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.

For the record

 There  meeting is part of the liquidation, and not administration, process initiated by the pier owner Sheikh Abid Gulzar. Nick Terdre reports.

Pier owner Sheikh Abid Gulzar has put Lions Hastings Pier (LHP) into voluntary liquidation,( not administration, as previously reported here) . According to an insolvency expert administration is a rescue procedure, while liquidation is terminal.

The Crowdfunder launched to raise legal funds to support an application to have LHP wound up was nullified by Gulzar’s move. It remains live, in view of the expected battle among creditors when they meet.

https://hastingsonlinetimes.co.uk/hastings-life/local-news/pier-crowdfunder-remains-alive

Pier to reopen in the Spring......

"The La Belle Vue restaurant will be situated at the central feature of the pier where the steps are and old visitor centre used to be. In addition, the pavilion restaurant, close to the entrance of the pier, will be an Italian restaurant, serving Italian and Mediterranean food. This will be open all day long for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Both restaurants will be open all year round."

"...its free to come on the pier, so if you just want to come for a nice day out and walk around and appreciate the views, you can do that and enjoy what is a great space.”

Leaseholder Max Wolf will be managing the events side of the business for the pier."

https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/hastings-pier-meet-the-woman-behind-the-new-bistro-and-wine-bar-opening-on-the-pier-4042293

Pier review: revisiting Hastings Pier - 16 DECEMBER 2022

2 https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/pier-review-revisiting-hastings-pier

Some great photos here.

"I expected an anti-climax, to get all the way out here and wish there was, well, more. But when you pause and look out, sun on your face, wind serenading you, all that free space ahead of you is a joy."

What a Goof Idea. Hastings, please copy.

 Yes, we know, you already did it once and look where tht landed us!

North Somerset Council wins fight to buy Birnbeck Pier

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-63761618

North Somerset Council has now succeeded in a court case against the owner and will be allowed to continue with a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO).

It is expected the CPO will be completed next year.

No Comment!

Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register 2022: Here are sites in and around Eastbourne ... Sussex Express A Historic England spokesperson said: “The pier is 1,000ft long  and 52ft wide on a substructure of iron screw piles, designed  by Eugenius Birch .

An Impartial Account of the Situation.......

 .... from Hastings Online Times

https://hastingsonlinetimes.co.uk/hot-topics/home-ground/pier-owner-shamed-by-tribunal-decisions

Positive action - of a sort!

Pier case Tribunal decision details Sheikh Gulzar’s penalty of almost £75k

In May, HOT reported on the Employment Tribunal case of the Hastings Pier engineers who had been working on the Pier. Their case of constructive unfair dismissal was upheld and compensation of nearly £75,000 was awarded. The article was titled ‘Pier-owner shamed by Tribunal decisions’.

The conduct of Mr Gulzar and Pier management considered by the Tribunal was also reported in Private Eye (No 1578, published 29 July 2022, p22).

Hastings County Court - the Land Registry recently registered a Bankruptcy Charge for the Pier (Title Number ESX246860):

2022-09-15 BANKRUPTCY NOTICE entered under section86(2) of the Land Registration Act 2002 in respec of a pending action, as the title of the proprietor ofthe registered estate appears to be affected by a petition in bankruptcy against Sheikh Abid Gulzar presented in the County Court at Hastings (Court
Reference Number 14 of 2022) (Land Charges - Reference Number PA 15983/22).

And here we go again!

 At least this time all extraneous matter has been cleared away and the Pier has been left clean and fresh in the sunshine - albeit closed.  But thanks to thosre responsible for the last two years.  It is a shame greed has made it impossible for you to carry on.

Happy 150th Birthday - against all the odds.

 The words "due diligence" spring to mind.  What a wonderful birthday present it would be for those of us whose hearts have been involved with her over the years to at long last get at least an explanation as to why there was no due diligence done.  Many of us knew the facts, readily available online, but we weren't asked.  Nor anyone else apparently.

Sold for a lot  less than the amount of money put in by shareholders, not for profit, but for love of the Pier.  We live in hope.  (Well, realistically, we don't)

Peter & Francesca - well done!

 https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/news/pier-engineers-vindicated-at-tribunal-but-how-will-68000-awards-be-collected/

Pier engineers vindicated at tribunal – but how will £68,000 awards be collected?HIP May 20, 2022 Pier engineers vindicated at tribunal – but how will £68,000 awards be collected?2022-05

After a tortuous legal process, the former pier engineers Peter Wheeler and Daisy Hill have succeeded in legal claims for constructive dismissal brought against Lions Hastings Pier Limited, the company which Sheikh Abid Gulzar formed to take over operation of Hastings Pier in 2018.

This is no longer news (might be if they actually receive the money!) but is recorded here as part of the ongoing record of Our Pier.

Jubilation! Hastings Pier - Event planners Music First Events take on 3 Year lease.

 The first task will be reopening, which is due to happen on April 12, the next stage of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Dreams of a summer of socialising, dancing, events, live gigs, football and fun looks set to be a reality.

The gates to Hastings Pier will open on Monday, April 12 2021, at 12 noon.

https://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/people/hastings-pier-to-reopen-next-month-as-operators-take-on-three-year-lease-3164481

What Might Have Been

 

Plans to install an ice rink on Hastings Pier this winter will not go ahead as planned.

Hastings Borough Council said they were working closely with the new pier operator, looking at their proposals for the winter, ‘but were notified they would no longer be proceeding’.

The council did not provide any further information.

On Thursday evening (October 29), Hastings Pier said: “Unfortunately the ice skating sessions at the planned Winter Wonderland event will no longer be happening.

The ice rink was due to open on November 21.

It was part of the pier’s Winter Wonderland event which would have been open daily with festive rides, food and bars, until January 3.

There had been concerns about the weight of a full size ice-rink (it had been temporarily reinforced for the instalment of venues under HPC) and the fact that ice and salt air don't mix.

Summer 2020

 Hastings Pier 'Bier Garden'

Hastings Pier can now host 600 seated and socially distanced drinkers after it underwent an impressive transformation.

The new look has also allowed live music to return to the town, with bands able to perform on the elevated platform of the roof terrace.

Hundreds flock to Hastings Pier after it creates the biggest beer garden in town

Hastings Pier has created the biggest beer garden in the area with benches that can seat 600 people.

Food outlets on the re-vamped pier include The Gourmet Griddle, serving up burgers, and 3 Souls in a Bowl who offer an Asian fusion menu………

Hastings Pier to pause live music sets after concerns raised at previous event
Covid 19 fears called an end to live events but the Pier remained open, with 3 Souls in a Bowl not closing (reluctantly) until 3th October 2020