A historic Victorian pier in a much-loved seaside town faces an uncertain future and could close for good after its owner fell into liquidation.
The operator of Eastbourne Pier, which has been a staple of many Britons' summers since 1886, has been compelled into liquidation following a court order issued last month.
Lions Pier Limited received a compulsory winding-up order on May 12, 2026, stemming from a petition lodged on March 25, this year.
Abid Gulzar, the businessman behind the company, appears as its sole director according to Companies House records.
The future of Eastbourne Pier is in doubt
|GETTY
Control of the firm has now passed to the Official Receiver as liquidation proceedings kick into gear.
Under compulsory liquidation, typically initiated by creditors who remain unpaid, the court-appointed Official Receiver assumes full authority over proceedings and must examine both the circumstances of the company's collapse and the conduct of its director.
With the collapse of Lions Pier Limited, if the company is declared the owner, the Official Receiver could decide to sell the pier as part of the liquidation process.
If Mr Gulzar holds the freeholder separately, he could still have control of the pier despite his company effectively collapsing.
A list of the top 10 warmest UK summers since records began | PALATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Mr Gulzar, who earned the moniker "Mr Goldfinger" owing to his fondness for gold jewellery and a striking gold Mercedes, took ownership of Eastbourne Pier in October 2015.
He later secured Hastings Pier for just £60,000 when Hastings Pier Charity fell into administration in November 2017.
The charity had previously undertaken a major reconstruction of the Victorian structure using £14.2million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Community groups had fought to retain local ownership, with Friends of Hastings Pier gathering more than £430,000 towards a £500,000 target
Multiple businesses operate on the pier front
|GETTY
Despite these efforts, administrators chose to sell to Mr Gulzar, pointing to his "best immediate financial capability" and track record running the Eastbourne attraction.
That firm was dissolved earlier this year. His hotel enterprises also encountered trouble, with Chatsworth Hotels Ltd and Lion Hotels Ltd both entering voluntary liquidation in 2017.
A spokesperson for Eastbourne Borough Council said: "We are monitoring the situation at Eastbourne Pier very closely.
“It is an iconic and much-loved seafront attraction, and we hope the Official Receiver can secure an outcome that ensures it remains open and restored for residents, visitors and businesses based on the pier.
“While the pier has always been in private ownership, council officers routinely check its general condition and these checks will continue.”