Pier crowdfunder seeks winding-up of the Pier-operating company
When ex-employees of the Pier took their employer, Pier-owner Sheikh Abid Gulzar, to the Employment Tribunal last year, the Decision was entirely in their favour. Nearly £75,000 was awarded against the Pier company. Well over a year later, there has been no payment from Lions Hastings Pier Ltd. In view of this noncompliance and the persistent record of poor management, a crowdfunder has been launched to wind up the company. The target is £7,000. Bernard McGinley reports.
The Tribunal case of May 2022 was reported in HOT. Further details of the Decision were later given. It was also newsworthy enough to be reported last summer in Private Eye No 1578 (p22).
The persistent disregard of the Tribunal Decision, poor record of Sheikh Gulzar and the lack of Pier maintenance has provoked a crowdfunder campaign. The crowdfunder seeks to raise £7,000 by early August. So far it is 29% towards that target. Asked about the reasons for the crowdfunder, former Pier engineer Peter Wheeler explained:
It will make Gulzar acknowledge the debt from the Tribunal, it will demonstrate that bad employers cannot get away with ignoring the consequences of their actions. The Tribunal was at great personal cost in terms of mental stress as well as financial commitment to refute the lies, counter the misogyny and demonstrate sexual harassment by the managers of Lions Hastings Pier Ltd. Ultimately as can be seen from Gulzar’s track record he should be struck off as a director which is a privilege and not a means of defrauding companies by running up large debts then settling for much lower amounts . . . in short, relying on fraud to run companies.
More formally, the crowdfunder’s statement of purpose is this:
After the take-over of Hastings Pier by Abid Gulzar’s company Lions Hastings Pier Ltd, the company made despicable actions and allegations against the Pier staff which resulted in several Employment Tribunals and legal actions all of which were judged against Lions Hastings Pier Ltd demonstrating breaches of Health and Safety, sexual harassment, failure to pay employees, breaking contracts and making false allegations. Minor cases were settled and others outstanding. To bring Lions Hastings Pier to book, a winding up action is necessary which will encompass other County Court judgements against the Pier. The legal fees are substantial as were the Employment Tribunal fees. Companies and Directors which behave so badly time and time again must not be allowed to get away with their fraudulent activities.
Longmores Solicitors are acting to undertake the process.
Five years, what a surprise
Following the terrible fire of 2010 on the Pier, there was slow and careful rebuilding. Hastings Pier won the Stirling Prize 2017, the top award of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Ever since, the Council’s planners have emphasised that this counted for nothing (‘little weight’), though other local authorities (and owners) might have taken the view it added to what made an attraction, and put up a plaque.
The Hastings Pier Charity, which owned the Pier and managed the restoration, foundered in 2018. The administrators (Smith & Williamson) then sold it at a knockdown price to Sheikh Abid Gulzar, with what many felt was unseemly haste. The controversies since then have been many, and continue. Lions Hastings Pier Ltd has a sole director: Sheikh Gulzar. His management of Eastbourne Pier (which he also owns) is at present the subject of legal action in London by British Gas.
Maintenance
On Hastings Pier maintenance, there is no evidence of any programme since the engineers were ‘constructively unfairly dismissed’ as the Tribunal stated. Concerns about the present state of the Pier have been lucidly expressed to Hastings Borough Council but it was disinclined to take action without evidence ‘such as a report from a marine structural engineer’. As the engineers had been dismissed, the point was somewhat Catch-22.
Currently some very basic corrective maintenance being done at low level on the structure: clamping horizontal rails back in place. The X-bracing needs considerable work and nothing has been done with the Abrasion Guards — essential preventative maintenance of the listed structure to prevent the 150-year-old cast iron columns from being entirely worn away. (They are already thin.) A very badly corroded steel column from the 1990s is in serious need of immediate ground works.
The Friends of Hastings Pier have tried hard, seeking an Urgent Works Notice for Mr Gulzar because of the badly corroded column on the west side corner of the Pier, and meeting local MP Sally-Ann Hart to report on this and other damage to the substructure.
Deadline
Over £1,000 of the £7,000 target has been achieved. The deadline for crowdfunder contributions is 4 August. The site is here.
Mr Gulzar and his PR agent were invited to comment but no reply was received.
The writer has contributed to the crowdfunder.
