After being closed for eight years, Hastings Pier has reopened to the public following a £14.2m restoration project. The historic pier was shut down for safety reasons in 2008 and was then almost completely destroyed by a fire in 2010.
Thanks to fundraising from a local action group and a contribution from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the 144-year-old pier, dubbed “the people’s pier”, has been returned to its former glory. The Lottery gave £11.4m to support the reconstruction, while 3,000 shareholders bought a stake in the project at £100 a share.
Now the pier will host open-air film screenings and concerts, with Madness billed to headline the planned gala celebration of the completion of the works on Saturday 21 May. The Happy Mondays will also play on the pier later this year, as will bands the Levellers and Turin Brakes.
The reopening of the pier is being handled in phases. From Wednesday 27 April, the bar, restaurant and a traditional funfair in the pier’s pavilion building will be open. This will be followed shortly by the opening of a new cafe and roof terrace. The Hastings Pier Charity believe the new pier will bring 300,000 more visitors to the town each year, contributing more than a £1m to the local economy.
