Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK. 17 Apr 2017. The Annual Southend Shakedown has been running for the past 18 years. The event has traditionally been held ont he Easter Bank Holiday Monday and is the first ride-out of the year for motorcyclists - hence 'shakedown'. Previously organised byt the Ace Cafe. For the second year running Southend Borough Council requested that the organisers cover the cost of policing the event, The organisors cut all ties with the event last year. This resulted with no organisor and no one for the Council to send the bill to. Thousands of bikers still chose to ride to Southend Seafront, despite the Council trying rigorously to dissuade them. There was a heavy police presence.