Burnham-On-Sea’s historic seafront Pavilion — which is the UK’s shortest pier — has a new owner this week.
J Holland and Sons, a nationwide entertainment and gaming company, has bought the seafront landmark from the Parkin family, who had owned it for 49 years.
Talking to Burnham-On-Sea.com, a spokeswoman for J Holland and Sons confirmed the deal this week: “We are delighted to have taken over the Pavilion — we have exciting plans for its future.”
Outgoing owner Louise Parkin told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We took over the Pavilion in a dismal condition with a crumbling substructure and rusting pillars and a leaking roof.”
“We have left it in a fully sustainable condition with the roof fully refurbished and renewed and a substructure that, according to English Heritage, is in the best condition of any pier in Britain.”
“We have enjoyed our custodianship but have found it harder work over the last few years with my father’s ill health and so wish the new owners all the best for the future.”
The Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel was the inspiration for the Pavilion, the first to be constructed in reinforced concrete, rather than the steel and cast iron used for other Victorian piers.
Harry Parkin took over the then-derelict Pavilion in 1968 and put in many years of effort on renovating it and maintaining it.
Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported in July 2016 that Burnham-On-Sea’s Pavilion was on sale.
Now that a new owner has been found the next chapter of the building’s history can begin.
