LLANDUDNO pier in North Wales has been voted PIER OF THE YEAR 2005 by the members of the National Piers Society. SOUTHEND, the world’s longest pier, came second, and CROMER in Norfolk third. Eight other piers were nominated in the annual poll of the Society’s 650 members. The award will be presented during the Society’s Annual General Meeting at Southsea South Parade pier on Saturday 2 July.

Llandudno pier was opened in August 1877 at a length of 1,234 ft. Seven years later it was extended past the Grand Hotel and out to sea, taking the total length to 2,295 ft. It is the fifth longest pier in England & Wales, being just 10ft shorter than Ryde, Isle of Wight. It has had a landing stage since 1891, which still receives ships like the Waverley and Balmoral today. For over 100 years the Pier Pavilion hosted all sorts of events from political rallies to summer shows and pantomime, but a mysterious fire in 1994 gutted the historic building. This aside, the pier remains remarkably unaltered from its Victorian heyday.

Steve Mills, Operations Executive at Leisure Parcs Ltd., owners of Llandudno and five other piers, said: “This pier remains, today, the feature landmark in this thriving Victorian resort, providing a unique gallery to view the pastel shaded seafront and the immense sweep of Llandudno Bay. We share our tremendous satisfaction in receiving this award with our dedicated team of management and staff, whose passion for this pier is evident for all to see.”

Gavin Henderson, President of the National Piers Society, commented: “With its rich heritage of fine music in the Golden Age of seaside entertainment, Llandudno pier has sustained a great sense of style and fully deserves the award, which is a First for Wales.”

The PIER OF THE YEAR Award was instituted after the success of Year Of The Pier in 1996 and has to date been won by Eastbourne (1997), Brighton Palace (1998), Clevedon (1999), Cromer (2000), Weston-super-Mare Grand (2001), Southwold (2002), Southport (2003) and Blackpool North (2004).

Press Enquiries: Charlotte Smith (Leisure Parcs) tel. 01253 629600 or Anthony Wills (National Piers Society) tel. 020 7586 5154