Work on the 910 foot pier, designed by Eugenius Birch, began in December 1869 and it was opened on the first ever August Bank Holiday (1872). It had cost £23,250 and incorporated a very handsome 2000-seat pavilion at the seaward end. One of the tollhouses was damaged by a storm in 1877 but was repaired.

In 1885, a £2,000 landing stage was built. In 1910/11, a small building housing a shooting gallery, ‘animated pictures’ and slot machines was added, followed in 1912, by a rifle range/bowling alley. This shoreward end of the pier, known as the ‘parade extension’, was sold to the council in 1913 to finance a new arcade, shops and a tea-room.

The pavilion was destroyed by fire on 15th July 1917 but was replaced in 1922, albeit in a less elaborate style. A shoreward end pavilion was built in 1926. An Art Deco facade was added in the 1930s. The pier’s seaward end was damaged by storms in 1938, closing the pavilion and costing £22,000 to repair. The pier was sectioned during World War Two and was taken over by the armed forces. It suffered some bomb damage during the conflict. It reopened in 1946. The West View and East View solaria were added in 1951 and 1956 respectively.

In 1966, Hastings Council built the ‘Triodome’ on the parade extension to house a special embroidery marking the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. The extension and Triodome were sold to the pier company in 1968. In 1969, the Triodome was converted into an amusement arcade and the bandstand shelters became kiosks and shops.

In 1993, Humberglow Ltd paid £196,000 to acquire the Hastings Pier Company. In the same year, storms caused £100,000 of damage. An application for millenium funding was unsuccessful and the pier was put up for sale in 1996.

In June 2006, following the serving of a closure notice by Hastings Council, the pier was closed. However, in 2007, Stylus Sports paid for repair work to be carried out beneath the former theatre. The central section of the pier was then re-opened in July 2007, only to be temporarily closed again a few weeks later followiing a storm in which the pier was struck by lightning, causing the emergency evacuation of visitors.

A detailed Structural & Heritage Value Appraisal was carried out for Hastings Borough Council by Gifford Structural Engineers in 2007. A copy of this is accessible via the Pier Weblinks on this page.

Little was done to protect and preserve the pier structure and in March 2008, further damage was caused to the seaward end of the pier during strong winds and very rough seas. In September 2008, the Hasting Pier and White Rock Trust , a local campaign group, submitted a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the rescue and redevelopment of the pier, but complications arose following the unearthing of the legislation from 1985 which prevented the sale of the pier.

Efforts continued, however, led primarily by the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust to try and return the pier to its former glory and in July 2010, Hastings Borough Council finally agreed to pursue a compulsory purchase order for the town’s Victorian pier. If successful the council would then hand over the keys to Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust, which would begin looking for funding for structural repairs and refurbishment.

But then, in the early hours of October 5th 2010, a devastating fire swept through the pier, destroying most of the super-structure. Two men were subsequently arrested on suspicion of arson and bailed pending further action. However, the case dragged on until in April 2011, much to the disgust of local people, the CPS decided not to charge anyone due to lack of evidence.

The destruction of most of the pier was clearly an immense tragedy for the people of Hastings and particularly the members of the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust who had fought so hard to have the pier restored and brought back into public use.

Throughout 2011, the local Council employed experts to assess the full extent of the damage to the pier and attempted to get the owners, the Panamanian registered Ravenclaw, to carry out repair work to stabilise the structure. When this proved unsuccessful, the Council began steps to compulsorily purchase the pier, the intention being to work with the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust to restore the pier to its former glory.

In October 2011,Simon Opie, who had worked successfully improving Euro Disney in Paris and set up Madame Tussaud attractions around the world was appointed as the Chief Executive of the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust.

The following month, Hastings Borough Council agreed to serve a formal repairs notice on the pier owner, Ravenclaw, giving them 2 months months to start repair work or they would seek a compulsory purchase order to save the pier. But by March 2012, Ravenclaw had still failed to respond to the Council’s approaches and so the Council’s solicitors issued a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). The order gave anyone the right to make an objection to the Secretary of State for Culture within 28 days. In May 2012, the Council announced that only one objection to the CPO had been received, that this was not from Ravenclaw, and that they were consequently “still very much working towards handing the pier over to the Hastings Pier Charity.” The charity’s administrators, Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust, said theythe structure’s were hopeful they would own the pier by the end of the year.

