Originally, St. George’s Jetty was constructed here in 1857 as part of a harbour scheme but it was damaged by a storm and demolished in 1876.
Work on the present structure began in June 1876, to the design of James Brunlees. The 1234 foot pier opened in August 1877. A bandstand at the seaward end was constructed in 1877, but the opening of a shoreward end pavilion was delayed until 1884. It incorporated the swimming pool that had opened the previous year. The extension past the Grand Hotel to the promenade was also completed in 1884 taking the total length to 2295 feet.
A landing stage was built in 1891 and reinforced in 1904. In 1905, a pier-head pavilion was built. In 1907, the pier was damaged by a ship. Major alterations were made to the pier and landing stage in 1938. Trust House Forte became owners in 1968, and the present steel/concrete landing stage was built in 1969.
£70,000 was spent on repairs in 1984/5. The shoreward end pavilion, which had been empty since 1990, was severely damaged by fire on 13th February 1994 and has since been demolished.
In July 2011, Conwy Council endorsed a study within the ‘Destination Conwy’ development plan to to look at repairing and re-instating Llandudno Pier’s docking facility to be able to handle 700-passenger pleasure cruise ships as well as the Waverley and Balmoral vessels, Isle of Man boats or coastal cruises.
Throughout 2011 and early 2012, discussion focussed on the potential redevelopment of the derelict pier pavilion site, with plans put forward for a 200-bedroom hotel. Although there was general support for a scheme to reclaim the eyesore that the site had become, there was also concern that any new building design was appropriate to its surroundings.

In May 2012, the National Piers Society held its Annual General Meeting at Venue Cymru in Llandudno and Anthony Wills, the Society’s Media Officer, emphasised the importance of the pier to tourism at the resort.

June 2012 – Landing stage to be rebuilt for cruise ships’ return
Then in June 2012 it was announced that a new landing stage was to be built at the end of the pier to allow cruise ships to return to the Conwy resort. The cost of over £330,000 would be met via a grant of £200,000 from Gwynt y Mor Tourism Fund by owners of the off-shore wind farm with other funding coming from Conwy council, Llandudno Town Council and pier owners, Six Piers Limited.

March 2013 – Steam ships to return to Llandudno this year
In March 2013, it was reported that steamships would soon be able to call at Llandudno Pier again after a gap of ten years when a new £330,000 landing stage is built. The work which was expected to start in July and be completed by October, was being funded by a grant of £200,000 from Gwynt y Môr Tourism Fund by owners of the off-shore wind farm, and by grants from Conwy council, Llandudno Town Council and pier owners, Six Piers Limited.

July 2013 – Hopes dashed that cruises will return this summer
However, hopes to have the landing stage ready for cruises in the summer were dashed in July 2013 when confusion arose over marine licences. The pier operators said that they had been assured by Conwy council that the licenses were in place, but later discovered this was wrong, leading to a delay of from a month to six weeks, assuming the weather was favourable.

August 2013 – Landing stage delayed but not significant
In August 2013, it was announced that the project to repair the landing stage at Llandudno pier was delayed due to problems getting finance in place and the renewal of a marine licence which enables this type of work to be carried out. However, the delay was not anticipated to be significant and the hope still exists that ultimately large cruise liners will anchor in the bay and ferry passengers to the landing stage in their lifeboats.

December 2013 – Maritime museum could come to Llandudno
In December 2013, a proposal was announced to open a Maritime Museum on Llandudno Pier by the end of 2014 provided the necessary finance could be arranged. A planning application was being drafted which would make use of empty kiosks on the pier.

August 2014 – The Waverley fails to dock at Llandudno pier’s new stage
Strong winds forced the cancellation of the paddle steamer Waverley’s visit to Llandudno in August 2014, disappointing around 1000 visitors who were forced to watch the steamer approach and turn back. This would have been the first time a ship had landed in Llandudno for around a decade.

