the shop, which was helpful, as parking is limited in Southend especially on the busy A13.
Inside the lighting was warm and the background music at a comfortable level - the carpet however looked a bit tired. This two storey showroom boasts a good array of middle to upmarket products with eye catching Duravit Blue Moon and Jacuzzi baths in the window plus Aqualisa showers, Manhattan enclosures and a collection of traditional sanitaryware from Lefroy Brooks.
At the reception desk I asked Lawrence about installation. "We will send a surveyor out to measure up and then I will plan something onto paper for you," he said. Lawrence then showed me some drawings he was currently working on and discussed the types of product I might be interested in. "We can knock down walls and undertake any work that may be needed. And if we can't do it we know someone who can, we have a good working relationship with various local businesses."

Score: 8/10
An attractive showroom with plenty of choice and confident service

Winner's profile

Stateline Kitchens

Pete Morrish has been selling kitchens for 43 years and took over Stateline from his brother 13 years ago. He is currently putting in new displays and says, "there are a lot of weird and wonderful colours around. Having been in the business for so many years I've seen it all before, but you have to keep up with the times."
Pete is confident about the future, Stateline has a good reputation and 90% of its business comes from recommendation. "We've been through recession before and we're still here," he says. "We are a family business that tries to help and do what's right for the customer. We listen to our customers and offer advice rather than pushing them in a direction they don't want to go in."