Designed by Peter Bruff, Manager and Engineer of the Eastern Union Railway, the pier opened on 18th July 1871. A lifeboat station was added in 1878 and extensions in 1890-3 took the pier’s length to 1180 feet. A new polygonal head incorporated a pavilion with concert hall, stalls and refreshment and waiting rooms. The new landing stage catered for increased steamer traffic. In 1898, the original pier company went into liquidation. When the Coast Development Company took over the structure, it was valued at £52,112.

Ernest Kingsman bought the pier in 1922, and was responsible for many changes. That year saw the building of the Blue Lagoon Dance Hall and the Lifeboat House (enlarged in 1983). The Ocean Theatre was erected in 1928. The pier was widened in 1931 and in 1932 the Crystal Casino and Swimming Pool were constructed.

In 1940, the pier was sectioned for defence purposes. The Crystal Casino and a childrenвЂ™s theatre were demolished and not replaced.

After the war, the pier was repaired and ownership passed to the New Walton Pier Company. Storms hit the pier in 1978, 1979 and 1987. It was bought by Anglo-Australian Automatics in 1981 for £2 million, but was almost a year in receivership before passing into the hands of E & M Harrison Ltd in October 1994. Refurbishment work began almost immediately.

E&M Harrison Ltd retained ownership until March 2009 when it was sold to Billy and Elliot Ball, trading as the Clacton Pier Company. The new owners and their family have been involved in amusements in the resort for more than 60 years and described themselves as custodians of a landmark for the whole town.

In April 2009, a 50ft-tall helter-skelter was erected on the landmark as part of the new owners plans to renew the attraction.

In March 2011, Clacton participated in the Party on the Pier event to herald the start of British Tourism Week and in June 2011, a new roller-coaster, ‘Stella’s Revenge’, was opened attracting crowds looking for the latest thrill ride.

Current facilities also include a very large amusement hall, tea rooms, restaurant, plus a range of shows and stalls on the open deck.

In August 2012, riders on the Stella’s Revenge roller-coaster escaped serious injury following an accident. Ambulances and medics attended but nobody required hospitalisation.

And in April 2013, the £75,000 Sky Trail High Ropes course was opened as part of the new Activity Zone with water walker balls and bungee trampolines in the middle of the pier

November 2013 – Storm hit helter-skelter to be back in 2014
Clacton Pier’s helter-skelter was blown down in October 2013 after Essex was hit by strong winds. No-one was hurt and the structure collapsed on to the pier rather than falling into the sea. In November, the pier’s administration manager Sharon Charters said experts were confident it could be repaired for the next summer.

April 2014 – New attraction for thrill seekers on Clacton Pier
A new ride reaching 100 feet into the air, and making it the tallest attraction on the pier, was opened in April 2014. Named the Tower, it took two days to set up but was immediately a big hit

March 2015 – Clacton Pier’s vintage arcade games go under the hammer
The auction of a collection of vintage arcade games from Clacton Pier sold for much higher figures than had been anticipated, some for as much as ten times the guide price. This was reported to be the first time in 20 years that such a large collection of arcade games been offered for sale.

April 2015 – Clacton Pier launches new payment/loyalty card
The new Fun Card was designed to bring the pier into the 21st century as it was the first in the country to adopt the new system which provided a cashless method to replace traditional ride tokens.

June 2015 – Helter-skelter finally repaired
The helter-skelter that was blown down in October 2013 was finally ready for service in June 2015 after a lengthy programme of repair work to make sure it was “restored to its former glory in the correct and proper way”.

June 2015 – Clacton Pier owners call for funding to be made available to private sector piers
Also in June, the owners of Clacton Pier said that they had invested heavily in improving the pier from when they acquired it in 2009. The pier’s managing director, Billy Ball, commented that there should be more financial support for privately owned piers to keep these historic structures standing.

May 2016 – Helter Skelter returns to Clacton Pier!
Clacton Pier’s famous helter skelter, which was destroyed by 70 mph winds in 2013, was rebuilt and brought back into action in May 2016. The 50 foot tall attraction had been a feature of the pier since it was first constructed in 1949.

March 2017 – Clacton pier memorabilia to go to auction
In March 2017, it was reported that many of the old fairground items from Clacton and Walton piers were to be sold at auction at Reeman Dansie Auctions within the month. The items would be available to collectors at an estimated price of £100-150 each.

May 2017 – ‘Jolly Roger’ pavilion to become home to a travelling circus
May 2017 saw an announcement that the long closed Jolly Roger pavilion would be housing a non-animal circus featuring acrobats, clowns and a traditional water show for the late May bank holiday and right through the school summer holidays.

