Hastings Pier: Group interested in buying listed building

The business behind Hastings Pier recently went into liquidation leaving behind over £300,000 in debts to creditors including the council.

Now, community group Friends of Hastings Pier said they would look into the possibility of buying the pier should it be put up for sale in a bid to bring it under community ownership.

James Chang, a spokesman for Friends of Hastings Pier, said: “If it comes up for sale we would do some fundraising. We would want to take the pier into community ownership.

“In the meantime we are lobbying, we want whatever happens to be transparent.

“As a group we are always concerned with the maintenance of the pier. We want to preserve it for future generations to enjoy.”

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Lion Hastings Ltd, the business behind Hastings Pier, was wound up voluntarily in August and officially filed for liquidation in September with £5,000 available to creditors and debts of over £300,000.

Hastings Pier

The company owed nearly £100,000 to its owner, Sheikh Abid Gulzar, as well as £30,000 to Hastings Borough Council.

Friends of Hastings Pier say they act as a watchdog to look over the ownership of the pier.

The group added that if the pier were to be put up for sale they would seek to fundraise enough money to bid for the historic Grade II Listed Pier.

Hastings Pier has a chequered past which includes storm damage, fire and a multi-million-pound renovation project.

The pier was bought by hotel owner Sheikh Gulzar, who also owns Eastbourne Pier, in 2018.

A spokeswoman for Hastings Borough Council previously said: “Hastings Pier is an important asset for our town. We are aware that residents and visitors are concerned about it following the recent news about its owning company going into administration.

“We are following these updates, particularly as the council is a creditor, but the Pier is privately owned so there are limits to what action the council can take.”