Weston Birnbeck Pier – Progress Update
North Somerset Council have confirmed that the jack-up barge will be sailing to Newport to exchange the construction plant necessary for the pier works to continue, now that the decking stripping works are completed. Even more strikingly, there are now photographs showing the new replacement steel members being delivered to the site; clearly matching the designs of the original members which have appeared in a wholly damaged state in all living memory. It is quite surreal to see them transformed to pieces in perfect condition.
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Blackpool North Pier – Temporary Closure for Maintenance
A full pier closure has been in force during this week, reportedly to allow structural repairs to be completed. There is very little information available regarding the nature of the works, nor is there mention of the temporary closure on the pier website or Facebook Page. In any case, it is expected that the pier will be reopened today (Friday).
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Southwold Pier – Trampoline Proposals
Planning permission is presently being sought for the development of an outdoor trampoline attraction on the foreshore to the immediate South of the Pier Pavilion. The agent is John Bennett RIBA, who has previously prepared the Pavilion extension/conversion proposals presently being determined. The drawings are quite confusing in that the proposed trampoline seems to be absent, with the previously-approved carousel attraction shown instead. A Google Street View screenshot, showing a similar trampoline installation, is shown in the Design and Access Statement. Southwold Town Council have expressed concerns at the scale of the associated paybooth, its intrusion into public thoroughfares, and the aforementioned absense of the trampoline installation in the proposal drawings. A draft report for East Suffolk’s Planning Committee meeting on the 12th May, however, recommends the approval of the proposals.
As for the ongoing planning procedure regarding the Pier Pavilion works, there appears to have been little visible progress since Southwold Town Council’s objections in January.
It was later confirmed that planning Permission had been granted.
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Planning Application
Hythe Pier – Update Regarding Train
The Hythe Pier Company have confirmed that they will be operating the train service in the future, having been in recent cooperation with the Hythe Pier Heritage Association on the matter. This proves to be an encouraging continuation of the pier’s recovery from the disorderly arrangements earlier this year.
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Blackpool Central Pier – A Love Lock Heart
In common with such piers as Paignton, Weston Grand and Skegness, Blackpool Central Pier has received a heart-shaped structure of metal mesh, allowing the affixment of “love lock” padlocks without fear of punishment, and providing a picturesque frame for group photographs in the process. Locks are to be sold on the pier for £5 each; whether ones acquired externally might be removed is an interesting point of conjecture. Certainly this structure will be intended, in part, to control the unchecked accumulation of locks and other things elsewhere on the pier; I noticed that small plaques are prevalent at the radiused pier end. See the banner for a view of the extreme end balustrade and decking; whilst the locks seem to be strictly policed against, the assemblage of plaques here came together to produce an apt and moving termination to the pier and were a markedly positive feature.
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Bournemouth Pier – There is Ice
There is ICE at the Pier. At the Pier, an installation of ice has been offloaded and sent all nearby into a whirling frenzy. Stop everything! Turn back to the pier entrance, and see the incredible ICE! Such an installation has conjured such intense consternation that a member of the public has since opened a Freedom of Information case to request whether all this ice had been granted planning permission by the Council. In the end, the ice installation was implemented by Bournemouth Football Club to announce the new manufacturer of their sport clothing… of all things. Now the ice is finally gone, the frenzy has dissipated, and we can return once more to our past cares.
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Weston Birnbeck Pier – Further Progress Update
Photographs taken on Thursday morning show the first of the replacement decking spans fully constructed on the pier foreshore, ready to be craned into place. Look studiously through every photograph provided on such Facebook pages as “Birnbeck Then and Now” and “Friends of the Old Pier Society”; consulting these worthy record photographs is surely essential for any pier enthusiast since it depicts a “once in a generation” activity, to use such a Cliché. That said, we will soon see much the same taking place at Southport. An exciting time, by anyone’s standards.
