The FINANCIAL — A 30-bedroom luxury hotel is to be built on Southwold Pier, following the sale of the landmark structure to Gough Hotels, off a guide price of £6m.
Roger Gough, whose company owns two hotels – the four-star, 80-bedroom Angel in Bury St Edmunds and the four-red-star, 70-bedroom Salthouse in Ipswich – said he was very excited by the challenge of creating the UK’s first pier hotel.
"To be able to build a hotel in Southwold – one of the most iconic places on the east coast of England – is an amazing opportunity, as is being able to build a hotel on a pier," he explained. "We see it as a great opportunity to expand our business and are delighted to get involved in such a wonderful town."
The 623ft-long pier was bought by Gough Hotels from Stephen and Antonia Bourne, who have been the owners since 2005. As Caterer and Hotelkeeper said, originally built in 1900, before being destroyed by a storm in 1934, the pier was rebuilt in 2000, since when it has enjoyed a rejuvenation as a leisure venue with shops, cafés and a restaurant.
"We are confident we can build on the success of the pier and in time develop the luxury hotel which will transform the business into a 365-day-a-year enterprise," Gough said. "This will not only boost the pier’s shops and restaurants, but increase employment and the appeal of the town as a year-round tourist destination."
Gough said that he hoped to adjust some aspects of the planning permission, obtained in 2010, to create an art deco-style hotel. "We may make some alterations, but the design will reflect the hotel’s coastal location."
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