The first pier was planned in 1828 and and a 600 foot wooden section opened in 1830. The length had increased to one and a quarter miles by 1846, making it the longest pier in Europe. A baggage line was adapted for passenger use.

In August 1885, a replacement iron pier was planned and work began in 1888 to the design of James Brunlees. The pier opened on 24th August 1890. £10,000 of the £80,000 cost was spent on the new electric railway.

An extension opened in 1898 making it the longest pier in the world at 7080 feet. On July 25th 1908, the upper-deck of the pier extension opened, followed by the doubling of the rail track and the Prince George steamer extension in 1929.

During World War II, the pier was used by the Navy. Huge popularity followed the War with the electric train carrying 4,713,082 passengers in its first season (1949/50) and an additional one million people passing through the turnstiles. However, falling trade led to a financial survey in 1970 and the pier’s entertainments were franchised.

In July 1976, a fire badly damaged the pier-head with repair costs estimated at £1.4 million. In October 1978, the pier railway (now single-track) was closed for safety reasons. The council planned to close the entire pier in September 1980 but a rescue package was agreed with a local firm and rebuilding had begun by November 1984. The work included a new 3 foot gauge railway. The pier was temporarily sectioned in June 1986 when the 180 foot ‘King’s Abbey’ collided with it. Also that year, the refurbished pier was opened by Princess Anne.

In 1989, a museum was opened near the shoreward end railway station. Fire destroyed the the adjacent Bowling Alley and walkway on 7th June 1995. The railway was also damaged and forced to close. It later re-opened with a council promise of general rebuilding.

Plans for a new pavilion and the development of the entrance area suffered a setback with the rejection of a 1997 Heritage Lottery Fund application. The fire damaged area at the shore-end was rebuilt in 1998.

A new RNLI station and gift shop were built at the pier-head in 2000 and the pier illuminations were switched on in November of that year. The Southend Cliff Lift re-opened in 2001 and in 2003 a new £1.9 million entrance with full disabled access was completed.

Fire struck again in October 2005 destroying the pier-head station and 130 foor section of the pier.

The pier was voted NPS Pier of the Year in 2007.

In May 2009, Southend Council announced an international landscape architecture competition to choose a design for the Pier Head which was destroyed in the fire of 2005.

September 2009 saw the opening of a new £2.4million station at Southend pierhead and a Council announcement that a further £830,000 would be spent on refurbishments including reinstating windbreaks dating back over 50 years, repainting windows in the Pier Museum and a large amount of other repainting which would be completed by early 2010. Also in September, it was announced that Swedish company White Arkitekter had won a competition to design a new pierhead which would have included a cultural centre and a restaurant. However, in November, the Council was told it had missed out on the £5million from the Government’s Sea Change grant which was needed to build the White Arkitekter project.

In December 2009, a redevelopment plan which included a roller-coaster, plus new entertainment and leisure facilities at both ends of the pier, was turned down by the Council.

Then in March 2010, the Council announced it had decided to press ahead with the White Arkitekter plan for the pier head with completion, hopefully by 2012.

In March 2011, Southend Pier joined in the Party on the Pier celebrations to mark the launch of British Tourism Week.

In May 2011, long-awaited plans to redevelop Southend’s historic pier were delayed by months because of nesting birds – ruddy turnstones. Then in July, the whole project which included a new cultural centre had to be scaled back to protect the interest of the birds. A further setback was announced in September 2011 when it was announced that the presence of the birds meant that the lights on the new cultural centre would have to be switched off in the winter months.

Also in September, the pier had to be closed temporarily following a collision by a barge. The pier suffered further damage afte being struck by a fishing boat in February 2012 and was again closed temporarily while repairs were made. It reopened in late March.

The building of the new Cultural Centre had been proceeding for some time off-site. Work at the pier commenced in March and in May the 200 tonne building was towed into place from Tilbury. Work on commissioning continued through June and the £3million venue was launched in late July to the sound of laughter with the Wave Comedy Festival.

The new Cultural Centre quickly proved its worth as the pier emerged from a seven year period in the doldrums to what promised to be a booming future as the Council promoted a packed schedule of events including the opening of a new cafe by TV chef Jamie Oliver and farmer Jimmy Doherty as part of a new TV food show.

September 2012 saw the pier enter the Guinness Book of Records for being the longest pleasure pier railway in the world.

January 2013 – Closing Pier could harm tourism trade – councillor
January 2013 saw the Southend Air Show cancelled and the pier to close two days a week as Southend Council struggled to balance its books. Closing the pier was attacked by some opposition councillors who felt it could seriously harm the town’s tourist trade, but it was stated that visitor numbers on some days were in the single figures, yet the pier still had to be fully staffed.

February 2013 – Couple become first to marry at end of Southend Pier
In February 2013, Ian Barnes and Emma Hunter made history by becoming the first couple to get married on Southend Pier in the new Cultural Centre. They said they had chosen the pier when they discovered the Cultural Centre had obtained a licence to hold marriage ceremonies.

April 2013 – Jamie’s cafe reopens as ice cream parlour
The CAFE on the Pier, which was refurbished by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, reopened as an ice cream parlour in April 2013.

Also in April, a maritime festival was announced starting in May and lasting for 2 weeks and in May, the pier featured in a video starring the pop singer Alison Moyet together with her daughter, Caitlin.

June 2013 – Southend Pier cultural centre wins design award
June saw the Pier’s £3million cultural centre win the Royal Institute of British Architects eastern region award. The judges said “Despite a cash-strapped local council as client and the iconic nature of their brief’s subject, the architects have produced a remarkable sculptural object sitting at the end of the Grade II listed pier. While strikingly modern, the new building is essentially a pavilion in the tradition of Victorian pier Victorian pier architecture.”

July 2013 – Southend’s cultural centre gets royal seal of approval
And in July, the centre was re-named the Royal Pavilion in ceremony in which the Duke of Kent unveiled a plaque during a visit to the town. The Duke called the new centre a remarkable piece of engineering and said “Southend should be very proud”.
August 2013 – Royal Pavilion pulling in pier visitors
The following month, the Royal Pavilion was credited with a substantial increase in the number of visitors to the pier, 42,000 more than the same period the previous year.

Oct 2013 – Fears erosion could threaten Southend Pier
Fears were expressed in October 2013 that the pier could be affected by the loss of Southend’s foreshore, the cause of which was being investigated by Southend Council. Some people had expressed the view that the digging of a four-metre deep channel down the Thames so the world’s largest container ships can reach the £1.5million London Gateway superport was to blame but this was disputed by the Environment Agency.

November 2013 – Pier is closed to save cash
Despite the increase in visitors, in November Southend Council took the controversial step of closing the pier on Mondays and Tuesdays right through until the beginning of the following April as part of plans to save £50,000 a year.

February 2014 – Pier’s popularity is undergoing a revival
Figures revealed in February 2014 showed that 2013 was one of the pier’s busiest years with 283,468 visitors – its highest since 2005. Southend council put the success down to the new Royal Pavilion, the £3million cultural centre which opened in July 2012.

