The History of Vapour Central
Vapour Central began as a small local vape business in Essex and has grown into a trusted vape and lifestyle retailer with multiple stores and an established online presence. This is how we got from a spare-time project to “Your Local Vape & Lifestyle Store”. 🏪
2014 – Humble beginnings
Vapour Central started in June 2014 as a sole trader venture with one clear aim: to give smokers decent alternatives and straight advice. In the early days most customers were friends, family and work contacts, with orders handled in spare time and delivered locally. It was small, personal and built entirely on word of mouth. 👥
2016 – Becoming a limited company
In July 2016, Vapour Central was registered as a Limited Company and opened its first proper shop in Westcliff-on-Sea, just off Hamlet Court Road on St Helens Road. At the time it was the only dedicated vape shop in the area and the only one staying open later than 5:30pm, quickly becoming a regular stop for local vapers and smokers looking to switch.
From day one the aim was to help both complete beginners and experienced vapers, stocking a wide range and taking the time to explain things properly rather than just pushing whatever was on promotion. 🙌
2017 – Growth and a more visible Westcliff store
Early 2017 saw the Westcliff shop move to a more prominent position on Hamlet Court Road. The new unit increased footfall, made the store easier to find and allowed for a much wider range of hardware and e-liquid.
Later that year, Vapour Central hosted its first “vape night”, an after-hours event with social time, offers and giveaways that brought the local vaping community together. Between 2017 and 2020, Friday and Saturday opening hours were extended to 7pm, making the shop a genuine late-night option on the high street. 🌃
2018 – Seven days a week and extended warranty
By 2018 Vapour Central had grown enough to open seven days a week, including Sundays. This made it one of the most accessible vape shops in the area, especially for people working irregular hours.
The company also pushed ahead with a longer warranty on hardware, offering up to six months’ cover on many devices – a level of protection most competitors were not offering at the time. ✅
2019 – Refresh, loyalty upgrade and Smoke Free
2019 was a busy year. The Westcliff shopfront was refreshed with updated branding, giving the store a cleaner, more modern look that better reflected how the business had developed. ✨
The old paper loyalty cards were retired and replaced with a digital loyalty system, making it easier for customers to earn and track rewards.
That same year Vapour Central joined the local Smoke Free service. Staff completed specialist training as Stop Smoking Advisors, supporting people who were referred into store as part of funded quit programmes backed by Southend City Council and the NHS. This marked a clear commitment to harm reduction and public health. ❤️🩹
2020 – Lockdown and innovation
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Vapour Central had to adapt quickly. The business moved to a delivery-only model for a period, making sure regular customers could still get essential vape supplies while restrictions were in place.
In the same year, Vapour Central launched its own “Vapers Choice” line and became a Vaporesso Super Powershop, recognised as a key UK retail partner. Klarna was introduced both online and in store to give customers more flexible payment options. 🚚
2021 – Sustainability and Leigh store opening
In 2021 the business switched to a new waste provider, TLM, reflecting a push towards more environmentally conscious operations.
Well before national schemes were talked about, Vapour Central began collecting used disposable vapes in store, helping customers dispose of them responsibly rather than simply binning them. ♻️
April 2021 also saw the opening of the Leigh-on-Sea store. The new location brought the same level of service, range and advice to customers in Leigh and the surrounding areas. 📌
2023 – Loyalty overhaul, new partners and refit
In 2023 the loyalty scheme was updated again, with more flexible rewards and exclusive offers for regular customers. 🎁
Vapour Central became an official partner of brands such as OXVA, Elf Bar and Lost Mary, widening the choice available in store.
The online store was temporarily closed to allow for redevelopment and a rethink of how the digital side of the business should work.
Towards the end of 2023, the Westcliff store had a full internal refit. The layout, fixtures and displays were modernised to make the shop easier to browse and more welcoming for new and existing customers. 🛠️
2024 – Rayleigh expansion and the end of the Smoke Free contract
2024 saw a third store added to the group with the opening of Vapour Central Rayleigh, just a few minutes from the high street. The shop quickly developed a reputation for having one of the largest hardware and e-liquid ranges in the area, serving customers from Rayleigh, Hullbridge, Wickford and beyond.
In September 2024, the contract to provide in-store support for the local Smoke Free service came to a planned end. That chapter closed on a successful period of helping many people in Southend move away from smoking with structured support. ✅
Expansion into Shoeburyness was explored during 2024 but did not proceed in the end. Even though that particular location did not work out, it reflected the ongoing ambition to grow and serve new communities.
2025 – New chapter with Everyone Health and a new website
In 2025, Vapour Central re-entered the stop smoking space by working with Everyone Health as a subcontractor, once again supporting adults who wanted to move away from cigarettes using vapes and other alternatives.
April 2025 marked the launch of a completely rebuilt website. The new platform made it far easier to browse, compare products and order online, while still keeping the focus on the physical stores in Westcliff, Leigh and Rayleigh. 🌐
2025–2026 – From vape shop to vape & lifestyle store
As regulations and customer expectations around vaping continued to change, Vapour Central made a conscious decision in 2025–2026 to evolve from being “just” a vape shop into a broader vape & lifestyle store.
This shift was reflected in an updated core slogan: “Smarter Choices, Healthier Habits.”
and the supporting strapline: “Your Local Vape & Lifestyle Store.” ✨
The product mix began to change too. Vapes and e-liquids remain the backbone of the business, but the range now includes:
- ✅ Nicotine pouches and other alternative nicotine options for adults who do not want to vape.
- ✅ Nootropics and other carefully chosen lifestyle products aimed at everyday focus and routine.
- ✅ Functional drinks and related items under a “more than just vapes” banner in store.
The idea is straightforward: give adults more choice and better information, while staying firmly focused on harm reduction and responsible retailing rather than chasing every passing trend.
⭐ Today – A trusted name in vaping & lifestyle
Today Vapour Central operates multiple locations across Essex and an online store that supports, rather than replaces, the high street shops. The mission is the same as it has been from the start: provide honest advice, sensible options and solid support for adults looking for an alternative to smoking.
Whether you visit Westcliff, Leigh, Rayleigh or order online, the aim is that you get the same straightforward experience – no pressure, no overblown claims, just practical help in finding what works for you. 🤝
Frequently asked questions about Vapour Central
When did Vapour Central start?
Vapour Central began in 2014 as a small sole trader business in Hadleigh, Essex before becoming a limited company and opening its first dedicated vape shop in Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend, Essex.
Where are Vapour Central stores located?
We currently have stores in Westcliff-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea and Rayleigh in Essex, as well as our online store serving customers across the UK.
Is Vapour Central an independent business?
Yes. Vapour Central is an independent Essex based business. We pay our staff properly, pay our tax and invest back into our local high streets rather than operating as a faceless chain.
What does “vape & lifestyle store” mean?
It means we still specialise in vapes and e liquid, but also offer alternative nicotine products such as nicotine pouches and carefully chosen lifestyle products such as nootropics and functional drinks for adult customers.
Who are your products for?
Our products are for existing adult smokers and nicotine users who are 18 or over. We focus on harm reduction and helping people move away from smoking, not encouraging non-smokers to start.