Also in May 2012, the first plans of the restored pier were published and made available on the website of the Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust, now Hastings Pier Charity.

Then eventually in November 2012 it was announced that the Heritage Lottery Fund had awarded Hastings Pier a grant of £11.4 million towards the total project cost of £13.9 million for the rescue and restoration of the Pier.

In August 2013, ownership of the Grade II-listed structure was passed to Hastings Pier Charity, the organisation which was set up to manage the multi-million restoration project, enabling work on the project to commence for an estimated completion in spring 2015. A spokeswoman from Hastings Borough Council said most of the £14m came from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with significant additional contributions coming from the Coastal Communities Fund, Community Assets Fund, Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council.

In October 2013, a Community Shares scheme was launched to sell shares in the pier at £100 each to provide further funds towards the pier’s refurbishment. By the end of the month, £100,000 had already been raised towards the target of £500,000. Simon Opie, CEO of the Hastings Pier Charity, said the shares were not just about the money but also to continue interest in the pier after its restoration.

Also in October, students from the University of Brighton in Hastings took part in a competition sponsored by the Hastings Pier Charity to create a short film exploring the heritage of the pier.

October also saw the announcement of a new volunteer scheme for Hastings Pier Charity’s new visitor space, The Hub, scheduled to open in the top part of the seafront White Rock Baths in January 2014.

In November 2013, the Hastings Pier Charity took the unusual step of leaving Charity Commission regulation and moving to become an exempt charitable “bencom”, (a society for the benefit of the community) registered under Industrial & Provident Societies (I&PS) legislation.

December 2013 – Hastings Pier restoration begins
And the following month, restoration work began with the replacement of one of the columns supporting the pier. Local contractors were used for the work.

December 2013 – Hastings Pier shares deadline is extended
Also in December, the closing date for the share offer to raise funds for the pier refurbishment was extended from January to April 2014. Over £170,000 worth of shares – at £100 each – had been sold since the offer’s launch in October 2013.

February 2014 – Hotel invests £10,000 in the pier’s future
The pier’s share scheme was given a boost in February 2014 when the owners of the White Rock Hotel purchased £10,000 worth of shares in an attempt to stimulate other local businesses to support the scheme.
the structure’sthe structure’sthe structure’s
March 2014 – First timbers laid as part of pier renovation
The first planks of what were estimated to be 45 miles (72km) of decking were laid in March 2014 following the work to stabilise the structure and provide new supporting steelwork where necessary.

April 2014 – Pier shares sale hits £500k target
April 2014 saw a last ditch appeal by the Hastings Pier Charity to hit the target of £500,000 worth of shares comfortably exceeded. More than 1,900 mainly local shareholders had invested in the fund to restore the pier and provide new attractions which could include funfairs, a circus, an open-air cinema and theatre, farmers’ markets and a mirrored heritage centre to reflect the seaside views.

May 2014 – Council loses pier appeal case
In May 2014, Hastings Borough Council lost its appeal against a claim for compensation for closing the pier between June and September 2006 for safety reasons. This related to a claim from Manolete Partners plc, which acquired the right to sue from Stylus Sports Ltd, former tenant and operator of a bingo hall and amusement arcade on the Pier.

April 2015 – Documentary on the history of Hastings Pier nears completion
The documentary, entitled Re: A Pier, had lots of support from the public through crowdfunding via the internet, with £3,500 raised so far.

April 2015 – Hastings Pier re-opening date announced
The official re-opening date for the restored pier was announced as 21st March 2016, but events were planned for the pier in advance of that date, including a Christmas fair and possibly a skating rink.

July 2015 – Redevelopment Plans for Hastings Pier taking shape
At a visit by regeneration experts in July 2015, the restoration work on the pier was shown to be progressing well. New decking had reached the end of the pier and the concrete slabs to support the new visitor centre had been laid. The pier management revealed some of their full range of events planned for when the pier is opened .

February 2016 – Legendary music venue Hastings Pier set for new lease of life after devastating fire
In February 2016, it was announced that Hastings Pier would reopen the following month after a £14.2million refurbishment. The pier had been an important venue for popular music through the 1960s and played host to bands including the Kinks, Pink Floyd, the Hollies, the Who and the legendary Jimi Hendrix.

