A cultural hotspot dating back to the 1920s, The Arlington Ballroom was originally a music hall, where residents of Southend and Leigh-on-Sea could dance, socialise and enjoy live music. Music halls were popular in Britain from the early Victorian era until the early twentieth century, although popularity waned gradually with the advent of radio and cinema. Over the years, The Arlington Ballroom changed hands many time, never quite recapturing its glory days.