Hull Victoria Pier – Proposal for Demolition
Hull City Council have announced that the Victoria Pier, on account of the extent of its structural deterioration, will need to be entirely demolished. It was originally erected in the early 19th Century and has since been reconstructed many times. The present structure is of timber construction and general rot has resulted in an unstable structure closed to the public since 2022.
It is claimed that the pier will be rebuilt shortly afterwards, but no details on the scale of this reconstruction has yet been provided. Three concept designs are intended to be made public in the coming weeks and the most popular option will be developed further towards a fully-resolved proposal. Hopefully the proposed pier replacement will be more than a token “stub”; in a few week’s time, we will know.
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Dunoon Pier – A Waverley History Event
On Saturday 18th April, a comprehensive event will be held on Dunoon Pier to celebrate the local steamers, including the Waverley, which have historically called there. There will be a number of displays of model steamers and stalls by Waverley Excursions and Tighnabruaich Pier Association. There will be a further event at Summerlee Heritage Museum on Saturday 25th April. (Image: Dunoon Pier/Greenock Telegraph)
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Great Yarmouth Britannia Pier – Ongoing Works for New Bar
Works are ongoing for a new bar establishment on the pier, to replace the old Pier Tavern. The local news article (for me) is restricted to subscribers, so the pier’s recent Facebook post is linked alternatively.
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Weston Birnbeck Pier – A Timber Recycling Scheme
North Somerset Council have announced a partnership scheme with Somerset Wood Recycling, where former pier decking and beams will be recycled into pieces of furniture and other items sellable from the pier Toll House. This will contribute to ongoing funding of the restoration project and structural maintenance, whilst giving opportunity for several new woodworking placements. Somerset Wood Recycling is a Community Interest Company which largely exists to promote upskilling and apprenticeships for those who need it.
In another news item is a summary of public reactions to the ongoing work, drawn from visitors to the site on a given day. The impression, of course, is of optimism and excitement.
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Hull Victoria Pier – Public Vote Open
Hull City Council have opened a public vote for the basic design of a pier structure to replace the existing Victoria Pier. In doing so, three concept designs have been revealed, rather uninspiring in their detailing but forming an acceptable substitute in terms of scale. The three options constitute:
* A short pier deck of 4×2 bays, similar in layout to Colwyn Victoria Pier (but with none of the ornamental ironwork)
* A widened “platform” of 3×3 bays, with a link to the shore of 1 bay.
* A longer deck with a T-shaped head (the bays are not clearly defined but is of about 5 bays; the head is also 5 bays in width)
Perhaps an more interesting question than choosing “the best design” would be the opportunities for events programming and the extent of decoration that will be implemented in the design, although this will be for a later stage in the design process.
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Worthing Pier – Timber Recycling Scheme
Similar to the developments at Birnbeck Pier, Worthing Council will be recycling former pier decking to a local organisation. Decking presently being replaced at the shoreward end of the pier is to be donated to the local “Men’s Shed” where it will probably be worked into garden furniture and bits for the house. Undoubtedly a worthy use for old timber now unfit for the most intensive structural duties on a pier, but still with potential in other ways.
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Clacton Pier – Campaign Against the Overzealous Suggestion of Rain in British Weather Forecasts
The above cumbersome tagline is basically self-explanatory, and promoted widely in news over the last few days has been the loss of hospitality trade resultant of members of the public being put off “going out” when the weather forecast coarsely summarises a given day with “rain”. Chester Zoo started all this campaigning, and understandably the cause is shared by a wide variety of open-air attractions. It has been suggested that some of the attendant concerns of the way that weather forecasts are presented could be rectified by changes in their nuance (e.g. “showers early, brighter later”); whether modern-day “TL;DR” prospective tourists can handle nuance at all is perhaps a deeper question! I say that seaside piers are enthralling in all weather; do not let a prospect for rain put you off.
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Weston Birnbeck Pier – A £19 Million Funding Award
The Government has awarded North Somerset Council £19 million from their Growth Mission Fund, in an unexpected and delightful development in the restoration project. This is, of course, the same government fund which has supported the Southport Pier project. With the “Pier Bridge” reconstruction works already in hand and in progress, it would seem that this funding will be directed to one of the later building phases; for the refurbishment of the island buildings. Most encouraging are the suggestions that the provision of a landing jetty will imminently be planned for and would also be supported by this same funding. Article sources describe the work as “Restoration of the North Jetty”, although in reality it will almost certainly involve “demolition and replacement in full”, since the jetty’s present condition is irrecoverably poor throughout.
So far, the accumulated funding is now at a greatly substantial £44 million; probably the most grant funding awarded to any given pier restoration project, and wholly deserved here.
Simultaneously to the funding announcement, the anticipated jack-up barge arrived at the pier curtilage, tasked with forming a workable platform for the repair and reconstruction of the pier bridge bays not accessible from the landside abutment.
Funding
Barge (and Funding)
Southport Pier – Funding Officially Signed Off
After an extended period of anticipation, where £20 million of Growth Mission Funding had been announced but not yet finalised or delivered, it would seem that this point has finally been reached. The Department for Business and Trade have signed off this funding, effectively making the prospect of the pier’s restoration an almost inflappable reality. Sefton Council have repeatedly – and commendably – insisted that all other arrangements are already in place such that work can commence immediately once the funding is delivered. I enthusiastically and warmly implore all concerned parties for the project, therefore, to “get to work”!
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Penarth Pier – Intensive Cinema Programming
The Vale of Glamorgan Council have extended their programming of the Penarth Pier Pavilion, organising 15 cinema screenings per week in the dedicated cinema space within the Pavilion. The current selection of shows and events are given in the second link; a commendable variety for the town.