March 2016 – Hastings Pier final decking plank is laid!
It was reported in March 2016 that Hastings-born musician Suggs, from the group Madness, would fix the last plank to complete the 50 miles of new decking on the Victorian structure. A music-themed ceremony is set for May 21, heralding the re-opening of the pier.

April 2016 – Hastings Pier begins phased reopening
Hastings Pier finally reopened in April 2016, nearly six years after it was almost totally destroyed by fire. The former pavilion which had now been converted to a restaurant and bar opened to the public and people were able to stroll around the entire pier for the first time in ten years.

May 2016 – Thousands of bees swarm on Hastings pier
Two swarms of bees, thought to have been attracted to a brightly-coloured life buoy near the pier were removed by experts in May 2016. No harm came to any visitor but a charity spokesman warned visitors (as if they needed warning) to take care around them.

May 2016 – Remembering the opening of Hastings Pier
Eugenius Birch’s magnificent pier which opened on the first ever August Bank Holiday, in 1872, at a cost of £23,250.

May 2016 – Official opening for revamped Hastings Pier
On Saturday May 21st 2016, Hastings Pier was officially re-opened. The ceremony included speeches from funders and politicians before celebrations began in earnest, finishing with a concert by pop group Madness.
Simon Opie, chief executive of Hastings Pier Charity, said “It’s a great relief in many ways to reach this stage, but also tremendous to be able to celebrate what has been achieved and to have so many of our shareholders and supporters here on the pier enjoying what has been created.”

May 2016 – Hastings Pier re-opens its share offer
May saw the reopening of the pier’s community share offer. Simon Opie, chief executive officer of Hastings Pier Charity, said: “We were blown away when more than 3,000 people invested to support the pier and become its owners, but since then lots of people have contacted us wanting to become owners too, or to increase their investment. “We want to give them the opportunity to become members and to show their support for the pier and its future.” The funds raised would help to ensure the pier’s financial security for the following few years. The closing date for the offer was August 1st.
Great archive pictures of Hastings Pier from the air
May 2016 – A doggy tail at Hastings Pier!
Hastings Pier changed its policy on dogs following criticism earlier in the year.

July 2016 – Council fails in attempt to avoid Hastings Pier closure compensation claim
In July 2016, it was announced that Hastings council had lost its appeal in the Supreme Court against the decision for it to pay compensation to Manolete Partners for loss of business when the council closed the pier between June and September 2006 on the grounds that it was unsafe.

August 2016 – Hastings Pier’s fight to get back on the music scene
With the continuing search for new and different venues in the live event market, plus bookings into 2017, in August 2016 the pier was poised to put Hastings back on the music map.

September 2016 – Great archive pictures of Hastings Pier from the air
The Hastings Fishermen’s Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road, open every day from 10am – 5pm, hosted its own exhibition “A Birds-eye view of Hastings Fishing Beach and Coastline”

November 2016 – Hastings Pier welcomes new CEO
In November 2016, it was announced that Jo Stewart, who had worked for English Heritage managing the 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield estate, would be taking over the CEO role at Hastings Pier from Simon Opie, who left earlier in the year. Pier chairman, John Lovering, said: “Jo combines strong retail experience and keen, up to the minute knowledge of running a big, busy local attraction from her four years at Battle. She will lead us through into the next decade as a profitable, successful and entertaining venue for locals and visitors alike.”

November 2016 – Hastings Pier recreated…..in Lego!
Also in November, a spectacular model of Hastings Pier made entirely of Lego blocks was created by life-long Lego fan, Neil Marsden, from Tunbridge Wells. Neil said he designed the pier using specialist software while commuting to his work at an animation studio in London.

December 2016 – New book launched about Hastings Pier
December 2016 saw the launch of a new book on Hastings Pier by author Steve Peake. The launch of the book was made on the pier itself with the support of local MP, Amber Rudd. The book follows the story of the pier from the start of construction in December 1869 to its restoration in 2010 and contains many illustrations and rare photographs.

January 2017 – Hastings Pier in top 10 buildings of 2016
In January 2017, Hastings Pier came seventh in a list of the top 10 buildings of 2016 in a Times article by Jonathan Morrison.