April 2014 – Classic film shown about the glory days of iconic pier train
In April 2014, a 15-minute silent film documenting the arrival of the pier’s iconic electric trains in 1949 was screened at Southend Museum. The film entitled Rolling Along featured the distinctive green and cream trains which operated upto the 1970s.

August 2014 – Pier’s the backdrop for new stamp set
An image of Southend Pier at sunset was featured on a first day cover for a new set of stamps set for release by the Royal Mail in September 2014 to celebrate seaside architecture.

August 2014 – Cost of running Southend Pier revealed
Also in August 2014, it was reported that the pier running cost for 2013 was £1.7million against the total income generated of £537,000, meaning that the pier actually lost £1.2 million. This led to the possibility of commercial businesses being asked to invest in the pier, although the council ruled out an outright sale.

December 2014 – Shoddy state of Southend Pier laid bare in shock report
A report produced for Southend Council in December 2014 following a full survey by engineers Hemsley Orrell Partnership warned of serious problems with the pier. The report stated that although the pier was in most part in fair to good condition, unless significant investments were made, the railway might have to stop operating in two years time and in five years time the whole pier might need to be closed.
£500,000 was needed immediately for high-priority repairs, and £2million was needed for structural work.

January 2015 – New restaurant being considered for piercan be topped
In January 2015 Southend council reaffirmed their policy of not selling off the pier, but said that they would offer lease deals to potential private investors, one of which could be for a new restaurant. An extra £45,000 would also be made by an increase in tickets for the pier train from £4 to £4.30.

February 2015 – New signs for Southend Pier
After complaints from visitors and campaigners, two new signs were erected on the pier in February 2015 with the announcement that Southend was ‘The Longest Pleasure Pier in the World’.

July 2015 – How could new life be brought to Southend Pier?
In the wake of Southend council’s drive to get more investment, local people were asked to suggest their own ideas for bringing new life to the pier.

July 2015 – Southend Pier features in top seven iconic seaside buildings
Southend Pier featured in a list of the top seven iconic seaside buildings compiled by historian Allan Brodie for Historic England (formerly English Heritage) in July 2015.

February 2016 – Council to invest £20 million in Southend Pier
In February 2016, Southend Council announced ambitious plans for the pier to include a restaurant, entertainment, pop-up business and new trains. The council had failed to find private funding for the venture and would instead set up a trading company called Southend Pier Ltd, which would be funded from the council’s reserves for the first five years.
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April 2016 – Pop-up beach huts to grace Southend Pier
April 2016 saw the announcement that a series of predominantly arts and music themed beach huts would be erected on the old bowling pavilion site and Pier Head. They were proposed to be arts and culture based, but the council were also looking at other attractions for the pier, which could include souvenirs and games, although not amusement arcades.

May 2016 – Post box returns to Southend Pier
In May 2016, the first postcard was posted from the end of the pier as a new café and crazy golf course were launched.

May 2016 – New attractions ready for summer season at Southend Pier
May 2016 saw the extensive refurbishment of the café in the Royal Pavilion by its by new operator,the Vertas Group. It was joined by Southend Pier Crazy Golf, a new 12-hole course with “Olga the Octopus” as its centrepiece.
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June 2016 – Southend Pier closed as it undergoes emergency repairs
In June 2016, The pier had to be closed for what was estimated to be one week for emergency repairs after a structural maintenance inspection identified a number of pile caps that had cracked. Councillor Ann Holland said “The pressure of the train passing over this area could cause further damage. Due to our evacuation procedures relying on the train, we have decided to close the pier completely until we can re-assess.”

June 2016 – Pier train closed as crack problems found to more extensive
Later in the month, Councillor Holland announced that: “Following further extensive investigations on the Pier, it has been identified that 27 pile caps need to be replaced.” This meant that the pier train would have to be closed for upto 12 weeks.

July 2016 – The world’s longest pier – in numbers
In July 2016, the Telegraph published a whimsical article listing numerically many of Southend Pier’s most significant events and statistics.

August 2016 – Jamie Oliver returns to film fourth series on Southend Pier!
Jamie and co-host Jimmy Doherty were a regular presence at their own cafe at the end of the pier, hosting three series of Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast over the previous two years.

August 2016 – Cultural beach huts at Southend Pier
In August 2016, Southend Pier hosted the installation of ten beach huts on the shore end platform of the pier as part of the year’s Estuary Festival – a programme of exhibitions, performances and events along the Thames. The beach huts were designed to take audiences on a journey “through the heyday of the classic Estuary seaside experience to the present day”.

September 2016 – Southend Pier Museum feels the cost of pier train closure
In September 2016, it was reported that the Southend Pier Museum, located next to the Pier Railway, had suffered a huge cut in visitor numbers as a result the closure of the Southend Pier train for repairs over the summer. Museum Manager Peggy Dowie said: “The closure has been disastrous for us. Visitors to the pier now go straight up the stairs onto the walkway and very few come onto the station. We’re tucked away in a corner and people don’t see us, so we’ve had some very bad times. There have been high times and low times, but this year we have faired badly and lost a lot of money, which is very disheartening because the pier itself has been very busy and it’s been a good season weather-wise.”

September 2016 – Southend Pier train makes a (slow) return
Also in September, Southend Council confirmed the pier train would be returning to service in stages. It would initially make the 1.3mile journey along pier at a slower speed than normal. However, warnings were given that the train would not be carrying any passengers for the time being.

October 2016 – Southend Pier train back on track!
After 12 weeks of repairs, the pier train finally returned to action in October 2016, but for training and monitoring purposes only. John Lamb, leader of the council, said: “I am delighted that following advice from our structural engineers, we are able to run test services on the pier train from 10.30am this morning. We will run these test services without passengers and initially at reduced
speeds.”

January 2017 – Pier investment to provide rickshaws
In January 2017 it was announced that Southend Pier wacan be topped s set to benefit from an £11.5m investment which could see tourists hitching rides on rickshaws. Ann Holland, councillor responsible for tourism, said the council had budgeted for a small fleet of rickshaws which could be themed for use at weddings and other celebrations, such as St George’s day.

February 2017 – Storm Doris causes pier closure
The approach of storm Doris in February 2017 caused Southend Pier to be temporarily closed to the public. The council advised “Due to the high winds, the Pier is unfortunately closed until further notice and today’s market is also cancelled.”

March 2017 – New entrance planned for Southend Pier!
In March 2017, it was reported that Southend council had submitted an application to demolish the existing amusement arcade to create a larger entrance and reception area. Local councillor,Ann Holland, said “The plans to redesign the entrance to the pier are our way of showing our intentions to improve one of Southend’s most iconic landmarks.”