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Clevedon Pier – Pagoda Cafe Refurbishment
A matter which has been largely overlooked by news outlets, but regardless a worthy development of Clevedon Pier’s visitor attractions. The Pagoda Cafe has been refurbished in recent months to make the most efficient use of the limited interior space, with new perimeter tables (of timber planks under glass, studded with sponsored plaques and bar stools.
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Worthing Pier – Repairs Update
Adur and Worthing Council have given an update on the ongoing repair works following storm damage to the pier’s structural piles and columns. So far, two adjacent columns (the central two of a clustered trestle) have been removed; the structural spans bearing onto them being temporarily supported with a new independent steel structure. It is expected that the final works to replace the columns (and, possibly, the sub-level piles) will take place through the Summer and Autumn. (Image: Worthing Borough Council)
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Llandudno Pier – Cafe Refurbishment
The cafe at the seaward end of the pier has recently received an internal refurbishment and a revised menu, with an adjoining doughnut stall outside. Staff at Llandudno Pier have also recently been celebrating the 50th birthday of pier owner Adam Williams.
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Southwold Pier – Planning Permission Granted
Following the report of Southwold Pier’s ongoing planning application for the new trampoline attraction, it has been confirmed that planning permission for this has now been granted.
Great Yarmouth Britannia Pier – Presentation of Pier of the Year Award
Following the announcement of the 2026 Pier of the Year Award in April, members of the NPS Executive Committee visited Great Yarmouth to issue the pier owners with their award. Photographed below is NPS Chairman Tim Wardley and Vice Chair Caroline Buttolph; with pier owners Joseph Manning and Joseph Abbott; producers of the Pier Show; and actor Gareth Gates. The owners were understandably delighted by the positive reaction which led to them winning the award this year. It is especially pleasing to see so much of the owners’ investment being directed to the Pier Theatre, demonstrated by the remarkable diversity in the upcoming shows: from a traditional Pier Show (“Britannia Live!”), to children’s pantomines, and to semi-erotic boyband shows and Jim Davidson, there is undoubtedly something to cater for all tastes and temperaments. In the link below is an article with some further photographs, including some joined by the Mayor of Great Yarmouth and the High Sheriff of Norfolk.
(Image: Neil Thomas-Childs; NPS Membership Secretary)
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Worthing Pier – Restaurant Business Opens
Following the previous coverage indicating the new restaurant Ebb preparing to move into the upper level of the Southern Pavilion, this article confirms that this is now complete and the restaurant is open to the public. There is some helpful information from those involved, maintaining that the emphasis in the restaurant will be in a more casual offering of smaller dishes and sharing platters; perhaps making the establishment less daunting and offputting for those not looking for a formal and very expensive evening meal. This approach would seem to be a wise idea, and hopefully the business will be a success.
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Pier Walking for Charity
Two recent and worthy cases of Pier-to-Pier charity walks.
The West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service Fire Cadets walked a distance of 16 miles between the piers of Worthing and Bognor Regis and raised £1300 for the Fire Fighters Charity.
About 790 people walked a distance of 14 miles between the piers of Clacton and Walton-on-the-Naze, raising £80,000 for Hospice Care.
Worthing to Bognor
Clacton to Walton
Bangor Pier – Holiday Rental Cottage Ready for Use
The Friends of Bangor Garth Pier wisely chose to take advantage of the area’s recent boom in the holiday rental market to expand their sources of fundraising. The Pier Master’s Cottage has recently been converted for this purpose and will be operated by national rental company Pass the Keys. Once their necessary fees are deducted, all profits from bookings will directly fund Bangor Pier’s ongoing maintenance and operation. Photographs of the completed cottage indicate that there is a very attractive external terrace. The interior might be somewhat grey in parts, but at least it is not plagued with the incessant “Nautical Rustic” (stripy blue lighthouses and bits of rope) which tends to invade such holiday cottages on the coast. As hoped, much of the interior decoration draws from the artwork made and sold by the Friends of Bangor Garth Pier, which is just as it should be.