February 2017 – Hastings Pier hosts first ever wedding
February 2017 saw the first ever wedding on Hastings Pier. The happy couple, John and Holly Jones, were married in the Memories Room in The Deck with all their friends and family attending. They said they chose the pier for their wedding because it was where John’s parents met in the ballroom there.

March 2017 – Hastings Pier shortlisted for RIBA award
In March 2017, it was announced that Hastings Pier, along with 13 other shortlisted buildings, would be assessed by a RIBA regional jury with the winning ones announced at an awards evening and reception at Ascot Racecourse on Thursday, May 25.

March 2017 – Hastings Pier gets yarn bombed!
Also in March, the pier was transformed into a woolly wonderland by the addition of some truly amazing seaside-themed knitted creations, courtesy of the knitting skills of hundreds of people including community groups, schools, and individual knitters.

April 2017 – Hastings Pier wins Pier of the Year award
Then in April, it was announced that the rebuilt pier had won the prestigious National Piers Society Pier of the Year award, voted for by the Society’s members. The NPS President, Gavin Henderson, described the pier as “truly a phoenix”, and Maria Ludkin, chair of Hastings Pier Trustees, said: “We are absolutely delighted that our wonderful community-owned pier has won this prestigious award.”

May 2017 – Open air cinema on Hastings Pier
A program of movie screenings on the pier during May and June was announced during the month. The program, sponsored by Chandlers Hailsham BMW and Easy Let, would offer visitors three weekend of film favourites via a new open-air cinema.

May 2017 – Pier Charity appeals for new directors to join board
Also in May, in line with the charity’s objectives to maintain the pier for future generations, Hastings Pier Charity sought applications from its community shareholders with management expertise in the food and drinks industry, event planning, and fundraising.

June 2017 – Hastings Per wins RIBA award
In June 2017, it was announced that Hastings Pier had won a 2017 RIBA National Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in recognition of its architectural excellence. The judges said that the pier had been turned into a vibrant public space with a palpable sense of ownership.

July 2017 – Remembering the 1917 Hastings Pier fire
In July 2017, East Sussex County Council’s First World War website carried the story and pictures of the fire that ravaged Hastings Pier in July 1917, including archive newspaper scans, memorabilia, pictures and descriptions of the county’s role in the war.

July 2017 – Pier developer targets Hastings Pier
Also in July, it was reported that Openwide International Ltd, the company responsible for a major overhaul of Bournemouth Pier, was looking at Hastings as a further potential development opportunity. A spokesman for the company said that Hastings ticked all the boxes in terms of age demographic, growth potential and availability of skilled staff.

August 2017 – Thousands flock to Hastings Pier pop concert
Thousands of people packed onto the Pier in August 2017 for a live concert from Irish pop stars Boyzone. Local singer and songwriter Rich Lown also received strong support and Ocean Colour Scene gave another outstanding performance on the pier the following day.

September 2017 – Rules for dogs changed on Hastings Pier
In September 2017, Hastings Pier Charity decided to extend the areas accessible for people with dogs. In addition to the whole pier decking, well-behaved dogs on short leads would be permitted access to the Deck building (visitor centre) and Upper Deck bar and viewing platform, provided they were accompanied by responsible owners and on a lead at all times.

October 2017 – Redundancies at Hastings Pier
In October 2017, the pier’s chief executive officer, Jo Stewart, decided to step down from her role for ‘personal reasons’.
She said: “We announced to shareholders and staff that the pier is entering a period of restructuring. After a full year of trading, it is clear that the pier is not self-funding in the current structure. On that basis we have entered talks with our stakeholders to look at a new business structure going forward.“October 2017 – Redundancies at Hastings Pier

October 2017 – Congratulations to Hastings Pier – winner of the 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize!
Also in October 2017, it was announced that Hastings Pier, sometimes unkindly nicknamed the Plank, had won the prestigious 2017 RIBA Stirling prize for the best building in the UK. Architect de Rijke Marsh Morgan’s stark wooden wonder – using timber reclaimed from previous fires – was praised for changing ‘the idea of what architecture is’

November 2017 – Event organisers urged to use town’s pier
The move to increase footfall with an increased calendar of events for 2018-19 was viewed as core to the pier’s move to become entirely self-funded. With a musical history that includes The Who, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd, the Hastings Pier Charity aimed to fully re-establish Hastings Pier as one of the UK’s top venues.