February 2015 – High winds close the main entrance to Llandudno Pier
High winds on Saturday, January 31 2015 caused roof tiles to fall from the Grand Hotel on Happy Valley Road to the ground below, which resulted in the Pier manager, Simon Mason, having to restrict access to the pier to the rear entrance only from the following day.

March 2015 – Llandudno and two of Blackpool’s piers on the market
In March 2015, it was announced that ‘strong interest’ was being received from investors ahead of £4.5m sale of Llandudno Pier. Llandudno was one of three piers being sold by Cuerden Leisure, along with Blackpool Central Pier and Blackpool South Pier.

April 2015 – Waverley paddle steamer to make Llandudno return after two-year absence
Bad weather in the previous year and delays to renovation work on the pier in 2013 forced sailings to be cancelled. But in April 2015 it was reported that bookings were now being taken for Waverley’s cruises from Llandudno on September 1 and 2.

May 2015 – Llandudno Pier sold for £4.5 million
In May, the pier was acquired by leisure entrepreneur Adam Williams’s Tir Prince Leisure Group, an established leisure operator in North Wales. Mr Williams said that his father had always talked about owning the pier. He said “There are no plans to charge to use the pier, that is not in my remit at all. We will keep investing in the pier to secure it for the future. We have invested £4.5m into the pier, we have to ensure we protect that investment for the future.”

June 2015 – New owner of Llandudno Pier, pledges to reinvest in the pier
Adam Williams, the new owner of Llandudno Pier, said in June 2015 that he will be investing heavily in the pier. He said “My challenge is to get it back to its former glory, to strip back where the paint is crisp rather than looking like it has 30 coats of paint on.”

July 2015 – MV Balmoral re-launched from Llandudno Pier
In July 2015, it was reported that the historic pleasure cruiser, MV Balmoral, would be returned to service from the Llandudno pier on Thursday, July 2. A brass band had been arranged and an afternoon cruise was planned at around 1.30pm before returning to Liverpool at 4pm.

February 2016 – Llandudno Pier entrance kiosks get a makeover
By February 2016, work was underway to improve the entrance to the pier as part of a £700,000 investment by the new owners. The units had rotten wooden floors and were removed from the pier for renovation in time for the spring season.

March 2016 – Refurbished kiosks return to Llandudno Pier
And in March 2016, most of the newly renovated kiosks were returned in time for the Easter holidays. The work had been carried out at the workshops of the pier owner, Adam Williams, at Tir Prince in Towyn and were replaced on Monday, March 21. Mr Williams pronounced himself very pleased with the finished product, which he felt matched the original design and were in-keeping with the heritage of the pier.

April 2016 – New development planned for derelict Llandudno Pier Pavilion site
In April 2016, it was reported that Developer Alan Waldron had secured and intended to redevelop the pavilion site to provide commercial floor-space, residential units, and underground car parking. The site had remained uncleared and derelict since being destroyed by a fire in 1994.

April 2016 – Llandudno’s Pier Pavilion to cost £15m to re-develop
Also in April, it was announced that the Pier Pavilion could cost £15m to redevelop. The new owner said that he hoped to submit plans for the site by the summer for an “iconic building” in keeping with the surroundings. He said ‘We want to move on this as quickly as possible but we also have to work with the council, Cadw, Mostyn Estates and the Design Commission to ensure we get the scheme right.’

September 2016 – Progress at ‘eyesore’ Llandudno Pier Pavilion site
In September 2016, the developer who acquired the old pavilion sitesite in April 2016, revealed that during the site investigations, evidence of a large pool had been uncovered beneath the ground which may have been used for swimming or boating. The possibility of using this for underground car parking was being looked into.

November 2016 – Warning over Llandudno Pier entrance charges if Pavilion site redevelopment proposals go ahead
In November 2016, Adam Williams, the owner of Llandudno Pier, expreasaed grave concern regarding the proposed new pavilion development adjacent to the pier and warned that if the pier’s income was damaged by the new development, entrance charges to the pier may have to be levied.

November 2016 – Developers defend Pier Pavilion development
Also in November 2016, responding to concerns being expressed over the proposed new Pier Pavilion, the architects behind the development were forced to defend the modernist design of the building saying it would be something Llandudno could be proud of.

