About Us
Birnbeck Pier - The sleeping beauty of Weston-super-Mare
Rising like a forgotten legend from the Bristol Channel, Birnbeck Pier is a place where history, mystery, and the salty tang of the sea converge. Though currently closed to the public and undergoing a long-awaited restoration, this Victorian-era marvel continues to capture imaginations and stir curiosity from every angle of Weston-super-Mare’s coastline.
The Only One of Its Kind
Birnbeck Pier is not just any pier — it’s the only pier in the country that connects the mainland to an island: the craggy, tide-lashed Birnbeck Island. Opened in 1867, it was once a bustling hub of Victorian seaside excitement, complete with amusements, concerts, and paddle steamers arriving in clouds of steam. Designed by the great engineer Eugenius Birch (whose work still defines the golden age of British piers), Birnbeck was a technological triumph in its time and a symbol of the town’s growing popularity.
Home to the original booze cruises
Birnbeck Pier was the docking station for the original booze cruises. Licensing laws were much more relaxed in England than Wales so thousands of Welsh miners used to cross the channel on paddle steamers to drink in the hostelries of Weston-super-Mare.
Windswept and Wonderful — Even Now
Though the pier is no longer open to visitors, it remains one of Weston’s most evocative and photographed landmarks. Weathered timbers and ironwork arches reach out over the waves like the skeleton of a dream, framed by some of the most dramatic sunsets you’ll see in Somerset. Locals and tourists alike often make the short walk along the coast to view the pier from Marine Lake or the nearby Prince Consort Gardens. It’s a site that speaks of a glorious past — and a hopeful future.
A New Chapter in the Making
After decades of decline and storm damage, Birnbeck Pier is finally receiving the care it deserves. A major restoration project, led by North Somerset Council in partnership with the RNLI, is now underway. The vision? To return the pier to public use, preserve its historic character, and reinstate it as a vibrant part of the community. The RNLI plans to relocate their lifeboat operations back to the island, just as they were for over a century. This once-abandoned treasure is being reawakened.
Getting There
Birnbeck Pier is located on the northern end of Weston-super-Mare’s seafront. Walk along the promenade northwards from Marine Lake to get excellent views across to it. Do not be tempted to try and walk to it over the causeway at low tide. It is dangerous and its recent history is dogged with people getting into trouble, being cut off and having to be rescued by the RNLI. Please respect safety signage and do not attempt to access the pier structure.
Keep Up With the Restoration:
Follow updates via North Somerset Council and the Birnbeck Regeneration Trust to stay in the loop about progress, events, and ways to get involved.
