Blackpool’s oldest pier for sale
The Sedgwick family is parting ways with the grade two-listed North Pier after 14 years of ownership, using the potential sale as a chance to focus on the seaside town’s Central and South piers, which it also owns.
Built in 1863, the North Pier boasted a £2.3m turnover for the year ending in December 2024. A prime example of Victorian architecture, the pier feature a 1,465-capacity theatre, an amusement arcade, a two-tier carousel, and multiple cafes and bars. There is also an electric train that provides rides to guests from one end of the pier to the other.
All of the assets are included in the sale, with the owner functioning as the operator for much of the site. Approximately 40 seasonal workers and 13 year-round employees keep the pier operational.
The Sedgwick family had purchased the 145,300 sq ft property in 2011 for £140,000, according to HM Land Registry files. Since then, it has conducted a series of improvement works, including a 2020 refurbishment of the 500-capacity Bloom Bar. A planning application has also been lodged for a substantial refresh of the pier’s Merrie England Bar.
No guide price is currently listed for the pier, with agent Avison Young stating that “sensible” offers would be accepted.
“Piers are really hard to price,” said Avison Young director Richard Baldwin. He noted that their value goes beyond just what sits on the pier itself, but also is dependent on structural integrity.
When pressed by Place North West for a rough idea of how much the pier may go for, Baldwin stated: “We’re not talking about multi-millions, but equally we think some form of premium is expected for it – particularly as the owner/operator has put in a lot of money into refurbishing the Bloom Bar during Covid and is still running it as a trading operation.”
Baldwin described the pier as “a rare and exciting opportunity to acquire a prominent, multi-faceted family entertainment attraction in one of the UK’s flagship seaside destinations,” in a press release.
“With its mix of leisure, entertainment, and food and beverage uses, combined with clear potential to further develop and enhance the existing offer of the Merrie England Bar, the asset presents both immediate income and long-term growth opportunities,” he continued.
In speaking with Place, he highlighted one aspect in particular that made the pier stand out from the roughly 50 other operating piers across the country.
“It’s pretty unique because it has a theatre on it, which is one of only six operating theatres on a pier in the country,” he said. “And it is one of only three theatres operating on the seaward end of the pier. “
Beyond that, it is in a great location, he said.
“The piers in Blackpool seem to be very popular,” Baldwin said. “Blackpool is one of those resort destinations that has always had an endearing draw for people. There has been a lot of investment in Blackpool over the last 10 years, particularly to the foreshore area and the promenade.
And, of course, he added, Blackpool has “a beautiful beach”.
Please bring back the old deck chairs, they were brilliant, it’s not the same now !!
By Eleanor
We’ll give you £27.50 plus a free £5 voucher for use on the arcade each year for life.
By We'll buy any pier dot com
Keep the fishing memberships please!!!!
By Andrew Robinson
The theatre and the bar attached at the theatre needs a complete overhaul, The decking on the pier needs replacing ( Some of it has been replaced but not much ) The Carousel needs refurbished. The other businesses on the pier need updating. In my opinion they have a murial of how the pier looked when it was first built, I think the pier needs a total overhaul. The train needs replacing and a new track put down to support the train. The structural of the pier needs looked at, Personally if I owned the pier that’s the first thing I would refurbish. I also would totally refurbish the whole theatre and decking of the pier.The lighting that runs along the pier needs brought back to how it used to look years ago.
By Alan.