If you’re enjoying HOT and would like us to continue providing fair and balanced reporting on local matters please consider making a donation. Click here to open our PayPal donation link. Thank you for your continued support!
39 Comments
Also in: Home Ground
« New 5G threat for Combe HavenForeshore Trust again silent on development as decision pends »
OK, folks, 38 comments on and it’s time to close them up. Everyone has had a chance to have their say, in the process generating a fair degree of irrelevancy and wild allegations and possibly libellous claims alongside the sensible comments. I’ll follow up some of the points raised privately with contributors with a view to writing a piece – there are certainly matters related to the pier which need discussing even if they are not related to the matter in hand, the crowdfunder prompted by Mr Gulzar’s failure to comply with the employment tribunal decision. Friends of Mr G might like to bring their influence to bear on him to do the right thing, pay what he owes and ensure that maintenance is duly attended to, which could help allay fears that the pier will end up being closed down again.
Comment by Nick Terdre — Monday, Jul 24, 2023 @ 11:55
One more time: a report on Pier ownership and management since 2018 is not a history of the Pier. Those who complain about the record of the Pier Charity have never made a basic statement of case about its failure, but wheel it out whenever Mr Gulzar is criticised for his dodgy record. Among those finding him dodgy are the judiciary. It’s clearly not good enough to say that because he didn’t appear in court (quite a habit of his), his side of the story cannot be known. That’s a dog-ate-my-homework diversion, and sound verdicts can still be reached. Now even his PR man doesn’t want to represent him.
I was at the Employment Tribunal in Ashford in May 2022. Not only did Mr Gulzar not attend, he didn’t send a message to explain his absence. After long considering the ample evidence, Employment Judge Corrigan decided that nearly £75k was due to be paid to the ex-employees. Mr Gulzar ignored this formal decision. That is why the crowdfunder was started.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/legal-fees-to-wind-up-lions-hastings-pier-ltd
The concern for Pier jobs would be more credible if Mr Gulzar hadn’t destroyed so many. The Pier under different ownership could flourish.
Accusations of bigotry and hatred and racism also serve to distract from Mr Gulzar’s hopeless record and his habit of ignoring decisions and obligations he doesn’t care for.
Comment by Bernard McGinley — Monday, Jul 24, 2023 @ 10:30
A rude demeaning comment Nick – ‘it doesn’t occur to me that Mr Gulzar may be responsible’. No it doesn’t occur to me as I do not hold him accountable for this, nor I would guess do all the other staff working on the Pier or all those that use the Pier. If they did they a. they wouldn’t work there or b. visit there. Mr Gulzar was set upon from the ex HPC workers from the off so there was no surprises on the these tribunal cases. What doesn’t seem to occur to you (as we are reduced to this level) is all those staff that are now worrying about their jobs. Already struggling and now this hanging over them. Are these 2 people going to pay their rent, mortgage, feed them & their kids with their payout! Hope this gets printed,my guess is it won’t be.
Comment by Claire — Monday, Jul 24, 2023 @ 10:25
You do need to accept HOT readers comments to make it unbiased reading. It has always been an emotive subject that has not received fair reporting.Based on your comments here however I will no longer be one of your readers. I wonder how many others will have been alienated now. Bernard also uses what I would call nasty language as you call it, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. As raised earlier but Bernard did not reply to was how come the HPC debt to HMRC is different from Mr Gulzars. They didn’t pay HPC staffs tax or NI. These same ones that took Mr Gulzar to tribunal didn’t have their NI paid by HPC ! Interesting isn’t it. On the court case as Mr Gulzar did not attend ,the other side of the story will never be known. As I asked to Jean Parnham but my question has not been posted. Has she seen the ticket that Oliver Smith mentions, was it produced at the hearing ? Perhaps that will shed some light.
Comment by Dan Brown — Monday, Jul 24, 2023 @ 06:47
How should HOT manage comments on its coverage? We want people to have their say but a lot of what is posted goes beyond fair comment into unfounded allegations and irrelevance. What we have here is a news story about the pier ex employees’ crowdfunder which in some quarters has provoked intense and nasty criticism of the writer. A case of shooting the messenger because the message is unpalatable?
No one has disputed the facts but Dan Brown, for one, calls him “bigoted” and Claire refers to his “hatred.” Any neutral observer reading the article would struggle to find any justification for reaching these conclusions. Should a journalist reporting Boris Johnson’s latest lies or any other matter disagreeable to some readers be considered bigoted, or full of hatred?
