Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare, abandoned for more than 30 years, has moved one step closer to reopening after being reconnected to the mainland this month. The pier, which first opened in 1867, is the only one in the UK that connects to an island rather than extending out to sea. It was once a popular tourist attraction with a funfair, cafe and rides, but fell into disrepair and closed in 1994.
Historic Pier Bought by Council
North Somerset Council purchased the pier in 2023 and launched a phased restoration project. On June 18, 2026, council leader Cllr Mike Bell said: 'Birnbeck Pier is of national significance, and it is important that we get things right for our community now and for generations to come. Excellent progress is being made on the restoration of the pier, and we are now looking ahead to how this special place will be managed once it re-opens to the public next year.'
Secret Wartime Past
During World War II, Birnbeck became a top secret base for the Royal Navy, which tested weapons there. Locals saw flickers of light at night but were unaware it was a wartime nerve centre. After the war, the pier never regained its former glory, passing between private owners before being declared unsafe. It housed an RNLI lifeboat station from 1881 to 2014 and was placed on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register in 1998.
Restoration Timeline
The restoration is being delivered in phases: from autumn 2024 to winter 2024, repairs to the island sea wall and stabilisation of the 1888 boathouse, clock tower pavilion and landside cliff face; from autumn 2025 to autumn 2026, repair and renovation of landside buildings and provision of essential services; and from winter 2025 to spring 2027, restoration of the pier structure. If work continues to plan, the pier will reopen in summer 2027.
Wider Town Improvements
The pier regeneration is part of a wider funding package of more than £44 million to improve Weston-super-Mare town centre. This includes renovation of the 1888 boathouse, clock tower and landside pavilion, as well as other derelict buildings like the Grade II listed Toll House and the Tropicana venue, which hosted Banksy's Dismaland exhibition in 2015. The town has faced criticism for being rundown, with a crime rate of 153.2 per 1,000 people (153% of the national average), and was named among the worst seaside towns by the Telegraph and Which? in 2023. The council hopes the restoration will help revitalise the area.
