Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare facts for kids
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| Official name | Grand Pier |
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| Type | Pleasure pier |
| Locale | Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, England |
| Construction | P. Munroe |
| Owner | Michelle & Kerry Michael |
| Total length | 366 m (1,201 ft) |
| Width | Promenade 13 m (43 ft) Pavilion 65 m (213 ft) |
| Opening date | 11 June 1904 |
| Toll | £1 per person (free entry for children in pushchairs and for visitors with pre-bookings at events) |
| Coordinates | 51°20′52″N 2°58′56″W / 51.347668°N 2.982254°W |
The Grand Pier is a fun pier located in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, England. It sits on the Bristol Channel, which is about 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Bristol. This famous pier first opened its doors in 1904.
It is a "pleasure pier," meaning it was built for entertainment and fun, not just for boats. The Grand Pier is also a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical structure. It is 366 metres (1,201 ft) long. The pier's main building, called the pavilion, has sadly been destroyed by fire twice. This happened in 1930 and again in 2008. Weston-super-Mare has another large pier, Birnbeck Pier, but it closed in 1994 and is now empty.
Contents
History of the Grand Pier
Building the First Grand Pier (1903-1930)
Construction of the Grand Pier began on 7 November 1903. P. Munroe was the engineer who designed it. The pier officially opened to visitors on 11 June 1904.
At the very end of the pier, there was a large theatre. It could hold 2,000 people! This theatre was a popular spot for music shows, opera, plays, and ballet. In 1907, an extra part of the pier was added, making it even longer. The idea was for boats to dock there and travel to Cardiff. However, the strong currents in the bay made this too dangerous. Because of this, the extension was later removed.
A New Pavilion and More Fun (1930-2008)
On 13 January 1930, the theatre at the end of the pier was destroyed by a fire. The pier was then sold to Leonard Guy. Three years later, he opened a brand new pavilion. This second pavilion was different; it housed a large indoor funfair instead of a theatre.
In 1946, Mr. A. Brenner bought the pier. He worked to make the pier even better. In the early 1970s, he added new shops and an amusement arcade to the pavilion. Because of these improvements, the pier was given its Grade II listed building status in 1974.
Brenner owned the pier until 6 February 2008. At that time, a brother and sister, Kerry and Michelle Michael, bought it. They immediately started a big project to update the pier. They spent a lot of money adding a new go-kart track, a bar, and a climbing wall inside the pavilion.
The 2008 Fire and Rebuilding
Early in the morning of 28 July 2008, a fire started at the pavilion. A private fire alarm went off, but the company monitoring it couldn't reach the pier's key-holder. So, no immediate action was taken. It wasn't until much later that the Avon Fire and Rescue Service was called.
Many fire engines and over 85 firefighters arrived to fight the blaze. Sadly, the pavilion was completely destroyed. A pier employee named Robert Tinker was praised for his bravery. He risked his safety to remove gas canisters from the building. Firefighters said this prevented the fire from becoming much worse.
At first, investigators thought the fire started from deep fat fryers. However, this was later ruled out, as was the idea of arson. On 22 October 2008, the fire brigade announced that the cause of the fire was unknown, but it was most likely due to an electrical problem.
A New Beginning (2008-Present)
Work to clear the damaged parts began on 12 September 2008. Architects from Bristol were chosen to design the new pavilion. North Somerset Council approved the plans in March 2009. A company called John Sisk and Son was selected to build the new pavilion.
The new pavilion was expected to be finished by June 2010. After some delays, it finally opened on 23 October 2010, just in time for a school holiday. It cost a lot of money, about £39 million. On its opening day, over 52,000 people visited! The pier was officially reopened by Anne, Princess Royal on 25 July 2011.
In 2013, a court decided that a security company was responsible for the fire due to their carelessness. The pier owners, Kerry and Michelle Michael, were awarded money to help cover the damages.
On 10 March 2019, the pier had another small fire. Everyone was safely evacuated. The fire was quickly put out, and the pier reopened the very next day.
Awards and Recognition
The Grand Pier has won the National Piers Society's Pier of the Year award twice. It first won in 2001 and then again in 2011. This made it the first pier ever to win the award more than once!