July 2017 – Refurbishment work at Clacton Pier gets underway!
In July 2017, work began on a seven-figure makeover to the pier, focussed on modernising and strengthening the pier’s infrastructure, in preparation for further work at the end of the season.The refurbishment work was concentrated on areas which had gone untouched for 90 years.

October 2017 – Clacton Pier undergoes £300,000 refurbishment
In October 2017, work was well under way on a £300,000 project to strengthen the structures holding up Clacton Pier. More than 3,000 concrete piles support the pier and many were more than 90 years old.

November 2017 – Clacton Pier prepares for £1 million investment
By November 2017, work was already well underway to ensure the pier was ready in time to accommodate the changes, which were aimed at making the six acre site a 52-week a year attraction.

January 2018 – Clacton Pier refurbishment gets underway!
In January 2018, the Clacton Pier Company was reported as putting together the final touches to their plans for a £1 million refurbishment project aimed at creating a year-round attraction. While the renovation works were being carried out, the pier would be in ‘complete darkness’ and have its rides removed.

February 2018 – Clacton Pier unveils plans for £4m investment
In February 2018, Clacton Pier unveiled £4 million plans to turn the iconic landmark into one of East Anglia’s premier attractions.The major scheme included the construction of a new £500,000 indoor and outdoor adventure golf course over two levels, as well as a £500,000 children’s play area.

March 2018 – Clacton Pier raises the roof for bumper Easter weekend!
The replacement of the roofing on the main concourse at Clacton Pier, which had been carried out using a massive crane, was completed in March 2018. Pier Director, Billy Ball, said “We will be fully open and the main entrance to the site will be in use for the first time since we started the project now that the roofing has been put back on the main concourse.”

April 2018 – Competition launched to rename Clacton Pier’s Jolly Roger
A competition was launched in April 2018 to rename the Jolly Roger – formerly known as the Pier Pavilion and the oldest building on Clacton Pier. This was part of a rebranding project on the pier in which a number of buildings were being renamed as part of the pier’s £4 million development.

