A STRUGGLING seaside town is set to get a grand £20million facelift including works on its historic derelict pier.
Birnbeck Pier has been closed to the public since 1994, but is set to be reopened in the future.
The pier is the only one in the UK that links the mainland to an island.
Currently, repairs are being carried out on the island sea wall and the 1888 boathouse and the clock tower pavilion.
Work on the landside buildings – such as the Pier Master’s Cottage, old shell shop and South Toll House – all began in July and are expected to be completed in spring 2026.
The ultimate goal of the project is to reopen the pier and island to the public, which would make it a unique destination in Weston-super-Mare.
Right by the pier, there are also a number of derelict buildings such as a Grade II Listed Toll House and its extension, known locally as the ‘shell shop’, that will be restored and reopened.
The toll house sits at the southern side of the entrance to the pier and once works are completed, will reopen as an information point that will host exhibitions.
The plans to reopen the pier are part of a £20million project to regenerate the town over a decade.
The town council’s Tourism and Information Services Manager, Warren Parker-Mills, told local media: “I used to spend a lot of time in London and actually, I can almost envisage Weston further down the line to have little pockets of Shoreditch or little pockets of Islington.”
Other parts of the project include a new waterpark set for this summer.
The Old Town Quarry could be turned into an event space too with the potential to host an opera there or ballet, according to Warren.
According to GOV.UK, 19th century Grove Park – that currently features gardens, woodland walks, rock gardens, ponds and a children’s play area – will also be revamped.
Plans for the park include redesigning the main entrance with new seating and adding new toilets.
The Tropicana event space will be transformed too – becoming a venue with a capacity for 8,000 people, including better food and drink spots.
The planning permission for Tropicana was approved in May and also reveals that there will be indoor and outdoor entertainment spaces.
The venue is then expected to open some point next year.
Since 1937, the venue has attracted many notable events and celebrities.
For example, back in 2015, Tropicana was home to Banksy ‘s ‘Dismaland ‘ bemusement park, which filled the derelict seaside swimming resort into a dingy Disneyland-like theme park.
Also as part of the project, Marine lake will also get improved food and drink choices and the introduction of outdoor swimming.
Work on the lake is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Weston-super-Mare still has its Grand Pier which remains open to the public.
It costs £2 per person to go onto the pier and there are a number of rides and attractions including the House of Horrors, Freefall and Go Karts.
There are number of events on the pier too, including Sunset Sessions and themed party nights.
And as for Weston-super-Mare beach , it is long and sandy, and is loved by visitors for its traditional seaside feel.
The town centre then features all you would need too, including cafes, restaurants and shops.
There are even ‘rage rooms’ where visitors can ‘smash’ things in a “controlled and safe environment”.
Traditional English seaside town reveals huge £1.8million pier transformation
THE historic Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth is undergoing a major makeover, thanks to new funding.
Opened in 1901, the pier has been a fixture along the Golden Mile seafront.
Its former look, with orange lettering and large show advertisements, has been replaced with a sleek, white facade with grey details.
This transformation came after Triangle Amusements bought the pier in 2022 and received £1.8 million in funding.
The first phase of work included a new amusement arcade and a redesigned front.
The pier remains open for business during the summer, hosting comedy acts and tribute bands.
A second phase of work, focusing on food stalls and cabins, is scheduled for October 2025.
In addition to the pier’s changes, Great Yarmouth offers other attractions for a classic British beach break, including Joyland amusement park and the quiet Gorleston-on-Sea beach.
The UK’s second longest pier is set to finally reopen with a £600billion cash injection boosting the Victorian seaside town’s economy.
Plus, the English riverfront town with one of the world’s oldest piers and attraction based on the real-life Pocahontas.
