Shotley Pier gets set to open for the first time in 30 years!
The Shotley Heritage Charitable Community Benefit Society purchased the landmark in 2017 and restored it last year, with the first 30 metres (98 feet) of the pier being completely renovated. However, due to Covid, it was decided to wait so that more secure handrails could be put in place. Amicus Civil Engineering was due to install the handrails next month, meaning people should, at last, be allowed to walk along part of the pier.
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The ‘Bravest Pier in the World’ is celebrated with a special online event
Victory in Europe Day would see The Bravest Pier in the World launched as an interactive experience to show Southend’s key role in the Second World War. Southend’s iconic pier played a huge role in the evacuation of Dunkirk, the protection of London and preparation for D-Day. A new interactive experience would reveal the story behind Southend Pier’s monumental role as “The Bravest Pier in the World”.
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Walking the Pier to save Hythe Ferry
Fundraisers walked up and down Hythe Pier in a bid to save a vital transport link. Ashleigh Mutimear spearheaded an attempt to raise at least £60,000 for the Hythe Ferry, which had been hit by the economic impact of the Covid crisis.
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National Piers Society launches Pier Passport!
The National Piers Society were getting an increasing number of emails from people who used our website to plan their trips to UK piers. Seeing them all had become a popular Bucket List activity so we decided to make it that little bit easier by producing a Pier Passport. This handy, pocket-sized booklet lists all 61 National Piers Society endorsed seaside piers in A-Z order. Each one has its own page featuring details and facts about each pier, with room for you to add your all-important visit memories.
The Pier Passport costs £4 and went on sale on Monday 17th May on the National Piers Society website.
Available Here
Southsea South Parade Pier’s crazy golf plans deemed below par by residents
Dozens of objections were made by residents to the building of a crazy golf complex at the Victorian pier. The owners of South Parade Pier in Southsea, Portsmouth, submitted a planning application for the site near the Grade II-listed structure. A report, on behalf of owner Tommy Ware, said the attraction would provide entertainment and would not detract from the character of the seafront. But residents said any crazy golf site would be an eyesore.
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Skegness Pier announce the third new attraction for 2021!
A new immersive play arena was the latest attraction at Skegness Pier where children could take part in an immersive experience. Skegness Pier announced details of its new children’s play arena, Hero Zone. The game was designed to enable children to battle it out with other players shooting foam balls at one another in a strategic ball game with the aim of helping the children master key skills such as coordination and relationship building.
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Bangor Garth Pier celebrates 125th anniversary
Avril Wayte, Chair of Friends of Bangor Garth Pier, said: “It is a huge privilege for us to be involved with Bangor Garth pier, and play a pivotal role in protecting the pier for the future, especially so as we are enabling the local community to take part in that process. Our pier – owned by the City Council and loved by all.” With the large-scale event delayed by a year until May 2022, Bangor City Council and Friends of Bangor Garth Pier said they will celebrate the anniversary in different ways over the coming months.
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Penarth Pier Pavilion to become an arts centre?
A new report proposed that Pier Pavilion could be turned into an arts centre. The children’s section of Penarth Library would also move temporarily to the iconic art deco building on the Esplanade, which had recently been taken over by Vale of Glamorgan council. More than a thousand people responded to a public consultation on what should happen next with the pavilion, with many supporting something similar to Chapter Arts Centre, in the Canton area of Cardiff.
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Southend Pier’s new trains on track for this summer!
Scott Dolling, director for culture and tourism, said: “These works follow years of continued and ongoing investment into the structure of the pier, work starting on the £3.25m project to replace the pier trains, and also the continuation of impressive pier visitor numbers when we’ve been able to welcome visitors. Engagement with local residents and visitors reiterated the desire to improve the offering at the end of the pier, and so I am really pleased to see work begin on improving the town’s jewel in the crown”.
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Ramsey Queen’s Pier gets set for July opening!
It was announced that a grand reopening of the newly-restored first section of Queen’s Pier was planned for July, timed to mark the 135th anniversary of the opening of the Ramsey landmark in 1886. Supporters of the community-led restoration project were invited to come onto the pier to view the dedicated plaques for the decking planks and stanchions they had sponsored. There were 360 plaques fitted at the moment for the planks, railing stanchions and the two refurbished lamp posts.
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What a way to start Bangor Garth Pier’s year-long celebrations of its 125th anniversary!
With the large-scale event delayed by a year until May 2022, Bangor City Council and Friends of Bangor Garth Pier said they will celebrate the anniversary in different ways over the coming months. A series of interviews, discussions and presentations on the history of the pier and the area will be published online, with a number of small-scale events and activities scheduled to take place on the pier later on this year, subject to Covid-19 regulations.