July 2018 – Circus Fantasia returns to Clacton Pier for the summer season!
In July it was announced that Clacton Pier Circus would be staged in the Jolly Roger before returning for the opening of the new development on July 21 from when they perform throughout the summer holidays.
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August 2018 – Fantastic pictures of the new-look Clacton Pier!
Huge changes were made at Clacton Pier to include a crazy golf, an all-weather adventure soft play area and two new restaurants. The new £4m development was unveiled to mark the attraction’s 147th birthday this year.
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August 2018 – The Jolly Roger remains at Clacton Pier!
The oldest building on Clacton Pier was announced to be retaining its name of the Jolly Roger into the foreseeable future. The pier’s owners said they had listened to public opinion after launching a competition earlier in the year as part of a rebranding exercise.
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August 2018 – Looking for a job on a pier? Clacton Pier may have the position for you!
The completion of the first phase of the pier redevelopment project led to six significant roles at senior and mid-level management becoming available.
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September 2018 – Clacton Pier unveils year-round events programme
Bosses at Clacton Pier unveiled an exciting programme of events for the Autumn and Winter of 2018 – including the revival of their popular Christmas Wonderland.
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February 2019 – Clacton Pier delighted with Coastal Revival Funding for Jolly Roger regeneration
The funding was ring-fenced to survey the 126-year-old building’s structure, develop a condition report, provide concept drawings, structural designs and help to calculate budget costs for the revamp.
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March 2019 – Further development at Clacton Pier!
In March it was announced that Clacton Pier’s adult gaming zone would double in size as part of a major overhaul. The scheme was part of the second phase of the attraction’s development. It would also be re-branded as the Pier Casino.
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March 2019 – Proud to keep it in the family at Clacton Pier!
The Ball brothers celebrated 10 years of success and said “We are in it for the long haul and it is part of a family legacy”.
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May 2019 – Circus Fantasia returns to Clacton Pier!
In May, it was announced that the circus would perform twice daily in the Jolly Roger Arena for nine days over Whitsun and then would return for the whole of the school summer holidays. The Clacton Pier Circus would begin on Saturday, May 25 and run through until June, with shows at 2pm and 4.15pm.
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May 2019 – Clacton gets ready to host Seaside Revival Day!
In May 2019, it was reported that the retro event would take over the town’s West Greensward, Marine Parade West, on Sunday, May 26, from 10am to 5pm.
It was part of a two-year project designed to celebrate the heyday of Essex’s Sunshine Coast, from Harwich and Dovercourt to Walton, Frinton, Jaywick Sands and Clacton. The grand finale of the project would be Sunday’s free, family-friendly Seaside Revival Day.
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June 2019 – Clacton Pier presented with National Piers Society Outstanding Achievement Award!
Pier owners Billy and Elliot Ball picked up a prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award from the society at its annual meeting. It was only the second time in the society’s 40 year history that the award had been made.
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June 2019 – Clacton Pier has a (Ringo) star role in new Beatles film!
Nigel Brown, Clacton Pier’s communications manager, said you can never underestimate the impact that Clacton and the pier appearing in a film like Yesterday can have.
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June 2019 – In defence of Clacton-on-Sea!
A recent National Piers Society visit netted Clacton Pier an award for outstanding achievement, only the second time such an accolade had been bestowed in 40 years. It meant a lot to the pier owners to be “recognised by the enthusiasts”.
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June 2019 – Circus Fantasia at Clacton Pier cancelled for 2019
Award winning Circus Fantasia cancelled its six week run through the summer holidays, claiming that not enough people were coming to watch the show. The pier was looking for a new show to fill the venue.
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July 2019 – Clacton Pier announces new log flume for 2020!
The new ride known as the White Water Log Flume would be the single largest investment in a new ride on the pier for around 40 years. The flume will be the heaviest ride on the structure weighing 160 tonnes in total and holding 80,000 litres of water.
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August 2019 – £50,000 Coastal Revival Fund grant enables multi-million plan for Clacton Pier’s Jolly Roger pavilion
£4 million had been totalled as the final bill. The revamp was expected to take 18 months to complete and turn the old building into a two floor venue with many different uses.
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September 2019 – Bumper visitor numbers at Clacton Pier!
Almost 1 million people poured through the doors of Clacton Pier over the previous 12 months – the same number as in the heyday of Butlins. New equipment installed at the attraction at the end of August last year counted more than 930,000 visitors up to the last Bank Holiday weekend.
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October 2019 – Clacton Pier gets evil for Halloween
The Evil on Sea, Fear the Pier walk through experience was part of Clacton Pier’s Halloween Festival. The scary event included free rides, adventure golf and a drink in the bar.
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October 2019 – Improvement works get underway at Clacton Pier for the arrival of new log flume
The landmark’s in-house team started to demolish the 1930s Queen Mary building, which divided the former swimming pool area and the rides deck. The removal of the building will pave the way to construct five reinforced concrete enhancements.
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November 2019 – Clacton Pier fireworks go with a bang!
Almost 5,000 people braved the elements to enjoy the climax of Clacton Pier’s month-long Halloween celebrations. Saturday night all saw the final performances of Evil on Sea while SMC entertained those who packed into the Boardwalk Bar.
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December 2019 – Clacton Pier skyline to change with arrival of new log flume
The 1930s Queen Mary building was removed so that work could take place to lay the foundations for improvements to the outside fun fair. Significant work completed, including the dismantlement of the go karts, which were to be refurbished and rebuilt in a more central location to make way for the new White Water Log Flume.
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January 2020 – 10,000 visitors to Clacton Pier during Christmas period
Director Billy Ball said that it was a welcome and much-needed boost. “We have made a conscious decision to turn the pier into a 52-week a year attraction and there has been significant investment to do that,” he said. “Therefore it is vital that we get the footfall through the doors so that we can continue to service that investment”.
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February 2020 – Partial collapse of Clacton Pier deck
A “small section” of the deck gave way at Clacton Pier in Essex, when concrete was being poured ahead of the installation of a new rollercoaster. The area had been closed to the public and the work was being done in “controlled conditions” when nobody was under the structure, a spokesman said.