March 2017 – Byelaw to be revoked to allow rickshaws on pier
Also in March 2017, Southend council agreed to revoke the byelaw prohibiting the use of bicycles or other wheeled vehicles on the Pier. The hope was this action could allow the use of pedal driven ‘rickshaws’ along the pier.
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May 2017 – Architect sought for new pier pavilion project
May 2017 saw Southend Council announce that they were seeking an architect to design a new cultural and leisure facility at the landside northern end of the pier. The project was planned to be completed in 2020 at an estimated cost of £6.3 million.

July 2017 – Record visitor numbers for the pier
In July 2017, it was reported that the pier had welcomed 156,494 visitors in the first half of 2017 – the highest since the fire of 2005. The previous half-year record was 145,860 visitors in 2014.

July 2017 – Only Fools and Horses Exhibition opens at Southend Pier!
Also in July, the first ever Only Fools and Horses costume exhibition opened at Southend Pier, featuring props from the series and more than 30 original screen costumes worn by David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst and even the late Roger-Lloyd Pack, who played the lovable oaf Trigger.

August 2017 – Chips return to Southend Pier!
And the following month saw the long awaited return of an old seaside favourite not seen on the pier for more than a decade…chips! ‘The Chip Hut’, one of the popular Estuary beach huts began offering visitors the traditional cone of chips with a selection of no fewer than 20 different sauces.

August 2017 – Southend Pier awarded ‘Red Wheel Plaque’ by Transport Trust
Later the same month, the pier was awarded a Red Wheel Plaque by the Transport Trust for the pier’s iconic train. This plaque is awarded to sites with significant transport heritage and has included Baker Street Station and Victoria Coach Station.

September 2017 – Futuristic pavilion for Southend Pier!
In September 2017, it was announced that ADP had won the £250,000 design contract for the new £6.3 million pavilion on Southend Pier. The pavilion’s design is for a flexible cultural and leisure facility at the land-side northern end of the pier with completion planned for 2020.

October 2017 – Southend Pier gets connected!
October 2017 saw the installation of free public wi-fi to the pier. Chef Jamie Oliver and best friend, Jimmy Doherty, who film the Friday Night Feast TV series in a specially-built cafe at the end of the pier, welcomed the new service and sent their compliments to the installation team.

February 2018 – Southend Camera Club focus on Southend Pier
In February 2018, the Southend Echo published a series of photographs of the pier taken by members of its Camera Club. Having stood in the town since the 1880s, Southend’s pier must have been in an endless amount of photographs from tourists and residents alike.

April 2018 – Folk and Ale – a winning combination at Southend Pier!
The Folk and Ale Festival returned to Southend Pier on Saturday and Sunday April 14 and 15, at the Royal Pavilion at the end of the Pier. From midday until 6pm on both days, a plethora of bands entertained the crowds.

