Iconic UK seaside town scraps pier entry fee as part of £700k investment | UK | News

A popular seaside town in England has scrapped entrance fees for its pier ahead of summer. The attraction suspended its entrance fee for more than three years thanks to a £700,000 investment.

Bournemouth Pier, an award-winning Victorian landmark that first opened in 1880, will be free until the end of October 2029. It comes after Adventure Attractions, which operates the pier, pledged more than £700,000 in March to keep the iconic landmark accessible for residents and visitors.

The move was made with the aim of increasing visitor numbers and supporting tourism and fully revitalizing Bournemouth’s local economy.

Adventure Attractions managing director Sarah Hunter said: “Improving accessibility to the pier has always been our aim and the response over the past year has been incredibly positive. Continuing the suspension of fees allows us to build on this momentum and ensure the pier remains a place for everyone to enjoy all year round.”

Some of the UK’s most iconic seaside towns still charge a small entrance fee to enter their piers. It is usually applied during peak season (between March and October) and is used to help cover maintenance costs.

Brighton Pier costs £1 in the “pre-summer” period, rising to £2 in the peak summer period. Meanwhile, a “walk either way” ticket for Southend Pier is priced at £2, and visitors to Hythe Pier are charged the same fee.

Following a successful one-year trial in Bournemouth, it was decided to grant access to the pier for a further three years. Bosses found the move had significantly increased footfall to both the pier and the wider resort.

Ms Hunter added: “This is a difficult time for the leisure and hospitality sector, but we are demonstrating our commitment to the future by investing over £700,000 to remove the toll, in anticipation of BCP Councils investing in the pier structure.

“This is a huge investment and risk for us, but the increased footfall and support for our businesses has shown us that the opportunity exists to grow the pier into the future and develop returns that can justify the investment.

“As BCP Council invests in building for the future, Adventure Attractions also wants to invest in improving the customer experience for the future to ensure the partnership continues and thrives.”

Amanda Barrie, Director of Business Operations at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, continued: “Bournemouth Pier is one of our favorite landmarks and keeping it open and accessible benefits residents and visitors alike.

“We are pleased to be able to work with Adventure Attractions to allow residents and visitors free use of the pier, which encourages foot traffic, supports tourism and strengthens the local economy, while ensuring the pier remains a welcoming, everyday space for our communities.”