Southend is country's pier of the year
The wooden pier first opened in 1830 and was repeatedly extended over time
At a glance
Southend was praised for how it repurposed old train carriages as seating
The pier opened two new electric trains last year
At 1.3 miles-long (2.1km), it is said to be the world's longest pleasure pier
- Published
Southend-on-Sea's famously long pier has been crowned as the country's greatest.
The National Piers Society (NPS) has handed the Essex city with the Pier of the Year 2023 award, external.
NPS said it was impressed with the two new electric trains, its mix of food and drink and the enthusiasm of volunteers.
King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, unveiled one of the trains on a visit to celebrate Southend's new city status last year.
NPS chairman Tim Wardley said: “Southend Pier is a true survivor having withstood storms, fires, collisions and threats of closure to transform into the vital contributor to the resort's tourism and leisure economy it has become today."
King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, unveiled one of the pier's new electric trains last year
The pier welcomed 412,300 visitors last year - a record for the attraction - which it expected to surpass in 2023.
The pier first opened in 1830 and was repeatedly extended in length, eventually to 1.3 miles (2.1km), to accommodate more boats at low tide.
Its older train carriages have been repurposed as seating areas on the pier.
Cromer Pier was voted in second place followed by Brighton Palace Pier in third.
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