November 2016 – Petition against Pier Pavilion development launched
But later in the month, a petition was started opposing the Pavilion development and calling for any new building to be sympathetic to the Victorian architecture of the immediate surrounding area. The developer said he would be meeting the development team to discuss the feedback received.

November 2016 – Winter season plans for Llandudno Pier
As Conwy Council announced plans in November to develop a Winter tourist season, Llandudno pier responded that it had already started increasing its opening hours during the winter, increasing full-time staff. Pier owner Adam Williams said “Some days you do lose money paying staff through the winter, but it has a huge payback for us at the start of the season. If the staff are with us full-time, they bring their experience with them and I don’t have to train them from fresh at the start of the season. Our industry has a stigma of being very seasonal, but my colleagues work long hours in the summer and are very loyal to the business, so it’s nice I can be loyal to them.”

November 2016 – Back to the drawing board for Llandudno Pier Pavilion development plans
At the end of November, the developers of the proposed new pavilion announced that they would be amending their plans in light of the feedback regarding the pavilion’s modernistic design. Developer Alan Waldron said “The process we have just gone through enables us to listen to people’s comments. Now we will go away and amend the plans accordingly. The massing and scale of it will be similar and it will be a modern design – it may be a modern Victorian design.”

December 2016 – Pressure group focuses on Pier Pavilion site redevelopment
The newly renamed Future Llandudno Action Group stated their purpose was to monitor further developments in relation to the revised plans submitted to Conwy County Borough Council Planning Department. A spokeman for the group said “We strongly suspect that any subsequent revised proposal will also be unsuitable for the site and, if so, the group intends to ensure that it is strongly opposed.”

March 2017 – Llandudno Pier’s landing stage set to have a busy 2017 season
In March 2017, hopes were high a series of planned sea visits would boost tourism during the year. Two visits by the Waverley paddle steamer were scheduled for August and the National Geographic Orion, an Antarctic explorer vessel, would be anchored in Llandudno Bay in September as part of a cruise of the Welsh and English coastline. The plan was for the mainly American pasengers to be brought by tender to the end of the pier.

March 2017 – New Pier Pavilion development plan submitted
Also in March, revised plans for the Pier Pavilion development were submitted. The plans for the £15million development included 54 high-quality apartments, two restaurants, underground car parking and an enhanced public environment.

March 2017 – Pier Pavilion scheme dealt blow as town council objects to plans
However, later in the month, the plans were unanimously rejected by Llanudno Town Council planning committee. The application was still to go before Conwy County Council for a final decision.

September 2017 – £1 million restoration work begins at Llandudno Pier!
In September 2017, restoration work began on Llandudno Pier. The first phase, which was expected to be completed in approximately seven weeks, involved £150,000 being spent on metal work underneath the pier. An additional £200,000 would also be spent during the year if investigation reports on the metal work around the two entrances were unfavourable. Owner Adam Williams said he would rather spend the money on attractions but securing the base had to take priority.

October 2017 – New plans submitted for Llandudno Pier Pavilion site
In October 2017, updated plans for the Pavilion site were revealed. The plans had been submitted to Conwy council but the controversial development had attracted significant numbers of objections, including from Mostyn Estates and Llandudno Pier’s owner Adam Williams.

December 2017 – Llandudno Pier Pavilion flats plan decision deferred
But in December of 2017, it was reported that Conwy council’s planning committee had deferred a decision on the revised plans to build an apartment block and restaurant at Llandudno’s old pavilion pier site and had called for further discussion on the proposals. The owner of Llandudno Pier said the future of the pier as an attraction would be at risk if the plans went ahead.

March 2018 – Updated redevelopment proposals for Llandudno Pier Pavilion site seek approval
March 2018 saw revamped proposals submitted for the controversial £18m apartment and restaurant complex that was claimed would create hundreds of jobs in Llandudno, but had been vehemently opposed by the owner of Llandudno Pier.

