A beautiful pier located in one of the UK’s prettiest seaside towns has been purchased by a husband and wife. Southwold Pier in Suffolk’s Southwold is a 623-foot-long pier and is among the top tourist attractions in the town.
The famous Pier was taken over by Amy and Charles Barwick after it was sold on Monday, reports East Anglian Daily Times.
The pair, who own a house in the coastal town, bought the pier from the former owners, Curious Pier Limited, which is linked to the Gough Hotels group.
This group also manages the Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds and the Salthouse Harbour Hotel on Ipswich Waterfront.
Mrs Barwick said: “Charles and I are so excited to become the new custodians of the pier and we look forward to running it alongside the fabulous team we’ve inherited, for many years to come.”
Mr Barwick added: “We are looking at an initial light refurbishment in places, but this will be phased, as we plan to keep the other areas open to the public as we go.
“We have great plans to invest in the pier and its facilities and we’ll update our progress on to the website, so visitors will know what’s open before they arrive.”
For now, the Barwicks plan to operate the pier as usual this year, following a makeover of both its interior and exterior, aiming to open in time for Easter and the summer season.
However, they have also mentioned having “exciting” plans for long-term investments in the pier’s infrastructure and amenities, to make it an even more appealing destination for Southwold.
Robert Gough, managing director of the Gough Hotels group, said: “We have enjoyed running the pier over the last 10 years and have appreciated the hard work of local staff who have dedicated themselves to look after all our visitors.
“We wish Amy and Charles every success in the future.”
Southwold Pier made its debut in 1900 and initially served as a landing spot for the Belle steamships.
In 2005, Stephen and Antonia Bournes, a married couple, purchased the pier, operating it as a family-run enterprise. Later, in 2013, they sold this iconic landmark to Gough Hotels.
The coastal town that houses the pier is a three-hour drive from London. Located on the easter coast, Southwold is surrounded by the North Sea to the east, by the River Blyth and Southwold harbour to the south west, and by Buss Creek to the North.
Activities on Southwold Pier include an arcade, 80s retro games, and an “Under The Pier Show”.
Many travellers who have been to the beautiful pier have shared wonderful experiences on TripAdvisor’s forum.
One user wrote: “Southwold Pier and Boardwalk is a complete delight. There are over 200 beach huts along the front, almost all of them well-maintained and beautifully painted in bright colours. The beach is largely sand and a great expanse with room for all. Out-of-season dogs are allowed on the beach, but at other times the boardwalk is still a lovely place for them to stretch their legs.
“The pier itself is a lovely throwback to simpler times, with crazy mirrors, photo opportunities, a fun clock, seating, and of course arcades. However one of the arcades is a wonderful old-fashioned affair rather than the modern same as every other arcade type. There are also cafes and wonderful ice creams available. Well worth a visit whatever the weather.
“There is parking along the front so also relatively easy, although it might be harder in the height of summer. Some of the beach fronts can be rented, which could be a lovely thing to do in the summer.”
A second user chimed in: “Lovely traditional English pier, great views, great entertainment (especially the Under the Pier show). This was our first visit to Southwold but we will definitely be returning.”