November 2017 – Hastings Pier goes into administration
However, in the same month, it was announced that the charity that ran the pier had gone into administration after it failed to raise £800,000. The board of directors said the charity was now insolvent, but the pier would remain open and funded for 2018.

December 2017 – A relevant piece about the difficulties facing Hastings and other regenerated Piers
A Guardian article in December 2017 reviewed the problems facing Hastings Pier. Its conclusion was that the outlook was tough, but not beyond hope. Its revival should be a matter of national concern not only for the pier itself, but for what it stands for: a model of what can be achieved through the efforts of civil society.

December 2017 – Pier owners interested in buying Hastings Pier?
The respective owners of Eastbourne Pier and Brighton Palace Pier locked horns in December 2017 in a bid to purchase Hastings Pier

February 2018 – Hastings Pier sale!
In February 2018, it was announced that administrators had engaged real estate company GVA with finding a buyer for the pier. A spokesman for the firm said they were considering all offers.

February 2018 – Hastings Pier could get the golden touch?
Also in February, Sheikh Abid Gulzar, who bought Eastbourne Pier in 2015, announced he had his sights on a second south coast attraction and said: “I want to bring the pier to life. I would like a gold theme, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

February 2018 – Friends Of Hastings Pier raise concerns over sale of pier to private owners
Later in the month, following news that the pier had gone on the market, the recently re-established Friends of Hastings Pier (FOHP) said it was ‘disappointed’ with the move, and raised concerns about the registered asset of community value moving into private ownership.

March 2018 – aPIERtite food festival set to return to Hastings Pier!
In March 2018, it was announced that, following the event’s popularity, it had now been extended to a series of monthly two-day events. The first two-day market would take place on Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31, and would include food from Asia, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean as well as vegetarian and vegan offerings.

April 2018 – Hastings Pier launch photo competition!
The competition, the brainchild of the pier’s volunteers, was open from Friday, April 6 to Wednesday, April 25, and considered photos from, or of, the pier since it reopened in 2016.

April 2018 – Friends of Hastings Pier group need financial backing for ownership bid to proceed
April 2018 also saw the Friends Of Hastings Pier in an urgent attempt to raise £1 million to avoid being removed from the bidding process for the pier. The group needed to raise the sum by Tuesday (April 24) to prove the viability of its business plan, which would retain the pier’s freehold within public ownership by partnering with a commercial operator, which would lease space from a body set up to maintain the pier’s structure.

April 2018 – Friends of Hastings Pier request more time to raise £1 million
Later in the month, two spokespeople from FOHP – who were elected to the role a few days earlier – met with the administrators and asked for a 30 day extension to get everything in place to show they can run the pier.

May 2018 – Friends of Hastings Pier crowdfunding campaign gathers pace!
In May 2018, it was reported that the Friends of Hastings Pier (FOHP) which had until May 31 to raise £500,000 in order to prove its viability to the pier’s administrators, had raised nearly £60,000 in just a few days, largely from public subscriptions.

May 2018 – Local MP ‘pleased to see’ community bid for Hastings Pier
Also in May, local MP, Amber Rudd, commented that she was pleased to see the community bid for the pier after speaking to the joint administrator of Hastings Pier Charity, in order to receive an update and ensure the bidding process for the pier goes ‘smoothly and fairly’.

June 2018 – Hastings Pier sold to the owner of Eastbourne Pier
In mid-June 2018, it was announced that Hastings Pier had been sold to the owner of Eastbourne Pier despite a campaign to keep it owned locally. Eastbourne hotelier Abid Gulzar said he was “thrilled” to have signed a deal to buy the pier, but local campaigners who had been trying to raise money to buy the pier themselves said they were “sad” and “disappointed” with the decision.

June 2018 – New owner discusses his plans for Hastings Pier
A few days later in an interview with the Hastings & St Leonards Observer, the new owner, Mr Gulzar, said he would be putting his ‘own colour’ into the pier and that he was considering banning fishing and dogs from the pier as had been done on Eastbourne Pier.