March 2018 – Substructure investment saves Llandudno Pier from serious storm damage
Also in March, the owner of Llandudno Pier said their investment on the pier’s below deck structure had saved the historic pier from serious damage in the Storm Emma battering. The storm had caused decking to be ripped up and forced the pier to close for several days. It was now set to reopen.

March 2018 – Llandudno Pier Pavilion redevelopment plans hit further delay
In March it was reported that although Conwy Council planners wanted to give it the go-ahead, the controversial Pavilion project was on hold once more while the Welsh Government decided whether to “call in” the application to the Planning Inspectorate.

April 2018 – PS Waverley to set sail from Llandudno Pier this summer!
In April 2018, it was announced that the venerable paddle steamer Waverley would sail on two cruises to Anglesey from Llandudno during the Summer. These would leave from Llandudno pier on Tuesday and Wednesday, 28 and 29 August, at lunchtime on both days, steam to the north Anglesey coast before returning to the pier in time for tea. But the news was less good for the MV Balmoral, which was still laid up in Bristol awaiting essential maintenance and refurbishment.

April 2018 – Pavilion site redevelopment raises concerns for Llandudno Pier owner
Later in the month, after learning the Welsh Government would not intervene in the planning application for the £18 million residential and commercial scheme Llandudno Pier owner Adam Williams said: “I don’t know if we can sustain things for two or three years. Just the building could see the end of the Pier”.

August 2018 – Llandudno Pier maintenance works still on hold
The works, which were set to cost more than £150,000, were put on hold because of the threat of the controversial Pier Pavilion development.
Read More

February 2019 – Llandudno Pier owner branches out to Rhos on Sea
The owner of Llandudno Pier was named as the preferred bidder to transform a key seafront site. Under the plans Tir Prince Raceway, owned by Adam Williams, would develop the site into a restaurant, café and small retail unit.
Read More

April 2019 – PS Waverley to sail from Llandudno Pier this summer
In April it was reported that the paddle steamer Waverley would make a return to Llandudno in the summer for an extended period. Starting on Wednesday June 19 Waverley was scheduled to sail from Llandudno offering day and afternoon cruises.
Read More

July 2020 – Llandudno Pier considers entrance charge
In July 2020, Llandudno Pier announced it was considering charging people to go on the historic structure as it struggled to raise money to pay for essential maintenance. The pier had been closed since lockdown in March – costing the site hundreds of thousands of pound in lost income. Parts of it could now reopen but the site still couldn’t open some of its higher earning sections like the amusements nor allow people to sit in eating places.
Read More

August 2020 – Crowds return to Llandudno Pier, but owner raises concerns about social distancing
In August 2020, the owner of Llandudno pier said some visitors to the attraction didn’t appear to follow coronavirus rules “at all” as large crowds flocked to the town. Adam Williams said he had tried his “very best” and spent thousands of pounds to introduce safety measures at the pier, but that it was also up to visitors to show common sense.
Read More

August 2020 – An ode to Llandudno and its pier!
A stroll along Llandudno Pier, built during the town’s fashionable heyday to extend gracefully into the Irish Sea, revealed plenty of social-distancing signage but less compliance among the stalls selling Welsh-flag face masks. But I had a moment of sepia-tinged nostalgia when we found the push-penny slots still chiming out in the Deck Arcade at the end of the pier.
Read More

September 2020 – Llandudno Pier gets an ‘appalling erection’!
In September 2020, a lighthouse chippy at the entrance to Llandudno Pier was slammed as an “appalling erection” – with council planners getting involved. The 20ft structure appeared at the historic pier over a weekend and instantly divided opinion. Some on social media said it fitted in with a seaside location but not everyone was convinced that a Conservation Area was the right location for the tall chip shop.
Read More

The Pier continues to open almost every day of the year. It is the longest pier in Wales and is unusual in having two separate entrances. A range of attractions are available along the pier including gift shops , fairground rides , a children’s area, plus food and drink outlets. A scheme in which benches and plaques can be purchased now operates.

Llandudno

Sign-up to receive our weekly newsletter

Login