June 2018 – New entrance planned for Southend Pier
Southend Council submitted new plans to demolish the Southend Pier Arcade to make way for the new entrance along with a café and restaurant.
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July 2018 – Football is not coming home to Southend Pier!
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September 2018 – In praise of Southend and its pier!
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October 2018 – Dare you board the Southend Pier ghost train this Halloween?
The train ran on Saturday, October 20, Saturday, October 27 and Saturday, November 3 from 6.30pm – 8.30pm.
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January 2019 – Revisiting Southend Pier in 1973!
Archive pictures showed the pier prior to the 1976 pier head blaze.
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January 2019 – New trains planned for Southend Pier
Council bosses set out plans to spend £3,250,000 over the next two years to improve the system. The pier trains were introduced in 1986 with a planned 20-year lifespan. As a result of their age, replacement parts had now become impossible to source and a replacement system was required.
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January 2019 – Further investment plans announced for Southend Pier!
Up to £10.5million could be set aside for the visitor pavilion, if the budget was approved. It would be built on the former AMF bowling alley, which was destroyed in a fire in 1995.
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January 2019 – Southend Pier to close as construction work begins
It was announced that the pier would be closed from Monday until Friday, February 1, but would remain open to the public over the weekend. It would then close again from Monday, February 4 until Friday, February 8.
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January 2019 – All aboard for new train designs at Southend Pier!
It was reported that the new trains would be more environmentally-friendly and comfortable, slightly faster and possibly with the addition of digital and audio features inside the trains.
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March 2019 – Jamie and Jimmy’s cafe at the end of Southend Pier to open to the public
Southend Council had often come under criticism for leasing the site to the pair, but not ensuring it remained open to the public. But the council had now come to an agreement to run the cafe throughout the year when it was not being used for filming.
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April 2019 – Luckily Southend Pier didn’t go with a bang!
Southend Pier was shut after the discovery of the device, situated about 30m (98ft) from the structure. The pier reopened after an unexploded ordnance was found in the sea. The Royal Navy bomb disposal unit detonated the suspected World War Two bomb.
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April 2019 – Jamie and Jimmy’s cafe on Southend Pier is a hit with Easter visitors
The venue on Southend Pier was the set of Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty’s Friday Night Feast on Channel 4. The Southend Pier Tea Rooms opened to the public just in time for the Easter heatwave.
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April 2019 – Remembering the 1949 rolling stock at Southend Pier
An article in The Engineer website took us back to April 1949 and the introduction of electric trains on to a pier which had provided public transport for its patrons for more than 100 years.
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April 2019 – Bumper Easter weekend for Southend Pier!
More people visited Southend Pier over Easter 2019 than in the whole of March. New figures from Southend Council showed a total of 18,461 sun-seekers visited the pier over the weekend.
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May 2019 – New entrance to Southend Pier to open next month!
Mr Jarvis said the works were all part of the council’s plans to ensure pier visitor numbers keep rising. He added: “The numbers are increasing all the time. They’re getting near the 400,000 a year figure now which is fantastic and I think the new entrance will do a lot to bring people into the pier off the promenade”.
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June 2019 – Southend Pier given royal seal of approval at RHS Chelsea!
Timber from Southend Pier had been reclaimed and reused by the Duchess of Cambridge at the stunning RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Boards trodden by the feet of Southend Pier’s visitors over decades had the perfect weather beaten look the designers of the garden display, which included the duchess, wanted.
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July 2019 – A glorious trip down memory lane at Southend Pier!
Old photos and drawings of Southend seafront have resurfaced. Uncovered from The Echo archives, they mostly show the iconic pier at different stages of its life.
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August 2019 – How HMS Leigh – aka Southend Pier – helped the WWII effort
If you’ve ever strolled along Southend Pier, you probably didn’t realise you were walking on the deck of a British warship. The pier, codenamed HMS Leigh, organised 3,367 convoys over five and a half years.
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September 2019 – Bumper August for Southend Pier!
Southend Pier welcomed more visitors than any other August since records began in 2006, figures have shown. A total of 71,140 visitors visited the world’s longest pleasure pier this August, beating the previous record of August 2017.
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September 2019 – Could Southend Pier have the best fish and chips?
Southend Pier Fish and Chips opened in April after a 14-year absence following a fire on the pier which destroyed the previous shop. The Best Newcomer award recognises business owners and operators with less than one year’s experience in the industry.
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September 2019 – Jamie and Jimmy return to Southend Pier!
Essex chef Jamie Oliver was back in Southend busily filming a Christmas special of Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast on the pier.
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November 2019 – Congratulations to Southend Pier Museum on its 30th anniversary!
The Southend Pier Museum Foundation Trust held a celebration for the museum’s milestone. The museum, located next to the pier, in Western Esplanade, was officially opened by the late councillor John Armitage, the then mayor of Southend, on July 8 of 1989.
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December 2019 – Southend Pier/HMS Leigh’s role in wartime Britain to be recognised
December saw an announcement that HMS Leigh aimed to record and archive the stories of those who lived through the years of 1939-1945. Scott Dolling, director of Culture and Tourism for Southend Council, said: “This is a truly inspirational project that will bring generations together in such a way to help commemorate a nationally significant date whilst being rooted in our most renowned”.
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January 2020 – Over £20 million to be invested in Southend Pier
In January 2020 it was announced that a further £5.3million was to be spent on maintaining and refurbishing the pier which Mr Woodley said was an ongoing investment that needed to be committed to ensure the pier’s long-term survival. This would be on top of the £16million already allocated to the pier in 2019 to replace the trains and build a new restaurant and a visitor’s pavilion.
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January 2020 – Over £20 million to be invested in Southend Pier
A further £5.3million will be spent on maintaining and refurbishing the pier which Mr Woodley said was an ongoing investment that needs to be committed to ensure the pier’s long-term survival. This will be on top of the £16million already allocated to the pier last year to replace the trains and build a new restaurant and a visitor’s pavilion.
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February 2020 – Southend Pier breaks visitor number records!
Southend Pier has just had its most popular January since records began in 2006. 16,818 people visited the world’s longest pleasure pier, beating the 14,084 visitors recorded in January 2019. The weather, a number of seal sightings, and a £1 winter walk offer are all thought to have helped boost numbers.
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April 2020 – Southend Pier to get its own dungeon?
Southend’s world-famous pier could get its own London Dungeon-style attraction as part of an ambitious new vision. The museum’s old site could be turned into a Dungeon type attraction which could also highlight the history of being on a ship moored off the pier in past.
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May 2020 – Southend Pier to get its own dungeon?
In May 2020 it was announced that Southend’s world-famous pier could get its own London Dungeon-style attraction as part of an ambitious new vision. The museum’s old site could be turned into a Dungeon type attraction which could also highlight the history of being on a ship moored off the pier in past.
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June 2020 – As Southend Pier prepares to reopen on Monday, here’s some great pictures of the pier through time
From Victorian promenades to glamorous concert parties, beauty contests and Punch and Judy festivals, Southend Pier has seen it all over the decades. The mile-long attraction has undergone many changes and makeovers since it was built, not to mention fires and accidents. But it’s still standing proudly.
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July 2020 – Southend Pier – aka HMS Leigh – plans to celebrate 76th anniversary of VE Day
The celebrations were planned to kick off between May 6 and 9 2021, with the hopes of both sharing the tale of HMS Leigh and inspiring younger generations to follow in the footsteps of those resourceful men and women who together turned a pleasure pier into a naval battle station during World War Two.
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July 2020 – Southend Pier trains back on track for the summer
The iconic trains along the pier were out of use since lockdown for the Coronavirus pandemic began back in March. The pier itself reopened on July 6, but due to social distancing when on-board the carriages, the trains were not operational from the reopening date. However, following the completion of a risk assessment, the trains will now run at reduced capacity, running every 30 minutes.
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July 2020 – New designs for Southend Pier trains revealed
In July 2020, the final design for brand new trains for Southend’s world famous pier were revealed – with a green and cream colouring. Production of the new trains was already underway, and they were due to be in operation from the following summer. The pier previously had green and cream trains which carried passengers along the landmark from 1949 to 1978.
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September 2020 – The fascinating story of how Southend could have been Thamesmouth
Fancy heading down to Thamesmouth seafront this weekend? How about a stroll along Thamesmouth Pier? The name just doesn’t have the same ring to it as Southend does, but believe it or not there was once a concerted effort to change the name of the borough to ‘Thamesmouth’. It began in 1907 when Southend jewellery store owner, businessman and philanthropist Robert Arthur Jones wrote an open letter to the people of Southend in a newspaper, suggesting the name change.
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September 2020 – The fascinating story of how Southend could have been Thamesmouth
In September 2020, Geographic Magazine published an article on Southend Pier in which it said “Fancy heading down to Thamesmouth seafront this weekend? How about a stroll along Thamesmouth Pier? The name just doesn’t have the same ring to it as Southend does, but believe it or not there was once a concerted effort to change the name of the borough to ‘Thamesmouth’. It began in 1907 when Southend jewellery store owner, businessman and philanthropist Robert Arthur Jones wrote an open letter to the people of Southend in a newspaper, suggesting the name change.”
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New pavilion plans scrapped at Southend Pier
The proposal for the new pavilion – on the old AMF bowling alley platform at the entrance to the landmark – was shelved in October because the council could not fund the project. The council said it would instead focus on the pierhead alongside a plan to upgrade the pier trains with their heritage green and cream livery. The new pier pavilion would have been built before 2022, on the former AMF bowling alley, which was destroyed in the 1995 fire.
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New bar and restaurant planned for Southend Pier
October 2020 saw Southend pier announce it could soon boast a new £336,000 restaurant and bar offering picturesque views of the Thames Estuary. Ambitious plans had been revealed for the plush new restaurant at the end of the 1.3-mile landmark as the town attempted to seal its reputation as a day -trippers’ paradise. Southend Council, which was spearheading the proposal, said works to convert the Royal Pavilion could start as early as the following February.
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Warship plans for Southend Pier?
In November 2020, a historian backed calls for a warship at Southend Pier to help draw in visitors to the world-famous landmark – saying it tied in with the town’s rich maritime past. Independent councillor Ron Woodley, deputy leader of Southend Council, was pressing for a warship similar to HMS Belfast in London to be moored next to the pier as part of a vision to create a new “Golden Mile”.
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A long walk on a long pier!
In November 2020 a local reporter visited Southend Pier for the first time since childhood and was pleasantly surprised by what the pier had to offer. A lovely write-up for those missing their pier walks during lockdown.
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New website launched for Southend Pier
A new website dedicated to Southend Pier was launched to provide information on the history of the pier, upcoming events and raise the profile of Southend’s most famous visitor icon. The website was set up to give some insight into the history of Southend Pier with the aim of increasing local knowledge on the town’s world-famous pier.
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April 2021 – Hopes for Southend Pier upgrade to be completed by the summer
The plans would see a new restaurant installed in the Royal Pavilion, as well as new, environmentally trains added. Work was already underway to add a new kitchen to the Royal Pavilion, along with a bar and serving area. It was hoped work on the new restaurant would be completed by the end of June. A brand-new viewing platform, toilet block and additional windbreaks were also being installed ahead of the summer. Meanwhile, the diesel pier train, which had been in operation since 1986, was set to be replaced.
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The ‘Bravest Pier in the World’ is celebrated with a special online event
Victory in Europe Day would see The Bravest Pier in the World launched as an interactive experience to show Southend’s key role in the Second World War. Southend’s iconic pier played a huge role in the evacuation of Dunkirk, the protection of London and preparation for D-Day. A new interactive experience would reveal the story behind Southend Pier’s monumental role as “The Bravest Pier in the World”.
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May 2021 – Southend Pier’s new trains on track for this summer!
Scott Dolling, director for culture and tourism, said: “These works follow years of continued and ongoing investment into the structure of the pier, work starting on the £3.25m project to replace the pier trains, and also the continuation of impressive pier visitor numbers when we’ve been able to welcome visitors. Engagement with local residents and visitors reiterated the desire to improve the offering at the end of the pier, and so I am really pleased to see work begin on improving the town’s jewel in the crown”.
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June 2021 – Southend Pier gets creative!
In June, a new art installation which uses panels to take sunlight and moisture from the air and convert it to drinking water was shown on Southend Pier as part of the Estuary 2021 arts festival.
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June 2021 – Plans for new pavilion cafe with rooftop terrace for Southend Pier
In June it was announced that a new pavilion café was set to be built on Southend Pier providing refreshments with sweeping sea views to thousands of visitors. Southend Council’s department of culture and tourism had commissioned plans for a new building near the pier entrance to provide “light refreshments with a fun element”. The building would have a west-facing roof terrace accessible to the public with steps that would double up as seating with views towards Leigh and Canvey.
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June 2021 – Southend Pier’s new trains to be unveiled this month!
In June, Southend Council was set to take delivery of the new electric trains, with a heritage green and cream design, on July 19. Training and installation meant the official launch date on Southend’s iconic pleasure pier was likely to be at least 10 days late. However, it was revealed the former trains will remain part of Southend Pier, with carriages installed on the pier as seating to shelter residents from the weather.
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July 2021 – Pleasure cruises launch from Southend Pier for the summer season
In July, it was announced that Jet Stream Tours were taking customers on a trip from Southend-on-Sea to the Kent coast. Leaving from the end of the seaside town’s famous pier, customers could enjoy a day trip out to some of the nicest spots in the neighbouring county. There were trips to Gravesend, Rochester, Chatham and the Red Sand Towers.
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July 2021 – Delay for new trains at Southend Pier
The installation of the new electric pier trains, which were scheduled for a summer 2021 launch were delayed due to an issue with paint sourced by the contractor, Severn Lamb. The delay meant the new trains were now not expected to arrive until September 2021.
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August 2021 – An interactive experience to celebrate Southend Pier’s history
In August, it was announced that The Bravest Pier in the World Event would be welcoming the public on September 25 and 26, to join in the fun, honouring the world-class heritage of the pier. Guests would walk the hallowed boards of Southend Pier, and visitors would also learn about the amazing history of the nearly 200-year-old structure.
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August 2021 – Work to strengthen Southend Pier begins
Changes were once again coming to Southend Pier, as the council prepared to strengthen the pier itself. Heavy machinery was in place ahead of construction which was set to install new support piles, steel beams and bracing in place. The piling barges arrived in early August at the pier head and were set to be there for around ten weeks.
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August 2021 – A new maritime attraction for Southend Pier?
An HMS Belfast-style warship should be stationed at the end of Southend Pier as a new attraction and educational tool, a leading councillor said. It was hoped the ship would act as a catalyst to encourage visitors like the HMS Belfast in London and would be used as an interactive educational attraction.
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September 2021 – A bumper August for visits to Southend Pier!