More usefully perhaps Dan B and Claire would tell us their feelings about the tribunal decision and Mr G’s failure to comply with it.
How the pier ended up in Mr G’s hands gets dragged up but is not relevant to the matter at hand. It is indeed unfortunate that Hastings Pier Charity produced a dysfunctional business plan that led it into bankruptcy, all the while showing a casual disregard for the shareholders. None of this has anything to do with Mr G’s own shortcomings. Dan B considers the action of the ex-employees whose award has not been paid as “selfish”as it may lead to the pier being closed down, but what is his advice as to how they should get paid? Were they selfish for pursuing the legal remedies available to them – in their shoes what would you have done to defend your interests, Dan B?
Claire is concerned about current employees losing their jobs if the pier gets closed down. The fact that Mr G might have some responsibility in this matter doesn’t seem to occur to her. If Mr G behaved properly and paid his dues, none of this would be happening, eh Claire? Does your heart similarly go out to the employees whose NI contributions went unpaid by Mr G?
Comment by Nick Terdre — Sunday, Jul 23, 2023 @ 20:07
Jean- you say what Oliver Smith has said is untrue. Does that mean you have seen the ticket that he mentions? Was it shown at the hearing?
Comment by Dan Brown — Sunday, Jul 23, 2023 @ 17:49
What would be good is if one of our Indian fellow townspeople could add to this discussion. I know at the time of the sale there was certainly upset in the Indian community at the racist comments being made against Mr Gulzar. Also there has been ongoing social media racist comments. No outrage to this here though apart from myself. That’s says a lot.
Comment by Mike — Sunday, Jul 23, 2023 @ 17:11
Mike
At NO point I have I been racist , you pulled that card .
I have just stated facts , which I know are true
Comment by Doreen — Sunday, Jul 23, 2023 @ 15:28
Mike ,
I’m not extending the facts , it’s the truth . Was more than one employee , but going on your comments that’s ok ? Even if it was just one , that’s one too many . Of course as a man you wouldn’t understand. Did you grow up in the 70’s when it was accepted ? Well it isn’t now . Every woman has the right to feel safe in her workplace. I know the facts .
Do you condone sexual harassment?!! Unbelievable
Case was proven and awarded in court , and he still hasn’t paid up .
And there are at least 5 unfair dismissal cases, not three . All won at at tribunals in court. What does that say about him as an employer ?
His first words to the staff on take over was “his scruffy you look “
It’s unbelievable that hat his “supporters “ are so blind and blinkered that they condone this behaviour
Comment by Doreen — Sunday, Jul 23, 2023 @ 15:25
I have been reading all the responses to this article and your response Doreen made me to want contribute. You say it’s not about the previous owners but the whole picture actually does needs taking into consideration. Before you say I am a Mr Gulzar supporter I have no opinion on him one way or the other. I have never met him nor have I been involved in what actually went on between the individuals involved in this as is probably is the case for most contributors here. What I do know is this. Lots of us gave money to Hastings Pier Charity towards the rebuild and running of the Pier. When it went bankrupt obviously we were not happy (for want of better wording) that our money had been wasted. Then came the buyout plan for £1 headed by the same person that had run the Charity which also failed. This is where Mr Gulzar comes on the scene and his bid of £65,00o was successful. Completely understandable based on the amount of the bid & the fact he owned Eastbourne Pier. What then went on that evening when he came to take ownership, to literally be set upon by Jess Steele & the pier staff was truly disgraceful. After this then follows the tribunal cases from some of these same staff of HPC. I read that Mr Gulzar didn’t attend the hearing but having been attacked once could well have thought the same would happen. A real shame however he did not send legal representation so that the other side of the story could be heard here. As is mentioned if this winding up order against him is successful the result will be the Pier is shut down. That is the actual travesity here in that those same people that supposedly so care about the Pier will actually cause its closure for their own agenda.
Comment by Suzy — Sunday, Jul 23, 2023 @ 13:18
For anyone who has any doubts about this issue I attended the Employment Tribunal. I witnessed the whole proceedings. The cases were regarding constructive dismissal and sexual harassment. The proceedings took all day. Mr Gulzar choose not to attend, neither was he legally represented. Whatever Oli Smith says about these two employees is completely untrue, and his comments are nasty and distasteful. This new court case is about getting the settlement ordered by the tribunal judge. There is no point going over the history of the ownership of the pier. But everyone should remember that without the massive efforts by the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust to secure National Lottery funding, Hastings Pier would be a twisted pile of wreckage in the sea. There is a crowdfunder for legal costs and I would urge you in the name of justice to make a contribution.
