Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare

The Grand Pier is a pleasure pier in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, situated on the Bristol Channel approximately 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Bristol. It opened in 1904 and has been Listed Grade II since 1983.[1] It is 366 metres (1,201 ft) long.[2]

"Grand Pier" redirects here. For the pier of the same name in Teignmouth, Devon, see Grand Pier, Teignmouth.

Grand Pier
Official nameGrand Pier
TypePleasure pier
LocaleWeston-super-Mare, North Somerset, England
ConstructorP. Munroe
OwnerMichelle & Kerry Michael
Total length366 m (1,201 ft)
WidthPromenade 13 m (43 ft)
Pavilion 65 m (213 ft)
Opening date11 June 1904
Toll£1 per person (free entry for children in pushchairs and for visitors with pre-bookings at events)
Coordinates51°20′52″N 2°58′56″W

The pier's pavilion has been destroyed by fire on two occasions, in 1930 and 2008.[3] It is one of two major piers in the town, along with Birnbeck Pier, which closed in 1994 and stands derelict.

History

1903–2008
The pier with its original pavilion, prior to the 1930 fire

Work began on building the pier on 7 November 1903, with P. Munroe acting as engineer, and it opened on 11 June 1904.[4] At the pier's end was a 2,000 seat theatre which was used as a music hall and for opera, stage plays and ballet. On 16 May 1907 an extension of the pier measuring 500 yards (1,500 ft) was opened, with the intention that the pier would be used as a docking point for boats to Cardiff. The dangerous currents in the bay made this too difficult, however, and the extension was demolished.[5]

The pier with its second pavilion, prior to the 2008 fire

The theatre at the pier's end was destroyed by fire on 13 January 1930.[6][7] As the building was underinsured the pier was put up for sale and bought by Leonard Guy , who opened a £60,000 new pavilion three years later.[8] This second pavilion housed a large undercover funfair rather than a theatre.[6] The pier was sold in 1946 to Mr. A. Brenner, who went on to improve the pier's facilities, adding new shops and an amusement arcade to the pavilion in the early 1970s. As a result of the extra investment, the pier became a Grade II listed building in 1974.[5]

Brenner continued his ownership of the pier until 6 February 2008, when it was sold to brother and sister partnership Kerry and Michelle Michael. The pier immediately underwent a multi-million-pound revamp, which included a new branding scheme. £1,000,000 was spent installing a new go-kart track, a fully licensed bar, and a climbing wall into the pavilion.

2008 fire
The pier on fire on 28 July 2008

At 01:35 BST on 28 July 2008, a fire at the foot of the north tower on the shoreward (eastern) end of the pavilion triggered the privately monitored fire alarm,[9] but the Essex-based alarm monitoring company were unable to contact the key-holder by mobile phone and no further action was taken.[10] It was not until 06:46 BST that the Avon Fire and Rescue Service was notified. It deployed 13 fire engines, special appliances, and more than 85 firefighters to tackle the blaze,[9] but the pavilion was soon destroyed.[11]

Robert Tinker, a Grand Pier employee, was later praised by the fire brigade as he braved the extreme intensity of the heat from the flames to rush around the side of the building to remove several gas canisters which had been stored within the premises; had these not been removed the fire brigade claimed that the blaze could have been much worse, with the possibility of local residents and traders needing to be evacuated.[12] Preliminary investigations suggested that the fire started due to a number of deep fat fryers which had been located within the pavilion;[11] however after further investigation this was later ruled out, as was arson. On 22 October 2008 at a news conference held by the fire brigade it was announced that the cause of the fire would be recorded as unknown, but that the most likely cause was electrical.[13]

2008–present
The pier's third pavilion under construction in February 2010

Work began dismantling the wreckage on 12 September 2008,[14] and the Bristol architects Angus Meek won the contract to design the new pavilion on 15 October.[15] North Somerset Council approved the plans on 12 March 2009.[16][17] Contractors John Sisk and Son were selected to construct the new pavilion, which was expected to be completed by June 2010.[18] Following delays, it instead opened in time for half-term break on 23 October 2010, having cost £39,000,000.[3] The opening day attracted more than 52,000 visitors, and an estimated 100,000 for the whole weekend.[19] The pier was officially reopened on 25 July 2011, by Anne, Princess Royal.[20]

In January 2013, security company System 2 Security Limited was proven in court to be responsible for the fire damage to the pier in 2008 due to negligence. Kerry and Michelle Michael , the pier owners, were awarded £30,000,000 by a judge at Bristol Mercantile Court.[21]

On 10 March 2019, the pier suffered a small fire and was evacuated, however the fire was contained and the pier reopened the following day.[22]

One scene from the film The Remains of the Day was filmed on the pier in 1992.[23] The comedy television series Bliss filmed scenes on the pier in 2017.[24] The reality television series Come Dine With Me, Don’t Tell the Bride and Flog It!, the news programme BBC Breakfast, and the cookery television series Saturday Kitchen have also filmed at the pier.[24]

Accolades

The pier won the National Piers Society Pier of the Year award in 2001,[25] and again in 2011, becoming the first pier to win the award twice.[26]

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See also

References
  1. "Grand Pier". Historic England. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. "Weston-super-Mare Grand Pier". National Piers Society. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  3. "Weston-super-Mare pier reopens two years after fire". BBC News. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
  4. "Grand Pier". historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
  5. "Weston Grand Pier — History". Weston and Somerset Mercury. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
  6. Savill, Richard (28 July 2008). "Weston-super-Mare Grand Pier fire wreaks havoc". London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  7. Sly, Nicola (2010). A grim almanac of Somerset. Stroud: History Press. p. 14. ISBN 9780752458144.
  8. de Bruxelles, Simon (29 July 2008). "Grand Pier at Weston-super-Mare 'will be rebuilt'". London: The Times. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  9. "Weston pier destroyed by fire". Avon Fire and Rescue Service. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  10. "Pier fire alert contract cancelled month before blaze". The Daily Telegraph. London. 22 October 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  11. "Huge fire destroys historic pier". BBC News. 28 July 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2008.
  12. "Weston's end of the pier show". The Independent. 28 July 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  13. "Pier blaze 'probably electrical'". BBC News. 22 October 2008. Retrieved 23 October 2008.
  14. "Burnt pavilion to be dismantled". BBC News. 12 September 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
  15. "Winning design for pier pavilion". BBC News. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
  16. "Grand Pier wins planning approval". Weston & Somerset Mercury. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  17. "£28 million plan for Weston Pier revealed". This Is Bristol. 7 December 2008. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  18. "The Grand Pier, Weston Super Mare". Sisk Contractors. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  19. "Weston-super-Mare's refurbished pier attracts 100,000 despite wind and rain". The Guardian. 24 October 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  20. "Princess Anne reopens Weston-super-Mare's Grand Pier". BBC News. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  21. "Weston-super-Mare Grand Pier fire: Alarm firm blamed". BBC News. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  22. "Sudden evacuation after fire at The Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare". Visit Bristol. 10 March 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  23. "Filming locations for The Remains of the Day". Internet Movie Database. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  24. "7 Things You Didn't Know About The Grand Pier, Weston-Super-Mare". Visit Bristol. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  25. "National Piers Society News July 2001". National Piers Society. Archived from the original on 15 August 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  26. "Weston-super-Mare gets Pier of the Year award". BBC News Online. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Boscombe Pier		 National Piers Society
Pier of the Year
2011		 Succeeded by
Swanage Pier
Preceded by
Cromer Pier		 National Piers Society
Pier of the Year
2001		 Succeeded by
Southwold Pier
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