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February 2020 – Clacton Pier rides set to reopen
Clacton Pier have announced that the outdoor rides will reopen on the 29th February. They have blamed the storms and the damage for the delay in opening.
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March 2020 – New rides start to take shape at Clacton Pier
Pier bosses said work is progressing well on the White Water Log Flume and it is expected to be open in time for the Easter holidays. The sub-frame has been finished, all the tank station constructed, and the lower sections completed. Pier director Billy Ball said that he is relieved to see the Log Flume starting to grow and it is now about one third of its final height.
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March 2020 – Clacton Pier turns blue in support of the NHS
Clacton Pier joined the amazing outpouring of support for the National Health Service by turning its outside lighting blue and white. A message of thanks was also posted on the screen at the front of the landmark as a gesture of backing for all the workers involved in the effort to save lives from coronavirus. The lights will remain those colours for the foreseeable future and the message will stay on the screen throughout this period of lockdown.
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April 2020 – An EGG-cellent gift from Clacton Pier to local children
Clacton Pier has announced that about 300 children will be receiving Easter eggs over the coming weekend. Staff ordered large haul of chocolate treats to give away to youngsters, but the current coronavirus lockdown meant that they were left wondering what to do with the eggs.
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April 2020 – New log flume at Clacton Pier ready to make a big splash when pier reopens!
Billy Ball and his brother Elliot, who own the popular pier, have been working on the project with a small in-house technical services team – while maintaining social distancing measures under the current guidelines.
Mr Ball said: “Part of the 15 metre high ride is visible from the seafront, but no one can see the entire structure as we are in lockdown like every other attraction. So, we thought we would reveal this first sneak preview of what it looks like and what our customers can look forward to at the appropriate time.”
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April 2020 – Clacton Pier plans NHS appreciation party for when the lockdown ends
Staff at Clacton Pier are looking to stage the event once they are able to re-open the attraction and restrictions have been lifted by the Government. The event will also include a ‘firework extravaganza’ to ensure it’s a memorable occasion. Every year the Pier’s staff arrange a weekend for the emergency services and armed forces, but they felt this time it was important to do something special for NHS workers.
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June 2020 – Potential delay for new coaster at Clacton Pier
Pier director Billy Ball said the delay over the insurance claim means repairs to the collapsed deck section on the west side of the landmark have not gone ahead as expected. He said the knock-on effect is the new Looping Star roller-coaster ride, planned for the site, may need to be delayed until the 2022 season if an agreement is not reached within the next six weeks.
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July 2020 – Clacton voted Pier Of The Year by National Piers Society members!
Clacton’s pier has been named Pier of the Year in what its director called a “perfect morale booster” at “an incredibly difficult time”. The Essex resort’s pier, built in 1871, reopened to the public on Saturday as lockdown measures were eased. The seaside attraction pipped Clevedon and Brighton Palace piers to the 2020 National Piers Society accolade.
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August 2020 – Clacton Pier’s new log flume all set to make a splash!
Clacton Pier’s long-awaited new White Water Log Flume is finally set to open this weekend. The iconic seaside attraction, built in 1871, had hoped to unveil the splashing new ride at Easter this year, before the coronavirus crisis got in the way.
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September 2020 – ‘Go out to help out’ offer launched at Clacton Pier
In September 2020, Clacton Pier was set to launch its own Go Out to Help Out scheme offering half price rides to help the resort bounce back after the Covid-19 pandemic. The initiative would apply to rides each weekend as well as video games, adventure golf, bowling and entry to the seaquarium every day until September 30 from 5pm to 6pm.
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September 2020 – Improvements and upgrades continue at Clacton Pier
Clacton Pier director Billy Ball apologised for the inconvenience, but said the improvement works were unavoidable. “We just have a few tweaks to make on the ride deck which it is hoped will take us no longer than the day to complete,” he said. “The project is all part of our on-going improvements to the ride deck and upgrade of our attraction.”
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Clacton Pier fears further lockdown restrictions
In October 2020, Clacton Pier director Billy Ball said it has already been an extremely challenging year for all those in the sector. “Due to the initial lockdown and various restrictions, income has taken a real hit and some in the industry are already literally clinging on by their fingertips,” he said. “Any further lockdown would be a huge blow for those businesses and it would have a significant impact on the pier”.
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Clacton Pier plan to put the festive back into Christmas!
October 2020 saw the landmark announce that the Santa’s North Pole Experience would be bigger and better than anything put on over the festive period in the past. Pier director Billy Ball said that with many major town and city-based Christmas festivities cancelled families would be looking to local events. “We aim to offer a quality festive experience which can be enjoyed by all and will also offer something different to past years,” he said.
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Second lockdown leads to job losses at Clacton Pier
Jobs would be lost at Clacton Pier during the “severe blow” of a second coronavirus lockdown – after bosses confirmed in November 2020 it would be “impossible” to keep all staff on. Billy Ball, director of the iconic seaside tourist attraction, said that while virtually all staff were kept on during the spring lockdown thanks to the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme, it would not be possible this time around.
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Repair works to begin at Clacton Pier
Clacton Pier was given the go-ahead in November 2020 to start repairing a damaged section of the historic seaside attraction. In February, a small part of the landmark’s ride deck disappeared into the sea following horrendous storms which battered the coastline. The reconstruction, however, was subsequently delayed due to certain permissions being required, which Mr Ball feared could impact negatively on the business. But nine months on and the Marine Management Organisation was now finally allowing pier bosses to start repairing the damaged ride deck.
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Clacton Pier ready for a cracking Christmas!
Also in November. bosses at the landmark said a programme of work had continued during the second lockdown to ensure that the festive activities would be better than ever – with hundreds of new decorations, a purpose-built Santa’s grotto, and animatronic characters. Pier director Billy Ball said that every effort has been made to create a very special North Pole experience at the landmark.
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