Comment by Jean Parham — Sunday, Jul 23, 2023 @ 13:05
Doreen – another one ‘extending’ the facts here. It was one ex HPC female employee that cited sexual harassment as part of her tribunal case. That said I am neither a Gulzar supporter nor condoning sexual harrassment.Neither do I condone the racist behaviour towards him. What I am is a realist though & this aim to get a winding up order is not the answer. Mr Gulzar will not be the one to suffer, it will be the other 99.99% of Hastings residents that will as the Pier will get shut down. Simple fact.
Comment by Mike — Sunday, Jul 23, 2023 @ 10:20
This is not about the previous owners of the pier. It is about Gulzar not paying his ex employees the money they have been awarded in court .
Seems like a lot of you “men “ are condoning the sexual harassment of ex employees. That is NOT acceptable anywhere . This is not made up .
I do not need comments about how the pier was mismanaged etc . This is about a man who treats his employees with contempt . This was not the first case , there were several others , all awarded in court
Why are you Gulzar supporters so blinkered?
You wouldn’t want a female relative of yours to be treated that way . And yes , it is true before anyone tries to argue .
Seems it’s all men condoning his behaviour which says it all .
Don’t call me a troll either . I’m just stating the truth
The lessees of the pier walked away from the third year of their lease as the rent was increased.
Out of that and the current lessees, he had plenty of money to pay the money awarded by court . Perhaps he’d like the bailiffs sent in?!
It’s not as if he spends it on maintenance ?! The invisible engineer has only just appeared in the last few weeks
All he has to do , is pay what he owes . Ordered to by the court .
What would you do in that situation ? Walk away ? I don’t think so .
Take the blinkers off your eyes and if your so friendly with him , get him to pay what is due , as been ordered by the court
I know of three others that won unfair dismissal cases against him , he has a track record .
Pay up and it stops , Simple’s
Comment by Doreen — Sunday, Jul 23, 2023 @ 09:21
Bernard – you seem so wrapped up in your hatred & need to get him gone that you are giving no consideration for the here & now of the Pier. Really a very bitter selfish look. Most of the towns people including myself & certainly the visitors don’t give a flying fig about Mr Gulzar & his financial history. The Pier is leased out its not even him running it.What we want is the pier open to walk on, the entertainment, the kids rides, the restaurants etc. All the best it has been this year. The staff there want to keep their jobs & its certainly not good for them worrying about what is going to happen with this. There will be a lot of angry people if this is successful!
Comment by Claire — Saturday, Jul 22, 2023 @ 11:37
Certainly makes informative reading from you Oliver Smith. HOT needs to try & hire you rather than the bigoted Bernard McGinley. So the plot thickens doesn’t it. Some of those that lost their money to HPC by buying shares then gave more money to these 2 ex HPC employees to take Mr Gulzar to tribunal without knowing the full story. Here we are now & some are handing over yet more money to try & get his company wound up. If the winding up is successful will they get recompensed I wonder. You really couldn’t write it could you. The bottom line was meant to be all they cared about wax the future of the Pier but if successful in this it will be shut down. Very selfish behaviour as no consideration whatsoever for all those staff working there now or all the enjoyment being had from the events on there.
Comment by Dan Brown — Friday, Jul 21, 2023 @ 19:35
So the response to the observation of whataboutery is more whataboutery. The concern for ‘smaller companies’ is touching. In over 5 years have the supporters or defenders of Mr Gulzar produced any articles on the subject? Perhaps the BS detector kicked in again.
More adversity on the Pier was reported last November:
https://www.coinslot.co.uk/2022/11/24/hastings-pier-seeking-new-management-after-increasing-costs-push-rents-up/
The companies and staff left because Mr Gulzar hiked the rents up steeply. Businesses were priced out, and many huts and sheds remain untenanted.