The iconic seafront attraction welcomed more than 74,000 visitors in August, the highest number since records began 14 years ago. On top of breaking the record for most visitors on the pier in one month, pier visitors for the year to date surpassed the total visitor numbers from 2020.
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September 2021 – ‘HMS Leigh’ opens to the public this weekend
During the Second World War Southend Pier was taken over by the Royal Navy and was renamed HMS Leigh and was closed to the public on September 9, 1939. It was announced that the famed pier would reopen at 10am on Saturday, September 25 to HMS Leigh ‘The Bravest Pier in the World’ event ticket holders.
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September 2021 – New trains are on track at Southend Pier!
The new Southend Pier trains have now arrived and are set to be opened to the public soon. The new carriages were spotted on the seafront. The existing diesel trains have been in operation on the pier since 1986. The new trains include additional capacity, USB charging points, and have state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment.
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October 2021 – A preview of the new cafe at Southend Pier
An opening date was expected to be announced soon for the single-storey building that will offer spectacular views of the Thames Estuary. The café was being built on the old pier head and would largely provide life refreshments comprising of hot and cold drinks and snacks. A rooftop terrace was also being installed and would allow the public to enjoy their snacks alongside stunning views of the area.
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October 2021 – Strong winds cause structural damage at Southend Pier
Southend Pier was closed ‘until further notice’ after strong winds and poor weather conditions caused structural damage. Southend Pier has suffered some damage at the Pier Head as a result of the bad weather. However, the Pier Museum and Visitor Information Centre remain open.
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November 2021 – Santa’s grotto with a difference at Southend Pier!
A now disused railway carriage that once carried visitors up and down Southend’s iconic pier has been brought back into use. The small unit has been placed at the pier head and will be first used this weekend as a shelter for the Santa on the Pier event. The carriage used to form part of the diesel-run train called ‘Sir John Betjeman’ which had been in operation since 1986.
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December 2021 – Southend’s city status is celebrated with ‘Pier City’ ale!
A brewer has told of his pride after Southend’s only brewery released a new beer celebrating the seaside town gaining city status. George’s Brewery, based in Wakering, has released a new beer, Pier City Pale Ale, named to celebrate official city status for Southend.
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December 2021 – Southend Pier’s new trains ready to roll in February
At the end of December 2021, it was announced that the £3 million fleet of electric pier trains should be ready for their first passengers within a few weeks’ time. The new trains were currently being tested, and after positive initial results councillors hoped the vehicles would be carrying visitors by February at the latest.
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February 2022 – Bumper visitor numbers at Southend Pier in January
More than 24,000 visited the pier last month, the highest ever number recorded in January since records began. That number more than tripled the previous record set in January, and was also double the amount of visitors at the pier in December. Bosses hope the high figure is a sign of things to come for the iconic attraction.
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February 2022 – Kitesurfer becomes the first to jump over Southend Pier
A daredevil kitesurfer made the most of the strong winds in Southend to become the first man to kitesurf over the pier. Harry Calvert, from Hockley, has been kitesurfing since he was a teenager and headed to Southend seafront on Wednesday with “conditions perfect” ahead of Storm Eunice.
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February 2022 – Southend Pier new trains get ready to roll!
The new trains at Southend Pier are almost ready to launch after a grand unveiling was delayed due to the need for more tests and a VIP guest cancelling.
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March 2022 – Prince Charles unveils new trains at Southend Pier
The much-anticipated unveiling of the new train was held after the Royal couple presented Letters Patent from the Queen, officially conferring city status on Southend. The £3.2million pier train project has seen two eco-friendly vehicles added to the huge attraction with the technology described as state-of-the art.
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March 2022 – Work on Southend Pier’s new cafe to begin this autumn?
Work on a new cafe at the end of Southend’s iconic pier could begin in Autumn, with a consultation currently seeking views on the plan. If plans go ahead, retail huts to the east side of the railway at the pier head would be transformed into a cafe.
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April 2022 – Southend Pier’s new trains open!
The vehicles, in classic cream and green, are now open to visitors and the public after months of testing. The £3.2million pier train project has seen two eco-friendly vehicles added to the huge attraction with technology described as state-of-the-art.
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April 2022 – Passengers stuck inside new vehicle on Southend Pier
Passengers and onlookers had to work together to prise open the doors of a carriage when the train reached the end of Southend pier. It was one of two “state-of-the-art” eco-friendly vehicles installed as part of a £3.2m pier redevelopment project. Southend City Council said it was “taking the appropriate steps” to ensure it would not happen again.
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May 2022 – New burger hut opens at Southend Pier
The Pier Burger Hut is now officially open at the end of the world-famous attraction, following a series of improvements by Southend Council. The council has invested a whopping £336,000 in the pier, with the restaurant at the end of the pier revamped and work set to take place on a new viewing platform and improved toilets.
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May 2022 – Development of new £1.2 million cafe for Southend Pier to begin in autumn
The cafe will provide indoor seating, a servery, scullery, storage, covered canopy seating area on the ground floor, complete with a stepped terraced seating and an internal lift leading to an open roof terrace at the upper level.
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May 2022 – Southend Pier: new crazy golf opens as part of refurb
Southend’s landmark attraction has a new activity available for day-trippers after it announced a new 18-hole crazy golf course.
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July 2022 – New train still not on track at Southend Pier
The train is part of a £3.2million project which has seen two eco-friendly, state-of-the-art vehicles. It was named after murdered Southend West MP Sir David Amess and began carrying passengers earlier in March. Problems with the train’s doors left people stranded on the train in April however, and it seems the glitch has still not been rectified.
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July 2022 – Sightseeing cruises now sailing from Southend Pier
At the end of Southend Pier, Jetstream Tours is offering river cruises which take its customers on a sightseeing adventure. The day trips by river cruiser vary in price but all trips to and from Southend include pier entry with the boat ticket.
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August 2022 – Remembering the fire of 1976 at Southend Pier
On July 29, 1976, flames engulfed the pier and smoke billowed into the sky, causing £1 million in damage. Hundreds of shocked visitors were forced to flee the scene by boat and train. Thankfully, those on the world’s longest pleasure pier when the blaze broke out could escape to safety.
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August 2022 – Diesel trains return to Southend Pier
Old diesel trains have been pulled out of retirement to ferry passengers along Southend Pier following continued technical problems with the new models. Both of Southend’s two new electric trains have been taken out of service as specialists work to identify and fix issues.
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August 2022 – New trains remain out of action at Southend Pier
The only working electric train, named after late MP Sir David Amess, broke down on August 9 and remains out of action some three weeks later. Council bosses say tests are still being carried out to ensure it is ready to be brought back. An old diesel train has been brought back to run a reduced service in the absence of the Sir David Amess.
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September 2022 – Waverley sailings from Southend Pier cancelled for this weekend
The first two returning Waverley river cruises from Southend Pier were cancelled after a defect was discovered. A spokesman for Waverley Excursions said: “Unfortunately, during routine maintenance checks, a defect was discovered in Waverley’s starboard paddle wheel”..
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September 2022 – New trains back on track at Southend Pier
In September it was announced that one existing diesel train would run alongside the Sir David Amess train until the William Bradley (the second electric train) cleared its final testing phases – it was expected to be in service “in the next couple of weeks”.
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September 2022 – PS Waverley returns to Southend Pier
Waverley’s general manager, Paul Semple, said: “I am delighted to announce that Waverley has made her triumphant return to cruising the River Thames and Thames Estuary allowing everyone the opportunity to step aboard and enjoy the unique experience of sailing on a paddle steamer.
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November 2022 – Southend Pier records bumper visitor numbers during 2022
2022 had been a bumper year for Southend Pier, with 392,025 people visiting the pier to the end of October – an increase of nearly 25,000 on the previous highest, which was 364,142 visitors in the entire 2018.
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December 2022 – Waverley set to sail from Southend Pier in 2023
In December it was announced that the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer Waverley was set to return to Southend in 2023. It was set to operate the river cruises from September 22 to October 8 2023 from Southend Pier during its UK tour from its base in Glasgow.
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January 2023 – Remembering Southend Pier’s water chute
There was once a water chute built next to Southend Pier. It opened in 1902 but it didn’t make a splash. It’s not much of a surprise – half the town was against the thing in the first place and when it did get built a surprising amount of dead bodies kept being found at the bottom of it.
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March 2023 – Southend Pier river cruises return
In March, it was announced that cruises would be returning to Southend Pier from April, taking passengers around WW2 Maunsell Forts and to a quaint fishing village in Kent.
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March 2023 – A wonderful look back at Southend Pier through the years
Old photos show just how much Southend Pier has changed since it opened in the 1800s. Southend Pier is a world-recognised attraction due to being the planet’s longest pleasure pier
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April 2023 – Southend voted Pier of the Year by NPS members
In April, the National Piers Society handed the Essex city the Pier of the Year 2023 award. NPS said it was impressed with the two new electric trains, its mix of food and drink and the enthusiasm of volunteers.
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April 2023 – 25 facts you may not know about 2023’s Pier of the Year
The landmark 1.3 mile structure was voted the Pier of the Year 2023 by the National Piers Society. In April, the Southend Echo published an article providing a fascinating look back at some of the events on the pier,including the devastating blazes of 1995 and 2005, about the important role that the pier played during the Second World War and about the many famous faces who have filmed here thanks to Jamie Oliver’s cafe.
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April 2023 – Spanish galleon to visit Southend Pier
In April, it was announced that between Wednesday 24 May and Monday 29 May, the 200ft long ship would be docked at the end of the pier and open to visitors between 10.30am to 7pm. Museum staff in period costumes would be on the ship to tell visitors more about life on the ship.
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May 2023 – Spanish Galleon extends its stay at Southend Pier
Because so many advanced tickets were sold, the company extended the visit throughout the half-term holiday, so residents and visitors could have extra opportunities to take advantage of this unique experience.
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June 2023 – Pier Of The Year celebration at Southend Pier!
As well as the official presentation featuring The Mayor, councillors, representatives from The National Piers Society and invited guests, the day included lots of fun events and discounts on the pier including Punch and Judy shows at the Pier head at 12.30pm and 3pm, face painting and sandcastle competitions.
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June 2023 – Plans for new cafe at Southend Pier scrapped
In June, a plan for a third cafe on Southend Pier was scrapped after it was deemed “financially unviable”. Southend-on-Sea City Council’s £10.5m pier restoration included the cafe to accompany two others that were recently built on the Essex landmark. However, rising costs were blamed for the decision to shelve it.
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June 2023 – Another bumper May Bank Holiday for Southend Pier!
May half-term saw 50,890 visitors to the pier, a huge increase in visitor numbers compared to the same week in 2022 with 19,369. Part of this huge success was down to El Galeon, a replica 17th century tall ship which was moored at the pier during that time and had over 17,500 people onboard during their visit to the City.
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July 2023 – Southend Pier’s diesel trains make a surprise return
Derek Jarvis, councillor responsible for arts, culture, heritage and leisure, said: “There has been a fault with the pier train compressors, which our contractors Severn Lamb are looking into, and we hope to have some answers later this week. In the meantime, and until the new trains can go back into service, we will be using the diesel train”.
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July 2023 – Waverley set to return to Southend Pier
The timetable for the popular cruises this year was revealed, as the steamer returned from Friday September 22. Waverley was offering sailings from Southend Pier up the River Thames to London Tower Bridge, the Maunsell Forts, Clacton, Gravesend and both a River Blackwater cruise and a River Medway cruise.
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August 2023 – Essential repair works for Southend Pier
In August, it was announced that the Prince George extension on the 1.3-mile pier was in a “poor state of repair” and in urgent need of improvement. Repair plans were approved but were expected to take “several years”.
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September 2023 – PS Waverley returns to Southend Pier
In September, it was announced that Waverley Excursions were set to start operating river cruises from Southend Pier once again from September 22 until October 8. Services from the pier would include trips along the River Blackwater and River Medway, as well as excursions to Tower Bridge and the Second World War Maunsell Forts.
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October 2023 – Is Southend Pier for sale?
In October, the pier was said to be making an annual £190,000 loss for the council despite events like the hugely popular El Galeon visit. As a result, the council was considering bringing in “a commercial operator” to run the pier.
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November 2023 – The wacky and wonderful past plans for Southend Pier
The 1.3-mile pleasure pier has seen a host of plans in the past with private companies pledging investment – not least the £50million Swine rollercoaster.
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November 2023 – Companies express interest in running Southend Pier
Southend Council, which was currently facing a £14million deficit, suggested a private company could take over the running of pier to help with the more than £1million a year that it cost to run.
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December 2023 – Council budget deficit causes concern over the future of Southend Pier
In December a leading councillor warned that the iconic pier would would be shut if the council went bankrupt, as it was revealed it made an almost £200,000 loss the previous year.
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January 2024 – Southend Pier – Southend Council announces structural repairs
January saw an announcement that approximately £6 million was to be devoted to structural repairs at Southend Pier, emphasising on works to the pier head’s Prince George Extension and general maintenance over the following five years. Meanwhile, the Council continued to investigate potential private companies to run parts of the pier in the future.
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January 2024 – Southend Pier – Waverley cruising season announced
Also in January, it was reported that PS Waverley would be landing at Southend Pier between the 23rd September and 13th October 2024. From the pier Waverley would offer excursions to the Rivers Blackwater and Medway, to the Maunsell Sea Forts and into London. The finalised timetable and opportunity to book tickets would be made available later in the year.
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February 2024 – Southend – Future mooring place for ex-Soviet submarine?
Following precedent for public mania upon the mooring of ex-warships at or around Southend Pier, most notably the mooring of “El Galeon” in Summer 2023, the prospect of offering permanent moorings for a nearby ex-military submarine were under consideration by the Council. The U-475 Black Widow, moored on the River Medway, was viewed as an ideal attraction for visitors to Southend and it was suggested that the “Prince of Wales Jetty”, a short distance to the East of the pier, would be a suitable mooring place. The Pier would act as a particularly fine viewpoint of the vessel.
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March 2024 – Southend Pier in Detail
Two remarkable articles appeared over this week, which each covered differing aspects of Southend Pier in considerable detail. The first article, by the insurers of the pier, provided some fascinating insights towards the operations of the pier from an insurer’s standpoint. The second article introduced the Council’s proposals for repair works to the Prince George Extension. Far from a typical news article, it revealed meticulous technical details of electronic procurement management portals, engineering and construction contracts, concrete reinforcements and heritage frameworks… for those interested in such details!
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Editor’s Note: The second artice was removed by the publisher.