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Clacton Pier to hold special event celebrating the resort’s 150th anniversary
Clacton Pier bosses and members of the Clacton Carnival Association joined forces to stage a family fun event this summer. The August carnival’s usual week-long programme had to be scaled down due to coronavirus regulations for the second year running. Clacton Pier, however, would host a special evening alongside the Clacton Carnival Association so the town’s 150th anniversary could still be celebrated.
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Tensions mount over proposed Llandudno Pier Pavilion development
The developer was locked in a dispute over the development with Llandudno Pier Ltd, owned by businessman Adam Williams, who said the new scheme could “force us to move or close kiosks and reduce opening hours” because of noise complaints about his business.
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Lowestoft Claremont Pier looks forward to a bright summer season!
A new sports bar, ice cream parlour and rooftop terrace was soon to be unveiled at the iconic pier. Having taken over the Claremont Pier in Lowestoft on July 20 last year, the multi-generational family of seven who own the historic pier were looking forward to the future. The “family vision” had seen work gathering pace over recent months, with the owners hoping to open the new rooftop terraced seating area, the ice cream parlour and Sports Bar @ Claremont Pier at the end of the month.
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Brighton Palace Pier stars in new Harry Styles film!
Palace Pier was transported back to the 1950s to host the cast of a new film starring Harry Styles. My Policeman, a romantic drama which was being made by Amazon Studios, was being shot at locations across Sussex. Film crews were spotted at the pier, taking the landmark back in time more than 70 years.
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Plans rejected for zip line at Whitby Pier
Plans to install two zip wires in Whitby were dropped after complaints about the “awful” scheme. The 1,115ft (340m) long lines would have run from the Pavilion on the West Cliff to the West Pier lighthouse. Objectors included the town council and local tourist board, which described the proposal as “a crass idea”. Scarborough Council confirmed that it had told the company behind the idea that it did not want to proceed any further.
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Skegness Pier’s new attractions for 2021 unveiled
After staying closed for nearly seven months, Skegness Pier reopened just in time for the summer with a host of new attractions in place. Skegness Pier was purchased around two months ago by The Mellors Group who also own Fantasy Island in neighbouring Ingoldmells. Since then, a major refurbishment had taken place including a new Clip ‘n’ Climb climbing wall, a daunting leap of faith, and a new bar on the pier itself at a cost of upwards of £1 million. Edward Mellors, director of The Mellors Group, said he is both “relieved” and “excited” to finally have the pier open to the public.
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Hastings Pier to offer memorial plaques again
The pier said that the engraved metal plaques were ‘a great way to commemorate a loved one or special occasion to become an everlasting memory’. The pier would also make a ten percent donation to the RNLI Hastings Lifeboat Station on all plaques. For more information visit https://www.hastings-pier.com/memorial-plaque/
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Penarth Pier Pavilion renamed for Channel 4 filming
Penarth Pier Pavilion underwent a brief rebrand while a Channel 4 production filmed there. As part of 4 Stories, a six-part series that featured 30-minute tales from different communities, the building was renamed for two days. A new sign was put up purely to accommodate the filming and the pavilion would return to normal afterwards.
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Clacton Pier getting the Bank Holiday weekend off to a bang!
The pier announced there would be live music, a free firework display on Sunday, and the weather forecast promised sunshine and warmer temperatures to pull in the visitors. Pier director Billy Ball said that he was expecting a real buzz over the three days. “This weekend promises to be as normal as we have been for a very long time and we are all really looking forward to it,” he said.
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Ramsey Queen’s Pier Restoration Trust are on a roll!
Queen’s Pier Restoration Trust said efforts for Phase 2 of restoring the pier were hoped to start during the later part of 2021. The organisation said they would need around £250,000 to complete the next instalment and were hoping fundraisers can continue their support to reach that goal.
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Stunning image of Blackpool Central Pier wins photography award
B l u e I n B l a c k p o o l
Titled ‘B l u e I n B l a c k p o o l’, photographer Philpot used a 321-second exposure at f/8, ISO400 with a Lee Filter Little Stopper to capture his amazing shot. The tide was coming in and the waves crashing up the steps with some force,” said Philpot in his image’s description. “This image was captured at 21.50 hrs, 10 minutes later they pulled the plug and the big wheel on the Central pier was in darkness.”
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Formula One comes to Clacton Pier
Clacton Pier played host to an exciting Mercedes Benz Formula One simulator, which would be on-site throughout the Whitsun school holiday. Pier Director Billy Ball said he was sure the attraction would prove popular with racing fanatics and speed demons of all ages.
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A fascinating look-back at Vancouver’s seaside piers
Up until the 1950s, one of Vancouver’s favourite beach actually had a pier, and from 1926-1939 there were two. These were created around the same time as the beloved White Rock pier that has now been around for over a hundred years. During this time, the area was a resort destination for tourists, one full of amusement, parades and a bathing beachfront. There was even a bathhouse that rented bathing lockers and suits.
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