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Events
Hythe Pier – Public Reopening Scheduled
Pier owner Ashleigh Mutimear has recently confirmed that, following the completion of extensive safety-related reparatory works, Hythe Pier is now in a fit state for reopening to the public. This will take place on Thursday 2nd April, although the ferry and train will not be in operation yet (presumably even further reparatory works will be required for these to be reinstated for public use). It is also notable from the announcement that there has been a renewed statement of intent regarding the transition of Hythe Pier’s operation to a charity-based model, which is an encouraging sign. Congratulations to Ashleigh, the Hythe Pier Heritage Association and any other parties engaged in reinstating public access to a very worthy pier.
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Clacton Pier – “Celebration Plaques”
Pier management have announced the availability of decking plaques, here jollily named “Celebration Plaques” as opposed to “Memorial” or “Commemoration” Plaques seen elsewhere. This is the first time in the pier’s history that plaques of this nature have been installed at the pier, at the base of the balustrades. Helpfully the pier has already installed several plaques, allowing the real-life appearance to be seen; they look very well-made indeed.
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Kilcreggan Pier – The Bell Goes to the Library
This article briefly sets out the history of the bell presently stationed at Kilcreggan Pier, it historically being used as a fog signal by the (now former) Piermaster. Since the post of Piermaster had evidently been discontinued, the bell has now been donated to the Cove Burgh Hall, where it will be displayed in the Library. It is rather a shame that it cannot remain at the pier, looking most fine mounted in position under the soffit of the pier building, but this seems not to be its permanent position and is instead kept in storage inside the building. Indeed the risk of theft or vandalism is very real, and a place on display inside the managed and secured library would be safer than hanging from the pier.
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Hull Victoria Pier – Discussion in Council Meeting
Following Hull City Council’s consultation for the replacement of the Victoria Pier, a most interesting discussion was held in a Full Council Meeting last Thursday. Much of this involved concerns that the existing pier might be demolished without the plans and funding for a replacement being committed. A wider and bolder issue raised was regarding the quality of the consultation itself, it being noted that very little background information had been provided addressing the actual public use of the new structure, nor the estimated cost of the construction which would require appropriately funding. Whilst the council leaders maintained that the three proposal “sketches” provided would not represent the fully-resolved final design, the quality and inspiration of the proposals was deeply criticised by a number of members.
The entire meeting can be viewed on Youtube and the item regarding the pier commences at 1:17:30. An especially vivid moment is Clr. Harrison’s speech, commencing at 1:34:40; it being his final meeting is quite clear from his rampaging approach! Do not miss, either, Clr. Jetmond’s excellent speech on the issues of public engagement in the Council’s consultation, commencing at 1:49:50.
I was comparatively polite regarding the consultation proposals when they were released, but the prevailing feeling of dejection towards them has tempted me to consider a design of my own. Below are some initial sketch “studies”, drawn from the very distinctive and unique form of the Victoria Pier at the turn of the 20th Century, with a two-tiered construction and ramping landing stages. A new pier on the site could employ a two-tiered construction again, this time with the lower tier fully enclosed and glazed to form a tourist information office, restaurant or waiting room for a local ferry or tour boat. Ramps at the pier head could connect between the levels in a helical fashion, whilst also providing embarking platforms for boats at all tidal levels (but the risk of anti-social behaviour and loitering is of some concern…). Far from fully-resolved; I will like to continue considering this and perhaps suggest something more next week.
Meeting Recording
Bournemouth Pier – Entry Fee Suspended Until 2029
Pier operator Adventure Attractions have confirmed that the pier’s entry fee will be suspended until 2029. This follows a trial period of free pier admission, which has proved to provoke a significance increase in visitor numbers over the last year when the trial was in place. £700,000 has been invested in this decision to cover the estimated income from three years of admission income.
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Cromer Pier – 125th Anniversary Celebrations and Changes to the Bistro
A useful article by the tourism website for the city of Norwich, highlighting the pier in its 125th year, and presenting a discussion with the pier’s marketing manager on the proposed events programming in this year. The Cromer Pier Show, during the Summer and around Christmas, will be vigorously programmed. Other events mentioned includea a Heritage Open Day in September, and a memorably-named North Norfolk District Council Gala Day in June.
Also taking place at the pier are proposals for alterations to the Tides Bistro, situated on the left side of the pier entrance buildings. The proposals are presently being reviewed at planning-level, and would seem to change the emphasis of the establishment to a predominantly “take-away” facility. There are also proposed a series of “self-service” counters, self-service touchscreen stations, digital advertisement screens, and a general intention for a “grab and go” process. It all sounds rather impersonal, and not dissimilar to local man Alan Partridge’s recent encounters with a coffee shop touchscreen, but perhaps it is indeed what the people want. The elimination of most of the customer seating will certainly allow the kitchen facilities and its resultant produce to be much improved, to the certain benefit of customers (assuming the weather is good enough for eating outside!).
2026 Events
Takeaway Proposals
The “touchscreen coffee” sketch
Worthing Pier – A New Restaurant Business
The present arrangements at Worthing Pier’s Southern Pavilion seem at first quite complex and confusing, with many reputable catering businesses coming and going over the last ten years, but recent announcements suggest that a rather interesting setup is now in place, taking advantage of the Pavilion’s two levels. Perch on the Pier have operated from the Southern Pavilion for several years now and enjoy a very good reputation. Part of the Pavilion’s upper level has been subdivided to form “The Nest”, for use by a developing restaurant tenant. Previously occupied by Tern, now relocated to larger premises in Worthing (noted for their “ultra-fine-dining” and “hyper-seasonal produce”… all the superlatives!), it has now been announced that Ebb will take its place in The Nest. Whether or not this all comes across as being quite confusing, it is certain that Worthing presently has some excellent and enterprising options for fine dining.
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