June 2018 – Change is afoot at the now opened Hastings Pier!
Speaking at the end of June 2018, just days after re-opening the pier, the new owner, Abid Gulzar, said residents would see changes to the popular landmark ‘very quickly’. He added: “I know there is a massive amount of interest in what plans my teams and I have for the pier. There is much that can be done in the short term but the long term is equally important. Everything we do must be sustainable and for the long term.”

July 2018 – An interesting piece on how ‘the people’s pier’ has divided the community of Hastings
The seaside town of Hastings, which gave its name to one of the most famous battles in British history, was up in arms once again.
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July 2018 – Did Hastings Pier suffer from ‘giving fatigue’?
Questions were raised about whether there was sufficient protection for charities in administration, and particularly whether there was strong enough regulation around Hasting Pier Charity’s particular legal model – the charitable community benefit society.
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July 2018 – Council plans to work with Hastings Pier new owner
Cllr Chowney said: “He has got some good ideas and if he has the money to carry them out there are some interesting things that could happen there. I think he has to be careful about making sure he connects with the people of Hastings and involves them in his plans.”
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August 2018 – New ice-cream hut at Hastings Pier
Hastings Borough Council said it has not received a listed building planning application for the shed but expects to have it within 30 days.
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August 2018 – NPS Chairman Tim Wardley visits Hastings Pier
Tim Wardley was in town on Tuesday to meet Sheikh Abid Gulzar and discussed ways to bring 21st century attractions to Hastings Pier under its new commercial ownership.
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September 2018 – The joy of understated design at Hastings Pier!
The architects responsible for the rebirth, dRMM, eschewed the “amusement arcades and kitschy ‘kiss me quick’ entertainment” characteristic of British seaside piers.
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December 2018 – Hastings Pier closed until March
The Pier, opened in 2016 after fire destroyed its Victorian predecessor, would receive “essential maintenance and improvements”, according to its owner.
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January 2019 – A fairly balanced round-up of the latest news from Hastings Pier
The battle of Hastings pier erupted in public insults and accusations after a decision, announced at the end of December, to close the seaside town’s prize-winning attraction for two months.
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January 2019 – Crowds queue to show their love for Hastings Pier
The demonstration, called If You Love The Pier Then Join The Queue, took place on January 12 and welcomed a crowd of around 200 to 250 people.
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January 2019 – The latest round-up on Hastings Pier provided by the Daily Mail
The £14million Battle of Hastings: After a self-styled ‘Sheik’ bought its famous pier for just £60,000 despite a multi-million pound referb, he installed tacky fake animals and blaring music… only to close it down again – leaving locals fuming.
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January 2019 – Friends of Hastings Pier campaign for parliamentary review
FOHP began a campaign to scrutinise the laws around community assets that had being sold off without consideration for local community interests.
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February 2019 – Eastbourne and Hastings Pier owner fined
Sheikh Abid Gulzar, 73, was instructed to pay security bonds to HMRC in March 2017, due to previous non-payments. The sum was to “protect against any future tax defaults, based on his previous trading history”, an HMRC spokesman said.
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March 2019 – Planning permission granted for new retail huts on Hastings Pier
Hastings borough councillors planners granted temporary planning permission to erect five retail sheds on the pier, each to remain for a period of five years.
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March 2019 – Hastings Pier remains closed over Easter
The reopening of Hastings Pier was delayed and looked set to be closed over Easter. The pier had been closed since December 2018 .
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March 2019 – A detailed review of the latest events at Hastings Pier
With the Pier scheduled to reopen in time for the Easter holidays, the Guardian provided insight into ongoing events at Hastings.
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April 2019 – Hastings Pier reopens!
After over three months since Hastings Pier was last open to the public, on Monday 1st April new owner, Sheikh Abid Gulzar was unhand to unlock the gates and welcome the first visitors back on.
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May 2019 – Plans for Hastings Pier amusement arcade approved
Hastings Borough Council’s planning committee approved an application to open a family amusement arcade in the pier’s visitor centre building. During the meeting, several councillors argued the new use of the building would provide additional income for the pier and help secure its long term future.
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May 2019 – Controversy continues over Hastings Pier amusement arcade
