Worthing Pier Resumes Operations Following Two-Month Storm Closure

Worthing Pier, situated in West Sussex, resumed operations on Wednesday after being inaccessible for two months following storm damage. The pier had initially been closed since October 10, when a storm compromised one of its structural supports beneath the deck. This closure prevented public access to the 162-year-old landmark and resulted in the restaurant Perch on the Pier having to dismiss almost half of its employees. A temporary steel truss has been installed to facilitate the reopening and will stay in place until Worthing Borough Council can implement a more enduring repair. Alex Coombes, the owner of Perch on the Pier restaurant, expressed his satisfaction, stating: “We’re delighted to see the team back in the building and people back on the pier again. Closing with 12 hours’ notice was always going to be a challenge. It was very difficult to work out what was going to come in next. Waiting on tenterhooks has been very difficult for the team and budget purposes, it has taken a toll. But we’re back now and excited to be back. We’re in discussions with people now about what we do next and how that works [hiring staff that had to be laid off]. It was very difficult to make every decision perfectly, certainly by spring we will have a full roster.” Mr. Coombes further indicated that the two-month period of inactivity had eradicated the restaurant’s profits for the entire year. The repair work experienced delays towards the end of November because of adverse weather conditions. Fisherman Bas, 64, shared his perspective, remarking: “It’s been a while but they’ve done a pretty good job, I’ve been coming down here since I was 12.” Worthing Borough Council has estimated the repair expenses will exceed £430,000, an amount that cannot be covered by its current budget allocated for pier upkeep. Council leader Sophie Cox conveyed to BBC Radio Sussex: “We’re absolutely delighted that the pier is back open again. The work has been around the clock during the tidal windows to get it back open again.”