Historic pier to reopen after six-month closure

A Grade II listed pier is set to reopen after being shut for six months for essential electrical works.

Hythe Pier was bought by local parish councillor Ashleigh Mutimear-MacMillan in 2024 as part of a campaign to safeguard its future, and the maintenance work was the latest part of a long-term restoration plan.

In a post on Facebook, she announced that it would reopen on Thursday 2 April after local businesses and volunteers helped to conduct "extensive electrical upgrades" and a "full clean up" of the site.

There will be a £1 entry fee but it will be free for children under five.

The pier had, until August 2024, been the home to Hythe Ferry, which connected Southampton and Hythe.

But it was no longer able to continue after its pontoon and supporting structure were found to be damaged.

The ferry was acquired by Red Funnel and was put up for sale by the operator's new owners, Njord Partners, in February.

Mutimear-MacMillan said: "Whilst the ferry and train are not yet operating, we could see how incredibly important it was that we bring our much loved pier back to the community."

She added that it was hopefully the "first step towards restoring the service".

Opened in 1881, the Hythe Pier stretches about 700 yards (640m) from the centre of Hythe into Southampton Water, making it the seventh longest pier in the UK.