End-of-the-year pier show unveiled

Admired by our MP Amber Rudd and White Rock Theatre director Lorna Strawson, but castigated by the rotters on Mailonline, the new Hastings Pier has been a talking point from the moment it reopened in May. It has hosted concerts and film shows, as well as providing seaside entertainment of a more traditional kind. So what will the festive period bring? Toby Sargent has the details.

The pier’s location, slap-bang adjacent to the White Rock Theatre, has provided an obvious tie-in for its first Christmas since reopening: a Neverland-themed event linked to the theatre’s pantomime, Peter Pan.

Running for six weeks from Friday 18 November 2016 until Monday 2 January 2017, there will be newly created attractions and events to entertain children and adults alike.

Jolly Roger

Captain Hook’s pirate ship The Jolly Roger will be much in evidence, offering what the organisers’ PR team gushingly describe as “a full experience of being on the high seas.” Not literally we have to hope, but it’s free, so definitely worth a go.

Snow slide

At £2 a time (three goes for a fiver) you can whoosh down a snow slide, which also looks like a strong bet to become a favourite. As far as I can tell, the top will be on the upper deck area, with a splendid slide down to deck level. Should be fun.

What else? Well, there will be illuminated funfair rides, Christmas markets, and Hastings Pier Charity’s popular free family Christmas workshops. And there’ll be seasonal food and drink, festooned chalets and the excellent Pavilion Restaurant and Bar.

And don’t be surprised if characters from the pantomime opposite make an appearance from time to time.

Festive celebrations

Karen Trimmings, operations manager at Hastings Pier Charity, has a cheerful message for locals and visitors alike:

“This will be the first Christmas that Hastings Pier has been open to the public in almost a decade.  We are thrilled to be able to invite you onto the pier for our festive celebrations, and look forward to seeing you there!”

Hastings Pier will remain free to enter over the Christmas period and will be open every day apart from Christmas Day. The Jolly Roger pirate ship will be open between 15.30 and 18.30 and will be free to enter. Funfair rides will be operating from Sunday 11 December.

New pier head

In other news on the pier, Hastings Pier Charity have announced a new chief executive – Jo Stewart – who takes over following the departure of Simon Opie earlier this year.

She is currently working for the Government quango English Heritage managing the 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield estate, and has managed Battle Abbey for the last four years.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Stewart said:

“I’m absolutely delighted to have this opportunity to work with Hastings Pier. I watched its rebirth with enormous interest over the past few years and now to be able to make my own contribution to its success is enormously exciting.”

From fire-scarred wreck to brand new

John Lovering, who chairs the charity, paid tribute to her predecessor:

“Simon did an extraordinary job, taking the pier from fire-scarred wreck to virtually brand new and raising over £15m on the way. Jo combines strong retail experience and keen, up to the minute knowledge of running a big, busy local attraction from her four years at Battle. She will lead us through into the next decade as a profitable, successful and entertaining venue for locals and visitors alike.”

“Neverland at Christmas” on Hastings Pier will run from 18 November until 2 January. Tickets for the snow slide will be sold via the Hastings Pier Hut. Market days are as follows: Sat 3 and Sun 4 December (Retrobella’s Vintage and Retro Market) and Christmas markets on  Thurs 8, Fri 9, Sat 10, Sun 11, Thurs 15, Fri 16, Sat 17, Sun 18, Thurs 22, Fri 23 and Sat 24 December.

Also in: Hastings Life

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