The HOT article on the crowdfunder is not about Pier history or other diversions. (It’s also not about the microclimate of Pebsham, the Women’s World Cup, or who shot JFK.) It’s about the management record of the present owner of Hastings Pier. Mr Gulzar was invited to comment, but he didn’t. Also and separately, his sometime PR agent replied:
Please note I do not act for Mr Gulzar
Thanks
When the Pier was sold in June 2018, the administrators Smith & Williamson stated:
It is anticipated that significant cash for working capital and investment purposes, amounting to over a million pounds, would be required to make the pier sustainable.
Smith & Williamson did not or could not explain where this figure came from, despite several requests to do so. They are now part of Evelyn Partners.
Here’s a legal decision (failed appeal) from May 2018, by Judge Gillett:
https://financeandtax.decisions.tribunals.gov.uk/judgmentfiles/j10576/TC06613.pdf
Mr Gulzar is the sole director of Lions Hastings Pier Ltd and seven other companies. His ‘previous’ is considerable.
https://hastingsonlinetimes.co.uk/hot-topics/home-ground/carry-on-regardless-at-hastings-pier
Despite his repeatedly chaotic management style and record he has a responsibility to his leaseholders and employees and others. He could observe the law and settle his Tribunal debts of more than £74k to employees constructively dismissed (including by harassment). Alternatively, instead of proceeding by the trolling of critics, why not start a crowdfunder campaign to cover his legal obligations?
Comment by Bernard McGinley — Friday, Jul 21, 2023 @ 12:56
What you seem to have casually side stepped Mr Blair is the impact this winding order if successful will have on the people working on the Pier now. The tribunal was one females grievance against Mr Gulzar. All those females (&males) working on the Pier now will actually be the ones that suffer by losing their jobs. They don’t even work for Mr Gulzar. Awful way to treat fellow townspeople!
Comment by Claire — Friday, Jul 21, 2023 @ 10:14
Blair
I’m about as anti sexist, anti free market, humous eating, woke and nauseatingly leftist as you could possibly imagine, however, I also have a keen sense for B.S. and justice.
What sparked my interest in this whole saga, after seeing Jesse Steele maul that uppity transgressors that evening was the rather late-in-life, depressing realisation that so many of whom I would have thought would know better, other lefty liberals like myself for example, would have been more honest about what has happened here. I thought we were the good guys but I’ve grown up now.
So many lies, untruths, false claims, fraudulent activities, bullying, greed, self interest and shameless disregard for natural justice that I take anything said against the current, maligned incumbent of that lump of private property (as it always has been) with a huge pinch of salt.
Did these two throw a hissy fit when it turned out he needed a specialist ticket to carry out rope work supervision under the pier? Had he previously been on a warning and asked to produce it? Did the shifty shafty Pier “charity” defaulters forget to hand over all the employment and HR files when they and Jesse did a moonlight flit and burnt their shareholders in an act of pique?
Do I make this stuff up? No. It’s all in the growing pile of evidence that better minds are slowly gathering.
Comment by Oliver Smith — Thursday, Jul 20, 2023 @ 18:54
Mr Blair – firstly your post needs rewording. It was one member of HPC’s female staff that took Mr Gulzar to the tribunal. Very underhand to make it seem as if it was many. No obviously I do not agree with sexual harrassment. In the same breath however nor do I agree with the racist comments made on Facebook or the social media bully gang trying to get him gone. This also needs dealing with in a court of law & those people held accountable for their despicable behaviour.
As is being pointed out by creating this winding up order to get Mr Gulzar to pay up & get out of town, those that will actually suffer will be those working there now as they will lose their jobs & it will mean the Pier gets shut down.
with all the entertainment
Comment by Mike — Thursday, Jul 20, 2023 @ 16:57
Several men on this thread casually side step HOTs reporting of Mr Gulzar’s court case finding him guilty of abusing his staff. In turn these male commentators excuse it. Have they bothered to read the engineers court case story properly?
The abuse of staff included sexual harassment of young female staff. Oli, Dan, Mike & Philip would you –
Degrade female staff in your employ?
Happily work alongside female colleagues being degraded by your employer?
Encourage your wives/partners, daughters, grand daughters, friends to work for a misogynistic employer?
Discourage women from using human rights laws protecting them from abuse?
All women should be encouraged & supported by us all to use laws available to them to challenge sexual harassment. It takes great bravery for women to speak out & that should NEVER EVER be undermined.
Obviously ALL staff should also be supported by us all to be treated with utmost respect with employers adhering to this countries employment & human rights law’s & tribunal decisions.
There are no ‘buts’.
