Weston Pier to reopen after multimillion-pound renovation

[Airtime&Gravity]

Weston-super-Mare will reopen its famous Grand Pier 'as soon as possible', two years after its historic Grade II pavilion was destroyed by fire.

 

The structure will transform a traditional staple of the British seaside town into a state-of-the-art entertainment complex - a year-round, all-weather indoor theme park.

 

The restoration of the Grand Pier will provide a huge boost to the Somerset resort, which has been without its main tourist site since July 2008 when the previous pier was destroyed in a fire attributed to an electrical fault.

 

 

 

There is not yet a definitive date for the relaunch but management promise they are 'pulling out all the stops' to make it happen as soon as possible.

 

Pier owner Kerry Michael said: 'There will be 18 brand new rides, plus some of the old favourites.

 

'We want to make the Grand Pier in Weston the best pier in the world.

 

 

 

'We believe that Weston-super-Mare can become more prosperous.

 

'It could be Britain's most sought after seaside destination, with a world-class pier at its heart.'

 

Around £9million has been spent on the latest attractions including Robocoaster, a giant robotic arm ride, and Sidewinder, a swinging pendulum ride.

 

Other attractions will include an indoor go kart track, a laser maze, an aerial assault course, helter skelter and the return of the pier's much-loved ghost train.

 

 

But pride of place goes to a 4D cinema, which builds on existing 3D technology by adding moving seats, air blasts, water sprays and leg ticklers.

 

The pier will also feature two trains, the Silver and Golden Arrows, which take their names from the original land trains on the pier, and were built from reclaimed timber from the fire-damaged pier.

 

The blueprint for the Grand Pier, unveiled last April, also included plans for a 300ft (91metre) observation tower. However, that section of the building will not be fully completed until 2011 because of delays in construction.

 

Tourism in the West Country is worth more than £300million a year and Weston-super-Mare is one of its most important resorts.

 

The Grand Pier is expected to attract more than 4million visitors a year which means it will need every inch of its floor space, double that of the previous pavilion.

 

The 2008 fire was not the first time the Grand Pier has been engulfed in flames. The original Grand Pier opened in 1904 and its first pavilion burned down in 1930.

 

 

 

 

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