Campaign to reopen Portishead Pier
A fresh attempt was started to reopen a Victorian pier that closed to the public in 2007. Portishead Pier in North Somerset was constructed in 1869 to allow pleasure steamer passengers to safely disembark but was now only open to fishermen. Paul Clark lives on the marina and said he thought it was structurally sound and could be used as an attraction. “People walk past this derelict thing but we need to generate some excitement about reopening it,” he said.
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New pier planned for Brightlingsea
A report said: “The heritage quay will provide a fantastic platform for events and activity for all to enjoy, whilst the heritage pier will bring the barges back to Brightlingsea, repeating our maritime history and providing a glorious backdrop. In front of this stretching into the harbour will be the heritage pier with space for three or more barges to lay alongside; providing a glorious sight not seen since the days east coast barges once traded and laid up in the harbour to refit and offload cargo.”
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It’s wheely-good in Clacton!
In 2020, both Clacton Pavilion and Clacton Pier announced separate plans in the same week for a big wheel to mark the resort’s 150th anniversary. Clacton Pavilion in this week revealed its 30-metre-high big wheel – which was currently under construction – could be in place in the spring while Clacton Pier unveiled it had now submitted a planning application for its attraction.
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Skegness Pier’s new owners plan for extension
The new owners of Skegness Pier have said they want to restore the Victorian-built structure to its “former glory”. The pier, which first opened in 1881, was bought by the Mellors Group after being put up for sale for £3m. Managing director James Mellors said plans included extending the attraction to make it a focal point for visitors. “It’s almost like Blackpool has its tower – Skegness Pier is that magnet,” he said.
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Storm Darcy causes damage to Walton Pier
The pier’s owner was hoping the destructive Storm Darcy would begin to ease off so repairs could be made to the pier’s structure before any further damage occured. Mr Bolesworth said “there is damage and a bit of a weak point, and it is moving around a bit because it does not have a lot of support now.”
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Council to continue with compulsory purchase order for Birnbeck Pier
Cllr Don Davies, leader of the council, said: “Despite the recent change of ownership to another company, the pier is still owned by the same individual who’s been in possession of it for the last decade. The same individual who’s allowed this historic jewel to crumble into the sea”.
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Stunning aerial shots of a wintry Great Yarmouth Britannia Pier
The aerial footage, captured at around 8.30am on Wednesday, February 11 by Thurne Studios, offered spectacular but ghostly views of Britannia Pier by air as it stood surrounded by white sand.
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Colwyn Bay Pier construction work due for completion by ‘late spring’
Of the 99 original decorative ironwork panels taken from the old pier, 74 were successfully refurbished to be used on the new pier. All the lamp columns, their bases and capitals had been recast (as per original design). The colours used on the decorative ironwork were taken from the results of a paint analysis that dated the colour scheme back to 1934, which corresponds with the construction of the third pavilion that year.
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Weston-super-Mare’s former Seaquarium is to be turned into an all day diner with cocktail bar and mini adventure golf course.
Owner of the town’s Grand Pier Kerry Michael, of AGM Holdings, signed a deal with North Somerset Council earlier this year to take over the seafront attraction – and spend £1.5 million on refurbishing it. Work had started on the strip out of the former attraction, which closed in March 2019 after years of operating at a loss. The ambitious plans included turning the building, which sits on a stilt like structure on the beach, into an all day dining venue.
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Weston Grand Pier donates pancakes to NHS staff on Shrove Tuesday
Staff at Weston General Hospital and Locking Road walk-through testing site were greeted with pancakes, courtesy of the Grand Pier. As a thank you for their continued work during the coronavirus pandemic, the Grand Pier cooked 500 pancakes for the staff and, with the help of a donation from Britvic, handed out 200 bottles of soft drink on Shrove Tuesday.
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Clacton Pier to unveil new Looping Star coaster this summer
Clacton Pier director Billy Ball said the Looping Star was part of a renewed air of optimism after the “dark days” of the winter shutdown. “However, we have continued to work hard behind the scenes, and we are looking forward to the prime minister revealing his roadmap for coming out of lockdown. Easter is the traditional beginning of our main season and although it looks as though we will miss that date, we hope to be back in operation as soon as possible after that”.
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Worthing Pier Southern Pavilion due to reopen as ‘Perch on the Pier’ this summer
Mr Hole and his team were focussed on restoring the pavilion building, which helped Worthing win Pier of the Year in 2019. He was removing layers of previous work going back years so he could restore it to former glory. Larger kitchens were necessary for the range of food and drink Perch would be offering. “We are working hard on the renovation and really having to go back and put right about the last three renovations so we can get exactly what we want,” he said.