Comment by Mr Blair — Thursday, Jul 20, 2023 @ 12:21
Again to point out the facts – Hastings Pier Charity did go into administration within a short time of operating owing over half a million. Can you explain Bernard why when you have concerns over money being owed to the state that this doesn’t seem to bother you as some of this debt was to HMRC? Some of it was to smaller companies which could have well had their business destroyed by this. Why did it just get brushed under the carpet,no investigation took place & those running it were not held to account for it? Mr Gulzar comes along & he was the great distraction to it all. By the way haven’t got a clue what the Gulzarites are, some childish name you have given those that support Mr Gulzar I am guessing. Whilst you are sticking up for two ex employees of HPC I am for the hundreds that lost their money to HPC ie bought shares or lost money in the huge debt that they ran up. Also as pointed out here if the Pier gets wound up all those working there now lose their jobs. How does that sit with you Bernard? Needs to be thought out how your desire to get him gone will actually affect a far bigger group of Hastings residents.
Comment by Dan Brown — Thursday, Jul 20, 2023 @ 08:06
Sally, you speak confidently with zero knowledge.
Bernard, you need to wise up too and give your nose a wipe. You talk about “whataboutery” but your whole argument is a relative one.
Maybe you two should speak to Jesse Steele and ask her yourself.
Unless she decides to lie she will confirm what she told me (at our recorded meeting), that as a company director, she was also paid £19k by the Pier “Charity”, in its dying month, to consult on how to get out of their financial woes.
Result, all the directors disappear overnight without calling an extraordinary shareholders meeting (which would have been the norm) and discussing the options and the company is put into administration. Soon after Jesse Steele creates a company and attempts to buy the freehold of the pier, free of all debts (that means no one gets their invoices paid) for just £1 with no backer to cut in on the deal and she hopes walks off with a £14m asset to add to her fast growing, infeasibly valuable portfolio paid for by sucking the life out of just about every bit of charity, voluntary workers, grant funding or levelling up money that comes into Hastings.
No wonder she was fuming and arranged a lynch mob to terrorise the new incumbent. She utterly misjudged her hand.
Watch this space.
Let me know when the scales fall from your eyes Sally and Bernard.
Comment by Oliver Smith — Wednesday, Jul 19, 2023 @ 22:49
To be clear on the sale of the pier to Mr Gulzar as this continually comes up as some kind of dodgy deal.
I spoke to both the administrators and to National Lottery Heritage Fund (funders with a legal charge over the Pier) at the time as I was encouraging the Foreshore Trust to consider purchasing the Pier and to act as a landlord. They declined to engage with the administrators.
The administrators judged, no doubt with the help of HLF, that “Mr Gulzar was the best means of continuing the operation of the Pier as a going concern” and they took into consideration that he was operating a pier without public funds in Eastbourne.
The timescale of the sale was limited by the cost of administrators and continued losses whilst the Pier was kept open, hence Boxpark were not given more time.
In my opinion it was the only option as HLF probably felt the community bid was the same as what had spectacularly failed.
Was the Pier put into administration hastily to clear its debts hoping to buy it back for a pound? It’s legitimate to seek the answers to what happened as lots of people lost significant sums.
Comment by Philip Oakley — Wednesday, Jul 19, 2023 @ 22:04
The whataboutery of the Gulzarites is a campaign of distraction — irrelevant and laughable. Judges (such as Judge Thomas and Employment Judge Corrigan) as well as employees, officials and others have over and over found Mr Gulzar to be evasive, inconsistent and unreliable. His record in managing his Piers and hotels is terrible. One report is here:
https://hastingsonlinetimes.co.uk/hot-topics/home-ground/pier-owner-shamed-by-tribunal-decisions
He has treated with contempt the Employment Tribunal’s decision of May 2022 that he pay nearly £75,000 to the two mistreated employees. This persistent disregard of disagreeable truth is unacceptable in a supposedly professional businessman.
The suggestion that I ‘have it in’ for Mr Gulzar is another diversion. His record speaks for itself.
Comment by Bernard McGinley — Wednesday, Jul 19, 2023 @ 22:00
Anxiously waiting for Oli Smith’s long awaited article on the failures of HPC and Jess Steele. 5 years on and he still hasn’t marshalled his evidence to support his much repeated claims. Is there any substance to them? Still waiting for the concrete evidence. Come on Oli – publish and be damned!
