DINERS will soon be able to tuck into Jamie Oliver recipes in Southend as the celebrity chef’s family opens a seafront cafe.

Jamie’s aunt, Marianne Leggett, his uncle, Colin Oliver, and Colin’s partner, Tina Gibbs, are refurbishing the former KJ’s kiosk, in Western Esplanade, as a cafe.

The cafe, which the business partners hope to convert into a restaurant with glass doors and decking within two years, will use exclusive Jamie Oliver recipes and serve breakfasts and lunches.

The naked chef Jamie Oliver has been a regular on the seafront in recent years, filming a programme for Channel 4 in a cafe on the pier.

Colin, 50, who has previously run the Chequers Inn, in Canewdon, and the Cherry Tree pub, in Rochford, said: “To start with, it will have windows looking out on to the estuary.

“It’s going to be a complete change: new toilets, new kitchen, new kiosk, new dining area.

“It’s the location we have bought. I just think people love to look out onto the sea.”

The new cafe, which will be called Oliver’s on the Beach, is expected to open in about six weeks.

Colin Oliver, from Southend, said the business would concentrate on breakfasts and lunches, with all meals prepared and cooked on site.

The Echo understands plans have changed several times, with a creperie mooted at one point.

Mr Oliver revealed the cafe was only “phase one” of the redevelopment.

He said: “Next year, or the year after, we would like to make it a bigger dining area with glass doors out on to the sea and a decking area.

“We will be bringing a couple of Jamie’s exclusive recipes to the seafront.”

Southend Council turned down developer Emmanuel Popat’s plans to develop the kiosk as a two-storey restaurant, designed to appear as if it were floating, last year.

Previous owner Jan Smith, who handed over the keys just after Easter, said: “I wish them well. I hope they do well.

“It looks lovely and blends in with the seafront.”