Why the 2026 Pier of the Year really stands out

It started off life as a marvel of Victorian engineering and invention.

Now, after a £2m refurbishment, the Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth this week was named the national Pier of the Year.

So what are the five reasons that helped it to lift the coastal crown - and how did piers become so loved?

The Britannia Pier - one of two along the Norfolk seaside resort's Golden Mile - has beaten off competition from 61 others to be voted the best one in Britain by the National Piers Society (NPS).

The Essex-based preservation charity was set up by poet Sir John Betjeman in 1979 to protect the uniquely British promenade when some of the grandest examples risked being knocked down.

About 100 seaside piers once dotted the coastline, but numbers have dwindled to 62 - with all eligible for the title, says the NPS.

Wooden jetties have been used across the world for centuries, but it was the Victorians who conceived the concept of the pleasure pier.

These structures demanded ambitious engineering, showcasing both a daring man-versus-nature confidence over the sea and an innovative spirit.

Huge population rises during Queen Victoria's reign saw people mainly living in cities and towns - and combined with the railway revolution - led the masses to head to the seaside.

Wooden and steel piers, crowned with elaborate pavilions and audacious theatres provided the perfect place for paddle steamers to dock and holidaymakers to parade.

As part of their seaside escape, these day-trippers literally got to walk on water for a day, all while enjoying panoramic sea views.

With piers flourishing across Britain, Great Yarmouth was keen to have its own landmark, leading to Wellington Pier opening in 1853 and Britannia in 1858.

Turbulent times and replacements followed due to boat collisions, storm damage, a series of fires - including one said to be started by two suffragettes - and being sliced in half during World War Two to stop enemy boats from landing.

The Britannia reopened in its current form in 1958.

A froth of pink candyfloss, flashing arcade lights and a stroll along the pier are exactly what makes any trip to the seaside.

This sense of nostalgia helped push Norwich businessman Joseph Abbott, together with co-owner and wife Cherise Abbott, to plunge £2m into Britannia Pier.

They bought the pier in December 2022 and got to work on an ambitious overhaul, with the speed and scale grabbing the voters' attention.

"I used to come to Great Yarmouth as a child - my mum and dad used to bring me and we used to always go on the pier... play on the rides and the games," says Joseph.

"To now own it and see it grow - it's fantastic. To win this award... it's a great achievement."

Britannia Pier's 1970s' orange sign was dismantled to give way to a 1920s-30s' inspired frontage, sandwiched between zinc-clad turrets, and boasting a digital advertisement screen.

Its amusement arcade was knocked down, tripled in size and replaced with a taller curved roof.

Meanwhile, the makeover of the Pier Tavern - one of the pier's two pubs - was revealed earlier this month, with its complete refit including new bars and bifold doors opening on to a seafront terrace.

Millions of pounds are currently being invested into other venues across the town.

This includes £18m on transforming the Winter Gardens, plans are also afoot for a multi-screen cinema, hotel and shops on North Quay, a £10m investment in a new port terminal - and The Iron Duke pub is due to reopen later this year after a £2m restoration.

One of the country's last five working end-of-the-pier theatres is found at the Britannia, with the others in Cromer in Norfolk, Blackpool's North Pier, Worthing in West Sussex and Penarth in Wales.

Laughter, cheers and tears have echoed inside its walls since it opened in 1958, with end-of-the-pier comedy now a byword for the heyday of British seaside humour.

Co-owner Cherise Abbott thinks the theatre helped steer the pier to the title and was praised during the NPS annual conference last year.

"It was so nice to hear their feedback with the difference they could see over the time since we took it over, especially the theatre," she says.

"We haven't particularly set to work yet investing in the theatre... as it's quite a big undertaking, but we have been pushing to bring more shows and extend the season of the theatre, so it's running through the winter."

Long summer seasons featuring twice-nightly shows, running from June to September, were once the norm for Britannia Pier's star-studded line-ups, which included Ronnie Corbett and Cannon & Ball.

It was also where love blossomed during 1979's summer run for magician Paul Daniels and dancer Debbie McGee - staples of Saturday night TV across three decades.

A more unexpected booking for the 1,300-seat theatre came in 2009 when singer Morrissey performed there on his tour.

One of the largest coastal attractions in Norfolk, Britannia Pier has ambitions to attract a broad range of visitors all year round.

A traditional summer variety show nestles on the bill alongside a K-Pop night and comedy nights including Jason Manford.

In what is believed to be a first for the venue, the line-up also boasts a Christmas pantomime starring Gareth Gates.

"That's a new thing which generates more income for the pier and the town itself - more people that would come to Great Yarmouth that normally wouldn't," Cherise adds.

"As a whole, I think they [NPS] were just impressed with bringing the pier back to life and extending its season and wanting people to come all year round."

Experts and enthusiasts from the volunteer-run NPS spend their year visiting and rating the country's piers, ahead of awarding the annual prize.

NPS chairman Tim Wardley says its members have been "hugely impressed with the new developments and attractions" and praises the warm welcome offered by the pier.

As part of that welcome and investment in updating the architecture, the Britannia Pier's landmark orange letters had to be dismantled due to weather damage.

Cherise says it felt like a bold move and led to some criticism, but she believes the work on the frontage has paid off.

"People are definitely warming to it and understanding the reasons behind why we had to do that," she says.

"This award shows people are appreciating it."

The pier's family-friendly facilities were also highlighted by voters as a reason for the prize win.

With more room given over to the amusement arcade and a new sports bar due to open in May, the site's family appeal is getting a boost.

Holidaymaker Debbie, 64, is a regular visitor and tells the BBC the pier's family atmosphere is important to her.

"I love it. I've been coming here since I was a small child - I bring my grandkids, my children - it's a family tradition," she says.

"It looks much nicer from the front... the little pub at the front used to look a bit shabby and a little bit rundown, but now it looks quite smart."

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