Comment by Christopher Hurrell — Wednesday, Jul 19, 2023 @ 21:13
Me,my family & friends have really enjoyed the entertainment on the Pier over the past few years. Certainly enjoyed this years so far – weather permitting. We don’t care who owns the Pier. All this give it back to the Hastings people, we had it & c…… it up. Had another bash at getting it back & c….. that up too. Mr Gulzar has taken alot of online abuse over the years that he has had it, that to me is wrong on every level. There are other businesses in Hastings that are in similar money situations to him but no reports on those businesses. This just makes it look like Bernard McGinley has it in for Mr Gulzar. I am not mentioning the elephant in the room here & just hope thats not the case. Any hospitality business that made it through Covid deserves some recognition.
Comment by Mike — Wednesday, Jul 19, 2023 @ 17:32
Gulzar is one of many out there who fail to pay Tribunal and court costs. They to are tied up with various county court actions over debts. In my work I cross paths with the likes of him on a regular basis. Gulzar is one of those impervious to court threats and legal actions. He has made a career out of it. They have an expertise in ducking, diving and avoidance. Most times he will no doubt, from my experience, drag things like this out until the moment the threat of High Court bailiffs are going to be knocking at the door. And then he will want to make some sort of payment plan. Many plaintiffs forced to agree to just to get some trickle of what they are owed. This Tribunal issue is just another thing in his life.
And take a look at the Companies House filing history on his companies. Endless threats to “strike out” his several companies for failures to file mandatory documents.
I note the comment about “Lord Brett.” I think he is too busy fighting his family in the High Court as they are contesting their mother’s Will and his claim to the property he lives in.
Comment by Heritage — Tuesday, Jul 18, 2023 @ 07:47
What beggars belief is that those that ran Hastings Pier Charity were not investigated for the sheer mis- management of the Pier for the short time they ran it. Where did all the money go ? All the money of the initial grant & then all the Hastings people’s money. Thats the news report we would like to see here, maybe Bernard could do some investigating on that. All those creditors owed big sums left without any recompense, some being small companies. That’s what miffs me & many other Hastings folk the most, not the fact that it was bought by Mr Gulzar. At least he paid £80k for it & in the most part it has been open & enjoyed by many over the time he has had it. The HPC offshoot gang offered £1 for it. Yep one whole pound. Sorry who’s the crooks !
Comment by Dan Brown — Monday, Jul 17, 2023 @ 16:49
Like John Breeds, I lost £100 trying to get the pier up & running for the people of Hastings/St Leonards. And why it was sold to Mr Unscrupulous Snake beggars belief given his record.
Comment by DAR — Monday, Jul 17, 2023 @ 13:02
Totally support Bernard McGinley’s comments and am shocked at the comments made by Oli Smith which have no foundation in reality and truth. I sincerely hope no one believes anything he says about those involved in saving the pier. He has been single-handedly been poisoning the story for a long time and it now appears he’s quite friendly with Mr Gulzar.
Both men are toxic. Mr Smith currently has a planning application to redevelop a back garden in Pevensey Road that locals object to. More objections required. Links to follow.
Comment by Sally — Sunday, Jul 16, 2023 @ 21:12
Hastings Pier as it now is a total disgrace! Mickey Mouse leased operators blah blah!. Give the pier back to those who actually give a sh+t. The current wealthy owner is only interested in making a quick buck. The pier needs to attract visitors. It needs amusements arcades, bars, decent fun fair rides etc. Presently… it is to use in laymans terms…Piss Poor!
Comment by Mark Pearce — Sunday, Jul 16, 2023 @ 00:33
This is the fourth year running that Mr Gulzar has leased out Hastings Pier. He is yielding a very high income return from this cheap property purchase. He can easily afford to pay all of his Hastings Pier bills including settling these court cases. He can also afford to insure it & pay for maintenance.
Mr Gulzar has easy choices at his fingertips & his choice is to sit on his sacks of cash & not pay his bills. He is renting out & developing various properties in Eastbourne as well as receiving a monthly GOV income of 60k from one of his three hotels. This is not someone feeling the pinch from the cost of living crisis.
Why are people apologising for a wealthy man who treats his staff in such an appalling way? Apologising for a wealthy man choosing to not paying his bills?
Apologising for a wealthy man gaming the system at everyone else’s expense?
