Hastings Pier is Up and Running again

The 144-year-old Hastings Pier, originally designed by Eugenius Birch, and Grade II Listed since 1976, has reopened this year, eight years after closure and six years after the structure was almost totally destroyed in a devastating fire in October 2010. The blaze, thought to have been started by vandalism, destroyed the pier head ballroom, all of the kiosks and stalls, much of the decking and one of the two curved pavilions. No one has been prosecuted.

The revived pier, with restored 1916 pavilion to the left. 

Following the fire English Heritage assessment confirmed that the heritage value of the substructure remained, so an application was submitted for funding to the Heritage Lottery at the end of November 2010 to restore the substructure of the Pier and renovate the remaining pavilion. Heritage Lottery trustees visited the pier on 16 March 2011 to assess the application. Hastings Borough Council were granted £100k toward emergency works by to pay for structural supports to be applied to the central section which was weakened by the loss of the deck in the fire.

5 October 2010, the blaze destroyed most of the
structures on the pier and damaged the substructure

After a £14.2m redevelopment over more than two years, the pier is once again open to the public. The new-look Hastings Pier is now owned and run by a charitable trust, the the Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust. The old pier was a key part of the town's attraction to tourists and local residents alike - something its new owners hope the revamped pier can also become. The remaining pavilion is one of a pair which were originally built in 1916 to form elegant curves surrounding the bandstand at the shore end of the pier. Although built as an open sided shelter for concert-goers, the pavilion has been extensively restored and now houses a fish and chip shop, a restaurant and a bar.  

The remains of the pier-head ballroom after the fire.

The new central pavilion houses a multi purpose space for exhibitions, shows etc and has a roof terrace with cafe/bar and open air seating for larger performances and events. Instead of the perennially popular bingo hall, pleasure-seekers can enjoy everything from open air cinema to Pirate Day, celebrated in August. The new pavilion is clad in pieces of the old scorched decking, while the new deck timbers give a huge open space a the end of the pier, ideal for open air events and attractions. As well as enjoying the exhilarating air the new pier offers stunning views of the seafront and the South Downs above Hastings as before the fire. The only shame is that the tradition of fishing from the pier is no longer permitted.

Pirate day

The revival of the pier is helping in the current of rise of Hastings as not just a holiday destination but also a cultural mecca, attracting artists and musicians priced out of the London property market. Hastings was run down, it's now fast becoming a Boho haven.