Here it is again! The Birch Room is named....

The Jeremy / Eugenius Room on the Pier

From the Newsletter
Jeremy was a great supporter of the Pier; he features as an important participant in very many of the most significant photos that mark the progress of the Pier project.
Hastings Pier Charity would like to acknowledge his tremendous contribution to making the restoration of Hastings Pier a reality and we will be naming the education room in the newly built Visitor Centre the Birch Room in recognition of the two Birches – Jeremy and Eugenius – who have both put their energy and expertise to the service of the Pier, past, present and future.

Council leader Peter Chowney discusses plans for Hastings Pier

...Cllr Chowney said: “He [Abdil Gulzar]has got some good ideas and if he has the money to carry them out there are some interesting things that could happen there. I think he has to be careful about making sure he connects with the people of Hastings and involves them in his plans.

 “Obviously there has been some opposition to this, to the process certainly. I know some people are a bit suspicious about the way it happened and about the new owner . I think he has got to reach out to the people who have been critical and get them involved in the running of the pier in the future.

 “He also has to realise that it is a Grade II listed structure and that anything that happens on there – from new huts to paint – does need listed building consent. We have made all that clear to him but having said that we are also prepared to work with him on his future plans for the pier......

Read more at: https://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/politics/council-leader-discusses-plans-for-hastings-pier-1-8578361

"How £14m of charity assets was sold to a businessman for £50,000"

Not long ago, a community benefit society, Hastings Pier Charity, went into administration.  It was the first example of administration for a community benefit society – often known as a bencom – and it produced a slightly startling result

.  - See more at: https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/voices/how-14m-of-charity-assets-was-sold-to-a-businessman-for-50-000.html#sthash.a2rX5deJ.HUhXniYf.dpuf

Community group seeks parliamentary inquiry into Hastings Pier sale

Community group seeks parliamentary inquiry into Hastings Pier sale

Hastings and St. Leonards Observer

A community group which sought to keep Hastings Pier in public ownership has requested a parliamentary inquiry to look into the sale

 

“… do not support the hostility shown towards Mr Gulzar and ….. strongly condemn the vandalism.

“…. do not have an issue with Mr Gulzar – in fact, …. would like to work with him to make a success of the pier.  The issue we have is how the administrators came to their decision and whether they made the right one.  This inquiry would be about transparency and has nothing to do with the new owner."

https://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/business/community-group-seeks-parliamentary-inquiry-into-hastings-pier-sale-1-8571612

Speaks for itself!

Raises (again) the quesion of due diligence

Walking on water or lost at sea? Hastings split over its people’s pier
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/14/hastings-pier-local-protest-abid-gulzar

FoHP MEMBERS OPEN MEETING

FoHP MEMBERS OPEN MEETING FRIDAY 3rd AUGUST 7 pm  The White Rock Hotel - Seafront room. Please reply to this email if attending Thank You. or reply here friendsofhastingspier@gmail.com

TIDE US OVER!

This blog was started partly to serve as a historical source for researchers, so I include the following.

“The Dead Wood is Going: This Boat is Going to Sail”

TIDE US OVER!

“There have been a lot of successes recently, not least the bank holiday weekend, and there’s some really great staff and brilliant volunteers * and we will build on that this summer and hopefully galvanise both them and the wider town to prove that we can do it as a town. Not that we can make it fantastically profitable, but that we can make a difference right now and start to stem those losses and move towards phase two.” she added.

* Mr. Gulzar's 'dead wood'

“SHAMBOLIC”

Due diligence mention is especially relevant, there doesn't seem to have been much of that done! - Why not?

Great Panjandrum himself I assume.....

.... is to be thanked for the presence of high flying Pirate flags.  Thank you!

2018? Maybe at least a Flag or two?

Hastings Pirate Day will be back on 15 July 2018 -  

Events in Town Centre, The Pier [???] and the Old Town.

Procession around the Old Town.

After six years, still the Pirate Capital of the World!

Going up!

Continuity - fishing from Hastings Pier

Sort of an tangential - but relevant to researchers!

The Great British Sell Off
https://locality.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/The-Great-British-Sell-Off-FINAL.pdf

For the (Historical) Record

My promise as new pier owner

Hastings and St. Leonards Observer-28 Jun 2018

I write as the proud new owner of Hastings Pier and wish to comment on ... First, I want to say how delighted I am to have bought Hastings Pier.

Residents to notice changes to Hastings Pier 'very quickly'

Hastings and St. Leonards Observer-27 Jun 2018

The new owner of Hastings Pier said residents would see changes to the ... “Suffice to say, Hastings Pier has to be run as a business, and a ...

PICTURES: Hastings Pier reopens to the public

Hastings and St. Leonards Observer-26 Jun 2018

PICTURES: Hastings Pier reopens to the public ... The gates to Hastings Pierwere opened for the first time under Sheikh Abid Gulzar's .

New owner sends message to Hastings as pier reopens

Hastings and St. Leonards Observer-25 Jun 2018

Ahead of opening the pier, Mr Gulzar said: “Let's talk up Hastings and talk up Hastings Pier. “I don't want to hear all the moaning and negativity.

Owner Sheikh Abid Gulzar announces pier opening at 10am on Monday

The Argus-24 Jun 2018

HASTINGS Pier will reopen tomorrow (Monday June 25) after the sale to entrepreneur Sheikh Abid Gulzar. It was announced ten days ago that .

What Sheikh Abid Gulzar plans to do with Hastings Pier

Hastings and St. Leonards Observer-23 Jun 2018

The reopening of Hastings Pier under the ownership of Sheikh Abid Gulzar has been delayed with suggestions it may open next week.

VIDEO: New owner discusses plans for Hastings Pier

Hastings and St. Leonards Observer-19 Jun 2018

The new owner of Hastings Pier Sheikh Abid Gulzar said the popular landmark will reopen on Friday – a week after he completed his purchase.

New pier owner says he will 'never charge for entrance' says MP

Hastings and St. Leonards Observer-19 Jun 2018

The new owner of Hastings Pier told the town's MP he would 'never charge' for entrance and is 'eager to engage with the community' in a ...

VIDEO: Eastbourne Pier owner committed to Eastbourne after ...

Eastbourne Herald-19 Jun 2018

Mr Gulzar was pictured on Hastings Pier on Saturday morning and admits there is plenty of work to be done there. But he says Eastbourne Pier ...

GREAT to see Billy Can back in Business!

Future of Hastings Pier plans in doubt after sale to sheikh

The prospects for the second phase of dRMM’s regeneration of Hastings Pier are uncertain following the venue’s sale by administrators to sheikh Abid Gulzar, the owner of Eastbourne Pier.
https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/future-of-hastings-pier-plans-in-doubt-after-sale-to-sheikh/10032180.article

• 
  The prospects for the second phase of dRMM’s regeneration of Hastings Pier are uncertain following the venue’s sale by administrators to sheikh Abid Gulzar, the owner of Eastbourne Pier