The new Grand Pier at Weston may have opened too late for the main summer season, but it hasn’t disappointed the many visitors who have been flocking to it since it reopened on October 23rd (two of whom couldn’t wait to use it as their wedding venue).
Approached along the seafront, it’s apparent how much Weston needed the new pier: there are some boarded up or closed shops next to the beach which are being redeveloped. The donkey rides are still there, but the beach itself – more mud than sand – has never been the main attraction.
When we talked to a waitress at the delightful Old Thatched Cottage restaurant, she said business had been booming since the opening of the pier and that it had been a real boost for them (as well as the local economy).
The previous pier was wrecked by a fire in the summer of 2008 which reduced the pavilion to a charred ruin in only a matter of hours. The owners decided to rebuild it with the aim of creating a world class attraction, and putting Weston-super-Mare firmly on the map.
No expense has been spared, with up-to-the minute rides and attractions present throughout. The impression is bright, glitzy, colourful and brash: the sheer number of things squeezed vertically into the available space is impressive and almost a little chaotic at times, in part because of the crowds of people thronging the pavilion and making for the popular rides.
The race track apparently cost more than a million and the rebuild is said to have cost £51 million altogether. A few rides did not appear to be officially open yet when we visited, but no doubt they will be very soon.
We were told however that there was meant to be an observation tower and deck at the back of the pier, and rumour has it this was cancelled because of the escalating cost and time overruns (the pier was meant to officially open for the summer season this year). Currently there is a narrow tube-like passageway with seating for one of the restaurants, which stretches out over the sea and offers great views to either side but does not appear to go anywhere – and that’s why. Anyway, we can hope that in due course this may be added on, perhaps in a second phase of development.
The calendar of events includes boxing matches, glamour (the Miss Great Britain finals were taking place on December 4th, in arctic conditions not entirely appropriate for the competitors’ clothing), balls and a Christmas party, and much more is planned for the future. Hotels should see a good boost to occupancy from these events, and it’s hard not to agree with owner Kerry Michael that ‘the whole town is on the up.’
The owners are aiming it fairly and squarely at the general public who want a good day out and to be entertained, and they seem to be achieving both goals very successfully.
In the first 10 days some 350,000 visitors came, if they can continue to get 30-40,000 visitors a day that will certainly be a huge boost for businesses in the town. Opening hours are 10a.m. until midnight, and there is no charge to enter the pier or the pavilion. It is now intended to keep the pier open year-round (it used to be shut for around three months each Winter).
Some have complained about the notices saying that only food or drink purchased on the pier can be consumed, but with most attractions only costing £1 to £5 and the cost of employing upwards of 150 staff this seems very reasonable to me.
Some of the attractions in the pavillion include a mirror maze, a ghost train, a 4D cinema, and a crazy house. The ride-on multi-screen racing car simulator looked like a lot of fun, and there are also naturally plenty of rides designed to get the adrenaline flowing and one’s stomach in one’s mouth – these are so close to and integrated with the public spaces that anyone of a nervous disposition may find it a little alarming watching them swinging around overhead.
Of course they haven’t forgotten the traditional pier amusements either – the coin sweeping machines that gradually suck in all your change, and the crane machines where you can try and win a cuddly toy – only to keep seeing it slip out of the jaws of your crane at the last minute.
There were plenty of rides and amusements suited to children and teenagers, and families appeared to be out in force during our visit. The noise levels were reasonably high as one would expect with a lot of young people enjoying themselves with amusement machines. One can find some peace and quiet in the eating areas, or out on the viewing platforms surrounding the pavilion where you can enjoy the memorable views and the bracing sea air. Weston’s seafront has some very attractive buildings, and after seeing it from the pier you’ll definitely want to explore it further.
Weston has another, original pier further down the beach, which has now in fallen into disuse. Here is some history from DF Courtney:
“The idea for a Grand Pier at Weston was originally discussed because day-trippers who came by train did not venture as far as Birnbeck Pier, as it was considered to be too far from the town centre. Instead the visitors went to the nearest beach, which was off the end of Regent Street.
Work started to build a one-and-a-half-mile-long pier in November 1903. The length was determined by the owner’s desire to have permanent water for ferries at the pier’s end. Once built, they realised that the currents at the end were such that it prohibited docking by the very ferries they tried to attract in the first place, and the long extension proved to be useless. The pier had a theatre pavilion which hosted concerts, ballet performances, opera and even boxing matches. The whole structure was destroyed by fire in 1930 and rebuilt without the ferry extension, finally reopening in 1933. Entrance was 2d.
Weston’s Victorian Birnbeck grade two pier, which lies derelict at the other end of the beach – a sign of the struggle faced by all British seaside resorts when European holidays became cheaper and more fashionable, still sticks out like a sore thumb.”
One can only wish the owners well for the great vote of confidence in Weston their new Grand Pier represents, and hope it pays off handsomely for them, as well as for the town.