March 2024 – Specialist Contractor Sought
Relating to the Council’s proposals for the repairs to the Prince George Extension, the Council advertised for specialised structural contractors to work under those latter proposals. Much of the work involved the restoration of the reinforced concrete substructure; the replacing of steel enforcements and recasting of the concrete surfaces. Work was expected to begin in June and progress for just under two years.
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March 2024 – A “Selfie Signpost”
Early evidence of Southend Council’s ongoing investment in the pier was evident, in the form of a milepost intended for visitors to take “selfies” in front of. Clearly inspired by the Lands End installation, it featured spaces for customised messages (presumably to be pre-arranged with the pier master!).
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April 2024 – Southend Pier – Proposals in the Green Party’s Manifesto
In April, the South East Essex Green Party released a manifesto in preparation for the forthcoming election. Amongst their ambitions, it was proposed to erect a series of wind turbines and solar panels along the length of Southend Pier. This rather surreal idea was said to potentially be “iconic” by councillors… for all that means? Some observers thought that installing wind turbines on the pier deck would likely require considerable strengthening works to the structure and could well benefit from an independent piled structure. Wind turbines on piers are indeed achievable, however, as was seen at Skegness Pier during a 3-month trial in 2023 for an experimental onmi-directional wind turbine, installed at the end of the pier. Aside from solar panels, which might only find space on the pier head, the marine setting of Southend pier could open opportunities for tidal or wave-power generators under the deck.
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April 2024 – Southend Pier – A Busy and Optimistic Time
Four news articles relating to Southend Pier’s programme for visitors were released this week; therefore, there are rather a lot of links below. Firstly, pirates were welcomed to the pier for the entertainment of visitors. The first appearance of the entertainment ensembles “The Blackwater Pirates” and “Old Time Sailors” took place on the 27th April and was by all accounts a considerable success; the event also incorporated fundraising towards Haven Hospice.
Further events were taking place over the May Bank Holiday, 4-6th May, and the Old Time Sailors would be joining a number of other bands and ensembles in a variety of styles. Further to maritime shanty songs, Jazz, folk music, world music, rock and the output from a “DJ Collective” were all planned. Gin and cocktails would be served from the Offshore Restaurant, on the pier head. On Friday and Saturday, the closing time would be extended to 20:00.
A new pier gift shop was under development, and appeared to be based in a unit within the shoreward-end entrance building. It was expected to open before the end of the month.
It was announced that Southend Pier would act as a regular calling place for the PS Waverley during its London and Thames Estuary sailings between the 27th September and 13th October. Sailings via Southend included, most frequently, cruises along the Thames into London (including at night), but also journeys along the River Medway, Orwell and Blackwater. Maritime features including the MV Ross Revenge (Radio Caroline), the Maunsell Sea Forts and the Principality of Sealand (based at one of the former) would be visited on many of these sailings and other local piers would be called at, including Clacton, Southwold and Gravesend.
Read More (Previous Pirate Event)
Read More (Upcoming Pirate Event)
Read More (Pier Webpage on the Event)
Read More (Gift Shop)
Read More (Waverley)

