The National Piers Society held its AGM at Bournemouth Pier this year, with members from across the country enjoying an “impeccable welcome” from pier operator Adventure Attractions during their visit from 19 to 21 June, alongside trips to Boscombe and Swanage Piers.
The National Piers Society held its AGM at Bournemouth Pier this year, with an itinerary featuring a guided tour led by operator Adventure Attractions, a gala dinner, a drinks event, activities such as the PierZip, and visits to Boscombe and Swanage Piers.
Members were particularly impressed by the pier’s popular Rock Reef attraction, converted from the shell of the former Pier Theatre in 2012, before assembling for the formal AGM itself on 20 June, which passed “successfully and relatively uneventfully.”
“Bournemouth Pier provided an impeccable welcome for the Society and offered their substantial Key West function facilities for the programmed events over Friday and Saturday,” reported NPS trustee Oliver Mills.
“The weather on the Friday afternoon was fair and pleasant, showing both Bournemouth and Boscombe Piers in a somewhat gentle, sleepy light; a prevailing atmosphere which would be banished in the ‘peak’ period over Saturday and Sunday.”
During the “very thorough” tour led by Adventure Attractions CEO Rory Holburn, members were shown that the pier was now “a lively and successful attraction, and probably a considerable degree more successful than it was 20 years ago.”
“The conversion of the Theatre to an activity centre has proved to be less fraught and architecturally damaging than might be initially feared.”
Following the gala dinner on Saturday evening, the NPS party visited Boscombe Pier, which Mills described as having a stark, glassy quality which came across perfectly on this glistening morning. The pier furniture certainly succeeds in avoiding the obstruction of the perfect seascape on this part of the coastline.”
After stopping at Boscombe, the NPS moved along the coast to Swanage Pier, with representatives of the Swanage Pier Trust sharing the challenges of maintaining the historic attraction.
“Naturally much reference was made to the Gribble Worm, the cause of the pier’s repeated cycles of ruin and restoration. Fundraising is presently ongoing for another programme of repairs and renewal to the pier’s Greenheart columns.”
Mills also confirmed that next year’s AGM will be held at Paignton, with booking expected to open in spring of 2027.
Originally published on Coinslot on July 20, 2026. Republished with permission.