Mr. Sheikh Abid Gulzar discusses the future of Hastings Pier with HIP’s Emma Harwood

The pier’s flamboyant new owner says he is spending “hard earned money” to ensure its long term success.

In an interview with the Hastings Independent, the businessman who bought the pier on June 15 said he was depending on the full support of Hastings Borough Council to ensure its success and was set to meet council leader Peter Chowney earlier this week to further discuss his plans, none of which have yet been submitted for approval.

These could include reinstating the east-side pavilion, which was a mirror-image of the existing pavilion restaurant before it was destroyed by fire and adding a further dome–like structure at the seaward end. More immediate plans may involve surrounding the entrance and perimeter with LED lanterns, an ice-cream kiosk near the entrance, as well as shops selling glass-work, sweets and high quality women’s clothes. He has no plan to introduce an entrance charge and intends for the pier to be open all year round, seven days a week. Further investment, he said, will be funded by his Lions group of companies.

PICTURE: Colin Gibson

The gold-Mercedes driving hotelier – who supports seven charities in Eastbourne – added that since taking over he had dealt with staff resignations but had now filled all vacant positions. He now hopes to improve efficiency by introducing a clock-in system for employees.

“I said thank God, the dead wood must go, and the dead wood is going and this boat is going to sail.”

“I’m spending good hard earned money, I’m spending heart and mind. Obviously I have every reason to say it must succeed, I have every reason to say it must work, I have every reason to say the income should pay for all the repairs and improvement, and that’s what I am doing.”

However the sale, which took many by surprise, has prompted criticism of administrators Smith and Williamson’s decision, not least because, as revealed in the last issue of HIP, Mr. Gulzar’s public financial records show that two of his companies went into  liquidation in January 2017, and while he remains sole director of six other companies, none of these is currently in profit. Moreover, the company through which he bought Eastbourne Pier, Lions Pier Ltd, transferred it to another of his companies, Golden Lions (Eastbourne) Ltd owing more than £200,000 to HMRC, and over £1.274 million to creditors.

However, Mr Gulzar defended his financial record, stating that in liquidating two companies he  had also lost a substantial amount of his personal money.

“If I show profit, that means I’m not investing, we keep investing back into the business.”   

The 73-year old declined to reveal how much he paid for the pier but said: “It was a lot of money, but I didn’t borrow, I didn’t beg, I put my money where my mouth was, more than anybody else and I took over the entire liability.”

“I’m not interested in charity, I will work, I can work and we will work on the strength of what God has given us.”

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https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/NEWS-sheikhteaser.jpghttps://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/NEWS-sheikhteaser-150x150.jpgHIPNewsHastings Borough Council,Peter Chowney,Sheikh Abid GulzarMr. Sheikh Abid Gulzar discusses the future of Hastings Pier with HIP's Emma Harwood The pier’s flamboyant new owner says he is spending “hard earned money” to ensure its long term success. In an interview with the Hastings Independent, the businessman who bought the pier on June 15 said he was...The Hastings & St Leonards non-profit community newspaper