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A great celebration of Plymouth Hoe Pier
The National Piers Society said: “Plans for a pier date back to 1875 although work did not begin until 1883 to the design of Eugenius Birch (his final pier).” The pier was built over solid rock with 142 piles supporting the wooden decking, Mawson and Riding say, and was distinctive at the time for its shape. “It was unusual in that the wide neck area sloped down to the banjo-shaped landing stage, initially consisting of a horseshoe-shaped covered area with a post office, reading room and refreshments rooms,”
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Minimal damage caused by the fire at Sandown Pier
A spokesperson for Sandown Pier has said: “We would like to thank the fast response and actions of the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service. Very happy given the circumstances to say that no one was hurt, the fire is out and it was contained to one small area, so minimal damage”.
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Weston Birnbeck Pier owner fights compulsory purchase order
The private owner of Birnbeck Pier has put in an application to the magistrates court to put a stay on the compulsory purchase order (CPO) brought by North Somerset Council. The council has argued that a stay on proceedings lodged by CNM Estates last year following the council issuing a CPO on Birnbeck Pier is no longer justified due to the fact that the current owner has not undertaken any repairs on the pier either before or since the CPO was served, and as CNM Estates no longer has a legal interest in the site, following a transfer of ownership to Birnbeck Holdings Ltd, the case should be dismissed.
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Brighton Palace Pier named as one of the UK’s top attractions!
The popular attraction finished ninth in the amusement park category of the review website’s Travellers’ Choice Awards. The esteemed list is calculated by reviewing millions of reviews and opinions submitted to TripAdvisor over the course of a year. The awards take into account the quality and quantity of traveler reviews, and ratings specific to each award category. “The hallmark of winners is and will continue to be remarkable service and quality experiences for travelers,” TripAdvisor says.
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Swanage Pier to benefit from Culture Recovery Fund grant
The Government’s Culture Recovery Fund has allocated £469,800 for the Swanage Pier Regeneration Project. South Dorset MP Richard Drax said: “This fading Victorian gem has long been a focal point in Swanage and these funds will help it create a sustainable future. I congratulate the Pier Trust chairman Ben Adeney and his colleagues on winning this grant and wish them every success.”
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‘New’ owners at Penarth Pier
The charity that operated Penarth Pier and its pavilion has surrendered its 125-year lease to freeholder the Vale of Glamorgan Council, which now takes on it running. The pier, which opened in 1893 and underwent a £4m revamp completed in 2013 with National Lottery funding, had been operated under lease by Penarth Arts and Craft Ltd (PACL). However, after a long period of financial uncertainty, which saw a number of PACL board members resigning, its remaining directors concluded that the impact of Covid meant it could no longer sustain the organisation’s mission to promote the pavilion for the community of Penarth and beyond.
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A wonderful celebration of Herne Bay Pier’s history
When people think of Herne Bay many of them think of the beach and, of course, the pier. Many know the more recent history of the pier following a storm that burnt the bridge connecting the end of the original pier which is now in a state of disrepair. But many don’t know, or at least don’t often talk about the part the pier played during one of the most important events in history – World War II.
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Campaigners fight to save Hythe Pier ferry
Hythe resident Ashleigh Mutimear has embarked on a quest to raise at least £60,000 for the service, which normally operates between Hythe Pier and Town Quay. Sailings have been suspended for two months, with Tier 4 restrictions being followed by the latest lockdown. Ashleigh’s Crowdfunding page says: “The Hythe Ferry is no longer ‘in danger’. It will close for good in the next few months unless we help”.
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Piers confirm lockdown reopening dates
Southend Pier confirmed a scheduled reopening on 12th April.
Clacton Pier also hoped that an April reopening would be possible.
Whereas, Cromer Pier planned to reopen its decks to local residents from the 8th March.

Cromer’s ‘Folk on the Pier’ postponed for a second year
A Norfolk folk festival was cancelled for the second consecutive year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The event would now take place on May 6, 7 and 8, 2022, with the same line-up as would have appeared at the 2020 event. Scott Butler, the festival curator, said: “‘The line-up for 2020 was always going to be a special line-up; I am totally overwhelmed that those artists have such faith in Folk on the Pier that they have been willing to commit to a second postponement.”
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