No wonder he drives an electric car he can run it for free whilst not paying his utility bills – Court cases in recent years have included NPower & Opal Gas as well as the current ongoing British Gas case.
It is Dickensian miserly behaviour to an extreme.
This sorry outcome is entirely Mr Gulzars choice & making. It would take a few minutes for him to resolve – Get your cheque book out Mr Gulzar!
& anyone continuing to do business with him does so taking a well known risk, Mr Gulzars business practices have been so well documented in local & national papers. It is short term high risk venture & of no true value to the people of Hastings. It is a candy-floss world.
Comment by Mr Blair — Saturday, Jul 15, 2023 @ 17:01
Fact – those that ran Hastings Pier Charity got the Pier into large debts within 18 months of operation. None of that debt, over half a million,was paid back to the creditors. None of the directors of HPC who were responsible for that debt were held accountable. All us Hastings people that invested our money lost our shares due to their mis-management. Those employees that have taken Mr Gulzar to court were originally employees of HPC & then part of the off shoot that tried to buy the Pier back for£1. When that failed ‘sour grapes’ kicked in.
Comment by Dan Brown — Saturday, Jul 15, 2023 @ 15:17
I originally bought a ‘share’ in the Pier when the Friends were trying to buy it. It was only £100 or so but I wrote that off as lost a long time ago!
Didn’t Lord Brett Maclean have something to do with Gulzar’s successful purchase at a knockdown price?
I wonder what he has to say about the present situation?
Comment by John Andrew Breeds — Saturday, Jul 15, 2023 @ 12:14
So if this wind up order up is successful the Pier gets shutdown and all the staff on there lose their jobs. Great news for Hastings !!
Comment by Claire — Friday, Jul 14, 2023 @ 17:24
The allegations about the Pier charity are improvised and diversionary. The issue is the present management. Mr Gulzar’s record as a pier-owner and employer is detailed and ever more unimpressive. As HOT reported last year (in ‘Pier-owner shamed by Tribunal decisions’):
To his formal record as a persistent planning breacher, promiser of undelivered projects, serial and diverse tax-dodger, and stealer of his employees’ money, Sheikh Abid Gulzar has now the sleazy distinction of significant misogynist credentials as a pest and harasser.
Now he’s not paying his Tribunal debts, and in big legal trouble in London. Also, Hastings Pier’s railings need proper painting.
Comment by Bernard McGinley — Friday, Jul 14, 2023 @ 11:13
Would it not be cheaper to enforce the judgments against him as a director?
What would a winding up order actually achieve? Is the aim to take control of the pier through a forced disposal of the company’s assets or just to make Mr G pay up? Winding up the Pier company would likely lead him to walk away without settling as I’m sure there would be many more priority debts ahead of settling judgment awards. The financials of the business don’t look pretty, but Mr G is reportedly taking up to £60k a month from the Home Office for asylum seeker housing
Comment by Philip — Friday, Jul 14, 2023 @ 00:12
“…running up large debts and then settling for much smaller amounts..”?
“Fraud”?
That sounds familiar.
Oh yes! The precise MO of Mr Wheeler’s employers, the falsely named Pier Charity which after paying its director Ms Steele £19k to consult on how to get out of their mess, burned its shareholders overnight without so much as a good bye, falsely claimed to have raised nearly £500k in a fundraiser (actually a short term Igloo loan) and then offered £1 in the hope of acquiring for herself, the asset free of liens and all of its accumulated many hundreds of thousands debts to suppliers.
Oh the hypocrisy and irony!
Comment by Oli Smith — Thursday, Jul 13, 2023 @ 19:39
this is just my humble opinion: we all knew Gulvar’s modus operandi and saw this coming. the difficulty is in exacting legal culpability, as he is obviously a pass-master at this financial game. It still confounds me that Hastings Borough Council bear no responsibility for what is blatantly the biggest architectural immovable structure in the entire borough. they did bear some influence on matters to do with the pier, even if that eventually was withdrawing support of the Friends Of Hastings Pier to prevent the early sale by Smith & Williamson. they too bear responsibility for this appalling foreseeable mess. i hope people make their own judgments about them as a firm and boycott them. this whole sorry mess stank more than what’s now being turfed into the sea, from the start. the message this sends is that if you have enough financial clout (on paper and lets face it Gulvar doesn’t have that much of it) you can ruin a town and people’s lives.
Comment by kendal — Thursday, Jul 13, 2023 @ 08:39