Sheikh Abid Gulzar becamee embroiled in a row with award-winning architect Alex de Rijke whom he accused of snobbery after criticism was voiced over plans to convert the landmark’s visitor centre into an amusement hall.
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June 2019 – Hastings Pier amusement arcade prepares to open
The amusement arcade containing games machines was set to open on Hastings Pier. The machines had been delivered onto the site during the week and the arcade was scheduled to open within the next week.
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September 2019 – Pier owner puts hotels up for sale to concentrate on Eastbourne and Hastings Piers
Mr Gulzar put the Albany Lions and Mansion hotels on Eastbourne seafront up for sale with price tags of £2.6 million and £4.6 million respectively. He said it was because he wanted to concentrate on making both Eastbourne and Hastings piers a success.
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January 2020 – Hastings Pier Community Archive is now live
When Hastings Pier was sold into private ownership in June 2018, the digital pier archive was given to Hastings Museum and Art Gallery (HMAG). Since 2019 the volunteers of Hastings Pier Community Archive worked in conjunction with HMAG to continue to maintain this important cultural asset for the local community, and for those around the world with an interest in seaside heritage and the on-going history of Hastings Pier.
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February 2020 – New cabins available to rent at Hastings Pier
Four new timber-framed cabins became available to rent on Hastings Pier for £1,000 a month. A spokesperson for Eastbourne Property Shop, which is handling the sale, said: “This commercial space on iconic Hastings Pier would suit retail or office space or a company wanting to create brand awareness by being situated on this prestigious landmark”.
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July 2020 – New operators for Hastings Pier
Event planners Music First Events were given a temporary tenure for the summer of 2020 but had the option to continue ‘if successful’. The company in control of operations on Hastings Pier promised to offer the space back to the local community as it began its temporary tenure. The structure of the Grade-II listed structure remained under control of owner Sheikh Abid Gulzar.
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July 2020 – Hastings Pier lays claim to be UK’s biggest bier garden!
Hastings Pier could now host 600 seated and socially distanced drinkers after it underwent an impressive transformation. The new look had also allowed live music to return to the town, with bands able to perform on the elevated platform of the roof terrace. But, with the significant size of the new beer garden, did this make it the largest in the UK? Earlier this month, it was reported that the “UK’s biggest socially distanced beer garden” had opened in Walthamstow, London.
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August 2020 – Silent Sunday sessions at Hastings Pier
Jolie Smith explained: “This is for all the special needs children who may struggle with the lights and sounds due to sensory issues. “We understand that crowds, lights and sounds can be very traumatic for some children, so we are dedicating Sunday mornings from 10am – 12pm, solely for children with special needs.
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September 2020 – ‘Pay what you like’ theatre at Hastings Pier
Hastings Pier offered a pay-what-you-like theatre performance on Sunday, September 13 at 4pm, with audience members asked to make a contribution at the end.
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September 2020 – Live music events paused at Hastings Pier
In September 2020, the operators of Hastings Pier decided there would be no more live bands or DJ sets for the foreseeable future after reports an event, held the previous weekend, had not been ‘not managed in an entirely Covid-secure way’, Hastings Borough Council confirmed.
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A decade since Hastings Pier fire
In October 2020, the Chichester Observer looked back to October 2010 when more than 60 firefighters bravely tackled the fire as it raged throughout the day, with some even taking to the seas to douse the flames from on board an RNLI lifeboat. The Herculean effort could not save the derelict pier and early estimates suggested as much as 95 per cent of the structure had been destroyed. That included the historic ballroom, which had played host to some of the biggest names in music and was where the fire began just after 1am
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Hastings Pier to open ice rink for winter season
Hastings Pier announced in October 2020 that they would have an ice rink installed as part of its Winter Wonderland event. The rink would be open to visitors between November 21 to January 1, alongside festive rides and plenty of food and drink. A spokesman for Hastings Pier said the move would be a UK first with the attraction becoming “the only pier in the UK to have a real ice rink”.
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Hastings Pier ‘Winter Wonderland’ event put on ice
Plans to install an ice rink on Hastings Pier this winter were cancelled in October. The ice rink was due to open on November 21.
It would have been part of the pier’s Winter Wonderland event which would have been open daily with festive rides, food and bars, until January 3. It would have been the first real ice rink to operate on a pier in the UK.
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