How iconic Weston-super-Mare Grand Pier has survived 120 years

The history of Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier extends far beyond slot machines, dodgems and penny falls. It was formally opened on June 11 1904 in what was described as an “interesting ceremony” by one newspaper.

Costing over £120,000, the Grand Pier included a pavilion that could seat over 2,000 people. The pavilion primarily functioned as a music hall and was complete with an orchestra pit and dressing rooms, but it was also to host operas, ballet, and stage plays - all popular recreational activities for holidaymakers in the early twentieth century.

When addressing the crowds that had come to witness the opening – including the Mayor of Cardiff and several other high-profile guests – Mr Alfred Deedes, one of the directors, emphasised that this was only an informal opening as there had recently been a fire in the town and they thought it may be insensitive to have carried on with grand celebrations. He said that a more fitting opening ceremony would take place when the pier was fully completed several years later.

Read next: Secret set rumour mill ahead of Glastonbury Festival

Throughout the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, pleasure steamers ran day trips for the paying public over the summer season, transporting people to and from various resorts around the Channel coast – with trips from Weston-super-Mare to Cardiff taking as little as forty minutes.

The directors of the pier company had intended to “extend the pier for another mile, so that boats can approach it at low water” and plans were made for a 500-yard extension to the original pier that would accommodate the pleasure steamers making journeys to and from Weston-Super-Mare.

The extension was opened in May 1907, but its existence was relatively short-lived as it was deemed too dangerous for docking due to the adverse currents in the bay and was demolished some years later.

In the coming years the pier was home to a wide variety of attractions and entertainments – attracting large crowds with concerts and famous actors, and of course the cheap tickets.

Performers included famous names such as Mrs Patrick Campbell, Godfrey Tearle, and Cicely Courtneidge – as well as the Weston-born Henry Edwards (probably best known for his role in the 1932 film The Flag Lieutenant).

There were also military bands and musicians, one of who was Corelli Windeatt – a prominent violinist who performed in Weston on multiple occasions.

On January 13 1930, the pavilion was destroyed by a fire. Initially spotted by a former police constable, the fire started near the boiler house and quickly spread as firefighters could not get their fire engines onto the pier and had to run their hoses the length of the pier to the pavilion before they were able to combat the blaze.

The Western Daily Press reported that “within a quarter of an hour of the discovery the building was doomed” and that the remains of the structure were “gauntly protruding from the mud left there by the receding tide”.

The cost of rebuilding the damaged area of the pier was estimated at over £36,000, but as the pier was significantly under-insured it was put up for sale.

Bought by businessman Leonard Guy, the pier reopened after three years of construction costing over £60,000. Now it would contain a funfair and several amusements instead of a theatre.

The pier was sold again in 1946 to local businessman A. Brenner, whose family would own it for decades to come. He made some minor adjustments before taking on several larger projects – such as adding several shops and food outlets. The largest and perhaps most significant of the changes made by the Brenner family was the addition of an amusements arcade in the 1970s. Further additions were made to the pier in the 1990s, such as a £250,000 bowling alley and a Ferris Wheel.

In 2004, the Grand Pier celebrated its 100th anniversary, and festivities consisted of free entertainment and access to amusements, as well as an elaborate fireworks display.

The pier was sold by the Brenners to current owners Kerry and Michelle Michael in February 2008, after which it underwent extensive renovations, including new amusements, such as a go-karting track, as well as a fully licensed bar.

The future of the Grand Pier was again brought into doubt on July 28 2008, when fire broke out at the pavilion. The fire quickly spread, and more than 85 firefighters were deployed to try and bring it under control. Despite the best attempts of the emergency services, much of the pavilion was destroyed.

It could have been worse. Grand Pier employee Robert Tinker was praised by the fire brigade for rushing around the side of the burning pavilion to remove several gas canisters that had been stored inside, despite the intense heat.

After ruling out deep fat fryers and arson as potential causes for the blaze, a news conference held by Avon Fire & Rescue in October 2008 declared that the cause of the fire would be recorded as ‘unknown’ as much of the potential evidence had been lost in the sea.

Following the press conference, Kerry Michael said: “Michelle and I would like to thank the fire brigade and forensic scientists for all their effort on the day and for their diligent interrogation into the possible causes of the fire”.

Meanwhile, everyone wanted the pier back: politician and novelist Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare said: “It will take years if it is to be restored to its former glory … if they don’t bring it back, Weston will have lost its main attraction. The pier was to Weston what the Tower is to Blackpool”

Angus Meek Architects were awarded the contract to design the new pier, plans were approved by North Somerset Council in March 2009 and work began soon after.

It opened in October 2010 – just in time for the half-term break. Estimated to have cost the owners over £39,000,000, the new Grand Pier was equipped with a wide range of modern amusements such as soft play and a crystal maze, as well as the more traditional slot machines and a Helter Skelter.

Since its reopening, the Grand Pier has received several awards and accolades, such as ‘Pier of the Year’ by the National Piers Society in 2011.

And even though it had already reopened, it was formally “opened” by the Princess Royal on July 25 2011.

An iconic feature of the West Country, the Grand Pier is part of the memories of most people living in the region, and maybe it’s time that you paid a visit! See www.grandpier.co.uk

A few things you (probably) didn’t know about the Grand Pier

• It has appeared in a film: While only making into one scene, the Grand Pier featured in 1992’s The Remains of the Day which starred Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, and Hugh Grant.

• It also made it onto several TV programmes, such as Flog It! BBC Breakfast, Come Dine with Me, and Saturday Kitchen.

• It was home to a two-headed giant. A mummified, two-headed male figure over 12ft tall known as Kap Dwa, the Patagonian Giant, supposedly captured by Spanish sailors in 1673, was purchased by Leonard Guy in 1914 and displayed on Birnbeck Pier with a large club and a snake coiled on his chest. When Guy bought the Grand Pier in the 1930s, he put Kap Dwa into storage before transferring him to a display there in the ‘Crazy House’ until 1959 when he was sold to a showman and put on display in Blackpool.

• The pier is still supported by 360 of the cast iron piles from the original 1904 structure.

• Tea for 555? In 2016, the Grand Pier attempted to host the largest cream tea event held at a single venue to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Want the latest Somerset breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join our WhatsApp group. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.