Southwold pier goes under the hammer

One of Suffolk’s most famous tourist destinations, Southwold Pier, has recently gone on sale. The Victorian pier, which extends 623 feet into the North Sea, boasts a traditional arcade, as well as a variety of shops and restaurants. The £6m price tag also includes planning permission for a five-storey, 30-bedroom art deco style hotel.

The pier’s prime location in the popular seaside resort of Southwold should generate a great deal of interest. Beach huts in the area sell for around £100,000 alone.

Attracting thousands of visitors each year, the pier is a significant piece of Southwold’s heritage and only last year it was voted Best Large Attraction. According to Celia Hodson, Chief Executive of local development agency Choose Suffolk, any potential buyer will not just be purchasing the pier, but “a piece of living and breathing seaside history”.