Anyone with lots of cash, a good imagination and a desire to renovate a traditional British landmark should consider buying Lowestoft pier – for £2.8 million.
According to The Independent, the family owners of the 102-year-old Claremont Pier have decided to sell up after three generations of ownership.
As well as the hefty price tag, the pier will reportedly require around £1.5 million of renovation work – much of it is now closed due to safety concerns.
However, the part that remains open still brings in an annual turnover of around £1 million from businesses at the end nearest the shore; these include a night club, an amusement arcade and a restaurant.
David Scott, whose family is selling the pier, is quoted as saying: “It is sad to see it go. It has been a labour of love in many ways but now you need a large corporate body to take it into the 21st century. It is a great business opportunity because a pier remains an attraction for very many people.”
Whoever decides to buy the 300-foot structure will also inherit a ghost, The Independent reports.
Mr Scott reportedly said: “She is a woman whose son was crushed to death when he slipped between one of the steam boats and the pier while boarding. She is seen dressed in a long fur coat.”
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd www.newsfromabroad.com
