Britannia Pier revamp begins with demolition of building

Construction teams have begun demolishing a building on Britannia Pier to make way for an indoor entertainment centre that owners hope will turn the seasonal hotspot into a year-round venue.

The project, led by pier owners Triangle Amusements and funded without public grants, aims to give the venue a new look and a modern purpose.  

The revamp is expected to continue over the winter months, with a grand opening scheduled for March 2024. 

Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth will reopen next spring after a £1.8m revamp. (Image: Newsquest) Cherise Abbott, pier director, said: “Compared with other UK piers, this one has been left behind. 

"We’re trying to bring it into the 21st century." 

At present, Britannia Pier is heavily reliant on summer visitors, flourishing from March to September but falling quiet for the rest of the year.  

The owners hope the renovation will change that, offering indoor attractions, an art deco-style facade, and new beach access for locals and visitors to enjoy year-round. 

READ MORE: Have a look inside the old Palmers building as work continues on £17m revamp

What the revamped Britannia Pier will look like. (Image: Paul Robinson) The first stage of work includes removing an outdated amusements building to clear space for a larger structure with a curved roof, which will house entertainment options like indoor bowling and new food offerings.

In future phases, Triangle Amusements aims to replace existing billboards with digital screens, introducing a modern aesthetic to the historic site. 

READ MORE: New restaurant has opened inside Yarmouth's Britannia Pier

Director Cherise Abbott with Krispies fish and chip shop manager Anna Montague. (Image: Newsquest) Ms Abbott said: “In summer it’s bustling here but when all the holidaymakers go home, it’s a ghost town. Everywhere in the place closes up. 

“But people still live here and want to do things themselves. But at the moment they’re not getting much of that, so we want to change that.  

“Hopefully it will end the narrative of the town closing down during the winter,” she added. 

The building being demolished on Britannia Pier. (Image: Newsquest) Debris from the demolition of a building on Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Newsquest) FIREWORKS AND FESTIVITIES 

To celebrate the end of the 'old pier' and the start of its new era, the owners will host a free fireworks display on New Year’s Day. 

Inspired by a similar event at Cromer Pier, Ms Abbott said she hopes the celebration will bring the community together and become an annual tradition. 

"At the moment, there isn’t a New Year’s celebration here, so we’re hoping locals will come out and support us," she said. 

“If it’s successful, this could become a tradition that brings energy to the town year after year.” 

The pier's existing frontage (pictured in 1967) has been in place since the mid-1900s. (Image: Newsquest Archive) PIER-ING INTO THE PAST: THE HISTORY OF THE BRITANNIA PIER 

The Britannia Pier has been a mainstay on the Golden Mile since 1858. Originally, the venue boasted a 700ft pier. 

However, after a ship collided with it during the Royal Charter Storm in 1859 it was shortened. 

The original pier suffered further storm damage in 1868 and was demolished in 1899. 

Britannia Pier was badly damaged in a fire in 1909. (Image: Newsquest Archive) READ MORE: Old photos of Great Yarmouth seafront in the 1950s

Construction of a new 810ft Britannia Pier began in 1900 with designs by Joseph and Arthur Mayoh. 

Many changes took place at the pier following a series of fires in 1909, 1914 and in 1954. 

The main auditorium was built during the inter-war period and later commissioned for the war effort. 

An aerial view of Britannia Pier in 1957. (Image: Newsquest Archive) The current pavilion - known as the Britannia Pier Theatre - has been standing since 1958. 

The theatre has hosted some of the UK's biggest acts, including Russ Abbott, Jim Davidson and Jimmy Carr. 

Britannia Pier's owners Joseph Manning and Joseph Abbott. (Image: Newsquest)

Since purchasing the pier from Family Amusements in December 2022, owners Joseph Abbott and Joseph Manning have added new rides to the end-of-pier theme park, revamped the arcades and installed traditional lighting along the deck.