Gough Hotels, owners of the Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds and the Salthouse Harbour Hotel in Ipswich, are to acquire the famous landmark pier at Southwold.
The present pier operates gioft shops, restaurant, cafes and an amusement arcade, which together attract three quarters of a million visitors over the course of a year.
However, planning permission is already in place for the redevelopment of the building at the land end of the pier: it is understood that the permission is for a 30 bedroom luxury hotel in Art Deco style.
It is understood that the opportunity to build a hotel in Southwold – whose beach huts attract astronomic prices! – was a key part of the decision to purchase the pier.