The Saga Staggers On....

 

Hastings Pier 'declared frozen asset' following court order

A useful snapshot of the Pier, up to the current impasse, is provided by National Piers' Society  - HERE

The Heritage Context

Hastings Pier has a complex history with community ownership. Following extensive damage from a fire, it was beautifully restored with the help of over \(£\)14 million in funding, winning the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize in 2017. However, the original Hastings Pier Charity entered administration shortly thereafter, eventually leading to its sale to private ownership.

Advocates continue to use the pier's history as a valuable lesson in how vital it is for the government to protect essential civic and heritage assets.

Protecting community assets inquiry.

“The loss of Hastings Pier from community ownership and the experience of that ultimately heart-breaking process demonstrated the need to learn the lessons. We hope that through this Inquiry and its practical ideas other community-owned assets can be protected”

- Jess Steele 

http://www.protecting-community-assets.org.uk/

In the Interests of Fair Play, Not to Mention.....

Due Diligence - oh, that's right, no one did much of that, did they?

My abiding memory is the Fake Sheik, demanding to speak at a meeting to which he wasn't invited, insisting that his main concern would have been with the shareholders, if he could afford to buy, which he couldn't, even the gold  rings on his fingers didn't belong to him. - I've wronged him! Due disclosure right there!

https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/articles/news/gulzar-eyes-6500-profit/

Friends of Hastings Pier (FoHP), the group seeking return of the landmark asset to community ownership, have been told by owner Sheikh Gulzar that he wants £4m for it. -

6,500% Profit

x

Fear Of Last Orders - Sing out loud, Sing out proud....

Let's get together and save Our Pier 

- again!

Not the First Use of Thie Title = Let's Hope It Has More Success This time around!

The new Battle of Hastings: locals fight to save historic pier after self-styled sheikh puts it up for sale

The Independent

 

 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hastings-pier-sale-community-ownership-gulzar-b2849704.html

 

And the good news is.......

 The owner of Hastings Pier is planning to "dispose of" the landmark and expressions of interest are being sought, the council says.

Hastings Borough Council (HBC) said it had received formal notification from pier owner Sheikh Abid Gulzar and had informed the community group that nominated the site as an asset of community value to see if it was interested.

Friends of Hastings Pier, which planned to submit an expression of interest, said: "Bringing the pier back under community control, management and ownership was always a key part of our constitution - which is why we worked hard to get it recognised by HBC as a valuable asset to our town."

Here We Go Again

Gulzar Prosecuted

HUGH SULLIVAN
https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HIP_284.pdf

Sheikh Abid Gulzar, the 80-year-old owner of Hastings pier, will face trial by jury in Lewes Crown Court in September 2026 on ten charges of fraud. He and his business partner Manasdeep Singh are alleged to have defrauded Castle Water Limited, an independent water re-tail business, of sums to the total value of around £150,000.

The private prosecution is being brought by the water company and relates in part to supply of water to the Boship Lions Hotel in Hailsham, used in 2022-23 for accommodating asylum seekers.

The 2026 trial date was set earlier this month, scheduling a three-

week hearing. The two defendants denied all the charges when first appearing at Brighton Magistrates Court in July.

In the meantime, The HPier Limited, the former operator of Hastings pier under a lease granted by Gulzar from early 2023 onwards, has been wound up in the High Court following a creditor's petition brought by Hastings Borough Council.

 Council officers have declined to provide any information as to the size of the debt or how it was incurred, but it seems likely to represent arrears of business rates.

The previous operator, Lions Hastings Pier Limited, of which Gulzar himself was sole director and shareholder, was put into liquidation in 2023, owing the Borough Council £31,346.

I may have mentioned this before, but a little bit of due diligence never goes astray!

Sheikh Abid Gulzar - again!

Accusations:

• He is accused of defrauding Castle Water, a private water company, for an undisclosed amount.
• Method of Fraud:

  The alleged fraud was carried out through Boship Lions Farm Hotel in Hailsham and Mansion Hotel in Eastbourne.
• Charges:

  Gulzar faces six counts of fraud and four counts of operating a company with intent to defraud creditors.
• Properties:

  He owns Eastbourne Pier and Hastings Pier, in addition to the hotels mentioned in the fraud cas

Maybe HMRC and Peter and Francesca could join with the water company (and probably several others!) together in a class action.