23 Mar 2016
Hastings-born Graham McPherson, aka Madness lead singer Suggs fixes the final screw to complete the redecking of Hastings Pier following a £15.m renovation over the past two years.
Scheduled to open to the public in late April this year, Madness will headline a gala opening celebration on the pier on Saturday 21st. May. In its heyday the pier hosted many of country's most famous music stars including Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix.
First opened in 1872 the 272 metre long pier enjoyed many years of popularity but the gradual decline in the British seaside in the 70's and 80's led to poor maintenance and declining visitors. The pier was closed in 2008 and a devastating fire in 2010 practically destroyed the superstructure.
It was a very active local community campaign that raised a Heritage Lottery Fund award of £11.4m plus an additional £2.5m from other sources. A highly successful Community Share issue put another £600,000 into the project. Work started in January 2014 and after 50 miles of new decking, 500,000+ screws, replacing 70% of the steelwork and adding a brand new visitor centre – The Deck -with café and roof terrace plus a full service restaurant to be called The Pavilion, all works will complete over the next few weeks.
Paul Hudson, Chair of HLF's South East Committee, said: “Hastings Pier, a landmark for those who live nearby or visit, has witnessed over 140 years of history – from the Suffragette Movement to the Swinging Sixties. The completion of its restoration is auspicious for the pier's survival and will also provide important opportunities for social and economic regeneration.”
Tickets for the Madness concert, and the gala opening day celebrations, are available from the Hastings Pier website. Tickets for the daytime celebrations will be free though subject to ballot due to crowd restrictions on the new pier; tickets for the evening Madness concert will be £25, with the same restriction on numbers.
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For further information please contact:
Dani West : WixHill PR : 01483 203992 / 07852 109802 dani@wixhill.co.uk, or
Tim Fordham-Moss : WixHill PR : 01483 203992 / 07710 491788 tim@wixhill.co.uk
NOTE : Tickets to the Gala Celebration on Saturday 21st. May 2016 will be available from 9.00am Thursday 24th,. March 2016 from the Hastings Pier website :
