A HISTORIC Hampshire pier is set to re-open to the public for the first time since its closure in 2024 after undergoing months of work.
Hythe Pier will reopen on Thursday, April 2 following major electrical improvements and a subtle re-vamp.
Under the management of Hythe Pier Companies, it will cost visitors £1 to walk along the pier, but children under five will be allowed on for free.
A spokesperson for the Hythe Pier, Train and Ferry Group said: “Every £1 you spend goes back into the pier, supporting its future as we begin our transition into a charity.
“Come and walk the full length of the pier (700 yards / 640 meters) take in the views, and be part of this next chapter.”
The attraction is the UK’s seventh-longest pier but has been shut for more than a year and has kept essential ferry services closed, disrupting life for locals.
A crucial stopping point for the Hythe Ferry, which ran regular services to Southampton before the closure, the pier has been essential to the community.
The pier is also home to a historic ferry train which having opened in 1922 makes it the world’s oldest, a feat recognised by Guinness World Records.
Although the reopening is good news for tourists, the essential ferry and train services that once connected the village to Southampton are not yet back on track.
Local councillor Malcolm Wade explained that the pontoon, owned by ferry operator Red Funnel, has been broken for almost two years, leaving commuters, football fans and day trippers cut off.
“We’re waiting for Red Funnel to decide what they’re going to do, because they’ve already written to us to say they’re not interested in running the ferry anymore and we want our ferry back”, he said.
Hythe Pier, Train and Ferry Group said: “We could see how incredibly important it was that we bring our much-loved pier back to the community.
“This is hopefully the first step towards restoring the service.”
