La Quinta celebrates 22 birthday

A popular Essex restaurant celebrated its 22nd birthday in style on Saturday, 20 July. 

Benfleet eatery La Quinta was packed out for the event, with the restaurant laying on a three-course meal for guests, also providing an evening of soul music and entertainment. 

Restaurateur Simon Duke launched La Quinta with his brother Rupert in 2022. The premises used to be a huge warehouse that supplied British Airways and British Midland with staff uniforms. However, after the attack on the Twin Towers in 2001, demand dipped and the Dukes decided to back to their roots in hospitality.

The brothers invested £2m in creating a 180-seat restaurant that employed a top chef and then added a nightclub upstairs. 

"We had a brilliant party and everyone had a fantastic time," says Simon.

"This has been an incredible journey and I can honestly say the time has flown by. We took a huge risk when we started but my background has always been in the drinks trade, and now we can't wait for the next 20 years."

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