A husband and wife duo have been announced as the new owners of a famous Suffolk pier.
Amy and Charles Barwick will be taking over Southwold Pier after it was sold on Monday.
The couple, who have a home in the seaside town, purchased the pier for an undisclosed sum from the previous owners Curious Pier Limited, which is part of the Gough Hotels group.
The Gough Hotels group also runs the Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds and the Salthouse Harbour Hotel on Ipswich Waterfront.
Mrs Barwick said: “Charles and I are so excited to become the new custodians of the pier and we look forward to running it alongside the fabulous team we’ve inherited, for many years to come.”
Mr Barwick added: “We are looking at an initial light refurbishment in places, but this will be phased, as we plan to keep the other areas open to the public as we go.
"We have great plans to invest in the pier and its facilities and we’ll update our progress on to the website, so visitors will know what’s open before they arrive."
In the short term, the Barwicks are looking to run the pier this year as ‘business as usual’ after they have completed a refresh to the interior and exterior in time to open for Easter and the summer season.
However, they said they have "exciting" longer-term investment plans into the infrastructure and facilities of the attraction, with a vision to make the pier a greater draw for Southwold.
Robert Gough, managing director of the Gough Hotels group, said: “We have enjoyed running the pier over the last 10 years and have appreciated the hard work of local staff who have dedicated themselves to look after all our visitors.
"We wish Amy and Charles every success in the future.”
Southwold Pier first opened in 1900 at 810ft long and was originally used as a landing platform for the Belle steamships.
In 2005 the pier was bought by husband and wife Stephen and Antonia Bournes as a family-tun business.
The couple then sold the landmark pier to Gough Hotels in 2013.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel