Each year the National Piers Society membership of pier experts and enthusiasts vote for the winner of the sought-after ‘Pier of the Year’ award. This year Great Yarmouth Britannia Pier has been awarded this exclusive and hotly contested title awarded by the National Piers Society, the national organisation representing the interests of seaside piers at local and governmental levels. So Great Yarmouth Britannia Pier takes over the award from last year’s winner Llandudno Pier.
Congratulations are also due to runner up Herne Bay Pier, 
and third placed Swanage Pier.
National Piers Society Members cited the significant investment made by the owners of Britannia Pier in the redeveloped Art Moderne entrance building whilst complimenting the seafront architecture and the real efforts to upgrade and promote the Pier Theatre, one of only five working pier theatres in the country, as their reasons for voting. They also praised the warm welcome and family friendly experience the pier offers.
Co- owner Joseph Abbott expressed his immense pride and joy at winning the coveted accolade!
“We see this award as a huge honour and it fills the whole team with pride to have won the National Piers Society ‘Pier of the Year’ 2026!
Especially when recognised alongside so many other wonderful piers and previous winners like Llandudno and Cromer piers. We feel this is a huge testament to us as new owners for the work, time and investment we have put in since our takeover in December 2022. It’s certainly something we’re personally very proud of!
“When we took over, we set out to re-develop the whole pier, one stage at a time! We had a plan and we quickly set to work to implement the upgrades. We wanted to increase the footfall, length of our trading season and make it an all-
year-round venue offering the local community out of season entertainment including theatre shows and events. We aim to offer a wide range of high-quality attractions, amusements, eateries, entertainment and bars to give the public a year-round entertainment venue whilst always trying to uphold the piers iconic history and nostalgia.
“This coveted award has re-assured us here at ‘Team Britannia’ that we are heading in the right direction, and that all our hard work has now been recognised by others! It’s given us all a huge boost and we would like to say a massive thank you to the National Piers Society members for voting for our pier. It means so much! This pier has a huge history behind it, and this award has just added another chapter to its ongoing story! Long may it continue.”
National Piers Society Chairman, Tim Wardley added: “Huge congratulations to the worthiest of winners who have shown that in challenging economic times investment is still the way forward to success. Our members were hugely impressed with the new developments and attractions when they visited last year, which has now been acknowledged with the coveted National Piers Society ‘Pier of the Year’ 2026 award. We look forward to returning in the summer to present the award and to see the new attractions in full swing.”
National Piers Society Patron, Gyles Brandreth, enthused about this year’s winner – “Three cheers for Britannia Pier! Well done and huge congratulations”
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.
Eastern Daily Press Article
(Images: Neil Thomas-Childs; NPS Membership Secretary)
Membership of the National Piers Society enables all to join like-minded people enjoying and making a direct contribution to the preservation and continued enjoyment of Britain’s seaside piers, with voting each year for the ‘National Piers Society Pier of the Year’, being one of the exclusive perks of individual or joint membership. Full details of National Piers Society Membership can be found at www.piers.org.uk/membership/
For further information about the National Piers Society please contact chairman@piers.org.uk or for contact with Britannia Pier please contact info@triangleamusements.co.uk