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Skegness Pier-by David Pickersgill-Wikipedia Commons

Top 10 Facts about Skegness Pier

Skegness Pier is a pleasure pier in Skegness, Lincolnshire, England. It was opened in June 1881 and at the time was the 4th longest in England stretching a length of 562m. It was originally built a T-shaped pier with a saloon/concert hall at the pierhead.

Steamboat trips ran from the pier to Norfolk until 1910. It was closed during the 2nd World War to prevent enemy invasion and in 1978, a severe storm caused damage to the pier isolating the pierhead and shelters which were eventually destroyed in the mid-1980s due to the cost of restoration.

The pier has had various renovations in modern times including redecking and waterproofing, to allow operation during winter and usage during rainy conditions. It was bought by new owners Nottingham-based Mellors Group in early 2021 when it was put up for sale with intentions to rebuild the structure to its original length.

Here are 10 facts about Skegness Pier.

1. Skegness Pier was opened in 1881

Skegness Pier Entrance-by Ian Paterson-Wikipedia Commons

Discussions about the possibility of constructing a pier began in 1877 when the Earl of Scarborough who had brought the railway to Skegness and a group of local businessmen met to discuss and consider whether Skegness should have a pier. On approval, the Skegness Pier company was limited was established to oversee the erection.

Its foundations were laid in November 1879 with a planned T-shaped design including a concert hall at the end. The pier was opened on 4th June 1881 by the Duke of Edinburgh Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg, and Gotha.

2. The pier won a Certificate of Excellence

Skegness Pier won a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award in May 2015, for its excellence in tourism and hospitality based on visitor reviews.

3. The Steamboat service at Skegness pier

A popular trip from 1882 was a steamboat service that operated between the pier and The Wash and Hunstanton in Norfolk. Due to its popularity, local businessmen established the Skegness steamboat company to hire boats for the holiday season. Due to the build-up of sand at Wash, services came to an end by the end of 1910 which made the journey difficult and resulted in the removal of the unsafe landing stage.

4. It is located in Skegness town in Lincolnshire

Skegness from the Pier-by Simon Fidler-Wikipedia Commons

Skegness is a pleasure pier located in Skegness with a T-shaped concert hall at the head. It is one of the largest of the 82 piers constructed between 1815 and 1890 around the coastline of Britain with shelters erected along with the decking every few hundred years and small kiosks on either side selling seaside food and related items.

5. The pier suffered a severe storm in 1978

The remains of Skegness Pier 1979-by Steve F-Wikipedia Commons

On 11th January 1978, a northerly severe gale and storm surge brought disaster to Skegness pier, as well as other piers inMargate, Herne Bay, and Hunstanton which caused irretrievable damage.

The pier decking from the main entrance was reduced to 127 yards(116m), with the eastern shelters and the pierhead with its theatre isolated from the shoreline. A plan to relink the isolated pierhead and build a new 1200 seater theatre collapsed due to failure with financial assistance that was turned down due to its high cost of reconstruction.

6. It featured a 700-seat saloon/concert hall

In 1948, the pier included a cinema, shops, and an amusement arcade with the pierhead holding a saloon renovated after World War II and renamed The pier Theatreseveral years later popular with visitors.

In the early 1970s, the pier entrance was demolished to make way for new construction of shops and amusement arcades, as well as the pierhead theatre was enlarged from a seating capacity of 700 to 1100. In late 1978, the plan to relink the isolated pierhead and build a new 1200 seater theatre failed when an application for financial assistance was turned down

7. Skegness Pier was the 4th longest pier in England 

There was a time when Skegness Pier could boast that it was the fourth longest in England. This was at the time it was opened in 1881 but today it’s not as long as it was since, in 1978, the pier suffered a severe storm isolating the pierhead and shelters which were ultimately destroyed in the mid-1880s due to the cost of restoration. A part of it also caught fire when demolition was taking place.

8. Today pier is nothing compared to what it previously was 

Skegness Pier suffered a severe storm that caused irretrievable damage. The pier was initially 561m and now only stretches to 118m. The eastern shelters and the pierhead were isolated from the shoreline. Late in 1978, a plan to link the isolated pierhead failed for several years and the isolated structures remained as features as plans for repair were being sought.

Proposals to reconnect the pier failed due to the high costs of reconstruction and in 1983, the eastern shelters were dismantled and demolished. Skegness Pier has never recovered to how it was despite its being rebuilt.

9. Skegness Pier was briefly closed in the mid-20th century

During World War II, in the mid-20th century, the pier was closed and parts of the decking were removed as a part of the policy to try and prevent enemy invasions and did not reopen until 1948, following repairs then which included a cinema, shops and an amusement arcade.

10. It was rebuilt an refurbished in the late 20th century

Skegness Pier Deck Looking Towards Main Building-by MOTORAL 1987-Wikipedia Commons

The present-day piers length is 118m long and has no remaining evidence of the former pierhead and shelters. A bowling alley was built in 1992 with a complete refurbishment program starting in 2000 to recapture its classic charm. The pier deck was refurbished from 2005 to 2006 and further improvements were made from 2016 to 2017 on the pier.

The pier was bought by Nottingham-based Mellors Group when it was put up for sale who also owns a nearby amusement complex, acquired the pier in 2021 with intentions to rebuild the structure from its current length of 118m to its original length of 582m to make it a focal point for visitors.

Skegness pier is the centerpiece of Skegness town’s famous stretch of coastline opened in 1881 by the Duke of Edinburgh. It has a great selection of restaurants, bars, and cafes along the seaside.