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Southampton Royal Pier – Continued Ruination
A new article reminding one of the same situation the Royal Pier has been burdened with for the last 40 years. The pier is a hazardous ruin and it still seems impossible for anything to be done about it. Local politicians rightly complain about it, but the miserably unshakeable inaction thus far displayed by the shared owners is indicative of failure in enterprise and initiative at its worst. Regeneration masterplans have, of course, been proposed; the last that was heard for the pier itself was for it to be replaced with high-rise retail units on reclaimed land. The adjoining Town Quay seems to have seen some more recent action towards initiating its own regeneration scheme. The most recent “Southampton Rennaissance” is vague on what is proposed for the pier, except for a mention of “Renewal of Mayflower Park and Royal Pier”.
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Cromer Pier – Plans for Theatre Refurbishment
Proposals for a £2.4 million refurbishment scheme of the Pavilion Theatre will be discussed by members of the North Norfolk District Council, before being voted on. If the proposal is passed, then it is anticipated that the envelope of the building will be further insulated to reduce sea noise; the seating will be refurbished and a new lighting and climate system will be installed. It is anticipated that this will be one of the final capital projects to be delivered by North Norfolk District Council, prior to it being superseded by the East Norfolk Unitary Council. The proposals will be a most welcome improvement to the theatre facilities, following the previously-reported refurbishment to the front and back-of-house facilities.
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Hastings Pier – Gulzar’s Asset is Frozen
Pier owner Sheikh Abid Gulzar’s recently-reported attempts to dispose of the pier property (for £4 million) have, for the time being, been legally blocked by Lewes Crown Court after a private prosecution against Gulzar was brought by commercial water retailer Castle Water. Except with the consent of Castle Water or the Crown Court, it will not be possible for the property to be sold in the interim. An extract of the land registry title, with the above situation reflected in a new update entry dated 18th March 2026, was provided in a recent Facebook post, linked below. Choronologically, this followed a few days after the original announcements that the prosecution, relating to an accusation of ten counts of fraud, was underway (in the third link).
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Read More (Facebook – Land Registry)
Read More (BBC 12/03/2026)
Worthing Pier – A Restaurant Review
A highly encouraging review of the dining experience at the recently-opened Ebb restaurant, situated in the pier’s Southern Pavilion. It really seems that the modern-day Worthing Pier has found a distinctive niche in the pier world: as a dining haven. Totland Bay Pier (in the following feature) was previously bound to achieve this reputation also; not so, henceforth…
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Totland Bay – The Seaward Building Flip-Flops
The previously encouraging regeneration work at Totland Bay Pier, largely completed at the shoreward end by 2021 and with the seaward building completed during the following year, have since met with an extended period of uncertainty. The seaward-end restaurant building never operated on a permanent basis prior to the pier being listed for sale again in 2025, although it has the necessary planning permission to operate in this way. It sometimes seemed as though the successive owners wished to change their minds and convert each to holiday accommodation the shoreward and seaward catering facilities, almost as soon as they were completed. The original 2010 proposals (P/01745/10) indeed saw a two-storey holiday unit implemented at the seaward end, complete with gatehouse on the pier neck. This proposal was subsequently revised (19/01619/FUL) to comprise a restaurant at the seaward end, employing the same basic building design (flip). A new planning application (26/00558/FUL) has recently been submitted to convert the completed building to holiday accommodation (flop). It is argued in the supporting statements, perhaps rightly, that the previously-developed restaurant business is no longer viable in the present economy (which is indeed a world away from the situation in 2019). Either way, as demonstrated by the respective planning approvals over the years, the use of the seaward building as a restaurant or holiday accommodation would constitute an acceptable use of the building.
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Planning Proposal
Deal Pier – Substructure Inspections
Underwater inspections of Deal Pier’s structural columns are underway, in preparation of a £1 million programme of structural repairs to be delivered by Dover District Council. It is expected that the repair works to the concrete-clad steel columns (that is to say, piles of steel section, encased with pre-cast concrete pipes and internally sealed with grout – not to be confused with steel-reinforced concrete construction) will be underway during the Summer months, and public access to the pier will not be impacted.
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