May 2024 – “The Big Bank Holiday Weekend” Passes Mostly with Success
Generous visitor numbers were greeted to the advertised Bank Holiday events on the pier over Saturday and Sunday, highlighting a most appealing function for the generously-sized pier head, something which will hopefully be repeated throughout the Summer season. The event was cancelled on the Monday due to rain.
Read More (First Two Days)
Read More (Cancellation)

May 2024 – Southend Pier’s New Gift Shop Opens
In May, the Mayor of Southend opened a new pier gift shop, forming part of the entrance foyer to the pier. Collectively, this foyer forms a convenient centre for the pier’s amenities, including the ticket office for admissions, the Pier Museum and the the railway platforms, so providing a suitably prominent feature for visitors and including custom-made graphical objects (bags, mugs, notebooks etc.) with a most appealing and successful series of graphic designs. Apparently the work of an in-house member of Southend Council.
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May 2024 – Party Politics on Southend Pier
The deputy leader of the Labour Party, Angela Raynor, visited Southend Pier with several other political candidates to survey the situation in coastal communities. As well as making several political pledges, the pier was made full use of in taking a generous series of publicity photographs!
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June 2024 – Southend Pier Has A Change in Direction
In June, the administration of Southend City Council changed its decision to outsource pier operation to a private company. The pier had previously been reported to be operating at a £190,000 annual loss, provoking the previous plans, but the new Council believed that there was much unutilised potential with the pier that could reverse this trend. Events over the last year had demonstrated the deployment of these efforts, with life at Southend Pier seeming to be somewhat more lively than before. Whether or not these efforts succeed in reversing such substantial annual losses, it was encouraging to see the council investing in the pier’s operation with such confidence.
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June 2024 – Rising and Falling Figures at Southend Pier
A financial report from Southend City Council established that visitor numbers to Southend Pier during 2023-24 fell to 375,000 from 412,300 in 2022-23. This statistic was balanced by the fact that an additional £190,000 in admission fees was received this same period, following a 25p increase in admissions. Various methods of cutting costs allowed the pier to receive £300,000 more profit than the previous year. Despite this, £1.6 million was invested in the pier with much designated to preliminary repair works to the substructure. The council denied suggestions that the increased admission fees were the cause of the reduced visitor numbers. The noticeable efforts to expand the usage of the pier during the Spring and Summer would hopefully lead to a turnaround in visitor numbers for 2024-25.
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July 2024 – Council Strategy and the Cruel Theft of a Knitted Nicety
The drop in visitor numbers at Southend Pier in the most recent financial year was a revelation of much lamentation from both the Council and “The Media”. 412,300 visitors were recorded in 2022-23 and 375,340 in 2023-24. The new Southend City Council were in a hurry to arrest what was described as “a worrying decline” by introducing a dense schedule of events throughout the year. This was intended to produce what was claimed to be a cumulative 20 weeks of events. Compared to proposals in previous years for the privatisation of pier/event operations, this was surely a formidable task for the Council to manage in-house, although the events and developments achieved thus far had been commendable.
To place the current visitor numbers into context, 2013 saw 283,468 visitors, then deemed record-breaking in modern times; 364,142 visitors in 2018; and 392,025 visitors in 2021-22.
Meanwhile, a most attractive pillar box-topper, of the loveably knitted variety, was erected on Southend Pier’s own pillar box (post box) in representation of the upcoming Puppet Festival on the pier (9th-11th August). A certain individual had since denied the enjoyment of this artwork upon visitors, it having been illicitly removed and stolen. The Echo article showed that the circumstances genuinely upset many people involved who were now only asking… why?
Read More (Visitor Numbers)
Read More (Theft)

