Southwold Pier is put up sale for £6m
- Published
A pier built at a seaside resort in Suffolk in 1900 and refurbished 100 years later has been put up for sale for £6m.
Southwold Pier is to be sold with planning permission for a five-storey, 30-bedroom hotel.
The pier, which includes several restaurants, was extended to 623ft (190m) when it was rebuilt in 1999.
The attraction has won a number of national tourism awards over the past few years.
It was named Best Seaside Attraction 2007, Best Tourism Experience 2008 in the East of England and Best Large Attraction 2009.
Britain's only surviving sea-going steam passenger ship, the PS Waverley paddle steamer and its sister ship the MV Balmoral, are frequent visitors to the pier.
Stephen Bournes, who has owned the pier since 2005, said: "We have been striving for three years to acquire planning permission for the new development to provide a new 'art deco' building of merit.
"I feel confident that the foundation stones are well set for the pier to continue in a positive way forward.
"We will leave the pier with great sadness.
"We have enjoyed this wonderful opportunity and have become very fond of all our staff."