GREAT Yarmouth’s hugely popular arcade on Wellington pier is set to double in size.
Plans are being developed for the amusement arcade to be expanded into a family entertainment centre.
Family Amusements Ltd, which owns Wellington Pier, has put a planning application in to Great Yarmouth Borough Council to transform a derelict roller skating rink which sits on the pier.
Despite being popular in the 1960s, the roller skating rink at Wellington Pier is no longer in use.
Plans submitted by the company show how the new development will blend into the Grade II listed current building.
The plans will reviewed by the council at a later date.
Wellington Pier first opened to the public in 1835, with the 700-foot structure costing just under £7,000 to build.
In the 1990s, entertainer Jim Davidson leased Wellington Pier from the council, later starring in theatre shows at the seaside attraction.
Nowadays, attractions at the pier include a modern amusement arcade, a six-lane bowling alley and a casino for over 18s.
Elsewhere in the Norfolk seaside town, plans are also underway to renovate the facade of Britannia Pier.
Plans to revamp the outside of Britannia Pier were put forward by its owners, Triangle Amusements Ltd, and approved in May.
Work is slated to start on the renovation at the end of summer, with it set for completion in spring 2025.
And Great Yarmouth isn’t the only seaside town in the UK looking to renovate its pier.
The UK’s biggest pleasure pier is set to undergo a £40,000 transformation.
Work is already underway to transform Clacton Pier in Essex.
The Discovery Bay soft play area is currently being transformed as part of a larger renovation project of the pier.
Earlier this year, Discovery Bay celebrated its sixth anniversary, with the revamp marking its first significant change since 2021.
New additions will also be installed, including the Wise Owl’s Library, which is set to take over from a shop.
The cinema at Clacton Pier will also be renamed, and it will be refurbished with a new Art Deco theme and extra lighting.
A refreshed play frame and a party room are also set to be renovated later this year too.
While work started before Christmas, it is set to take several months to complete.
Meanwhile, a £75million seaside attraction is set to open in Southport, with a beach thermal spa and surfing lagoon.
First announced in 2020, The Cove Resort would also have an on-site four-star hotel.
Sun readers have been sharing their best tips for places to visit in and around Great Yarmouth..
As part of our Best Of British series, earlier this year we asked readers for their favourite places to visit in the seaside town- from the best beaches to the perfect pub lunch… and the spot where Captain Birdseye invented fish fingers.
Here’s some of their recommendations:
Click here, to read more about Great Yarmouth.
The surfing attraction would be similar to one opening in Edinburgh, as well as one in Deal, Kent.
And the huge £250million Therme water attraction is planning to open in Manchester by 2025.