July 2024 – Southend Pier’s Wacky Walk of Mirrors
Just prior to the Pier’s second Summer Party weekend, a number of distorted mirrors were affixed to a Pier Head building, expanding the Pier’s recently growing suite of harmless visual sideshows for visitors. Despite first impressions and the grandiose signage, this was not a “hall of mirrors”, contained within the pictured building, but a rather more modest “wall of mirrors” along the building exterior.
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July 2024 – Southend Pier’s Fire Protection Procedure
The Pier’s insurers offered a brief note on the firefighting measures at the pier, which have been regularly inspected and monitored since the current infrastructure’s installation in 2011. The setup was explained as a series of sprinklers and hydrants at regular intervals along the deck, fed by an under-deck water mains, but its reported presence was certainly reassuring given the context of the pier’s fires in 1959, 1976, 1995 and 2005. For those particularly interested in the fire protection measures of seaside piers, a particularly fascinating (albeit technically outdated) account of the procedure at Skegness Pier (pre-1978) can be found in Albert E.Thompson’s book “Skegness Pier 1881-1978” (c.1989).
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August 2024 – El Galeon returns to Southend
The much-anticipated return of the maritime replica “El Galeon” was announced to be taking place take place over the Bank Holiday Weekend. The spectacle would be extended into a full weekend of musical performances; of sailors, pirates and performances of a more conventional nature. These events, which have taken place over several weekends through this year so far, always seem to attract generous crowds and this will be considerably swollen further by the presence of the Galleon.
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October 2024 – Successful Waverley Cruises to Pier
October 2024 – A Smash in Visitor Numbers and a Smash on the Railway
November 2024 – Pier Railway Operations Affected During Investigations
January 2025 – 70 Years of the Pier Race
January 2025 – Licencing Application to Extend Events Potential
March 2025 – Pier Railway is Closed
April 2025 – Railway is Open
April 2025 – Southend Pier Declared Essex’s Best “icon”
May 2025 – Planned River Cruises for 2025
May 2025 – Annual Charity Fundraising Event
May 2025 – Summer Season
May 2025 – Preparations for Poppies on the Pier
July 2025 – Nao Santa Maria ship Disappointment
August 2025 – Poppy Appeal an Exceptional Success
September 2025 – Trains Still Out of Action And Poppy Update”
October 2025 – Poppies and Fireworks
November 2025 – The Poppies Proliferate
November 2025 – “Poppies on the Pier” Display to be Extended
December 2025 – Contentious Politics Regarding ‘Poppies on the Pier’ Event
February 2026 – Proposal for New Nighttime Illumination
April 2026 – Pier Museum Reopens
April 2026 – Pier Museum – London Marathon Fundraising for Museum Lift
June 2026 – Electric Trains Still Broken and Useless

July 2026 – A Congregation of Kate Bushes

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