Lions Pier Ltd, the company which owns both Eastbourne and Hastings piers, has officially closed after the Business and Property Courts granted a petition posted by Eastbourne Council to wind the company up.

The court’s decision comes as company director Abid Gulzar faces separate charges of fraud relating to the non-payment of £150,000 in water bills at his hotels in Eastbourne and Hailsham between 2018 and 2024. 

“A notice has been posted to The Gazette on 16 May which states that a firm directed by Gulzar, Lions Pier Limited, is being wound up – meaning it has officially closed down,” reported The Express.

“It comes after liquidators were appointed at Lions Hastings Pier Limited on 3 August, 2023. Mr Gulzar was also listed as the director of this company.”

Eastbourne Council was listed as a creditor of Lions Pier Ltd in the winding up petition initially posted in The London Gazette on 30 April, six years after a previous petition to wind up was submitted by energy company Npower.

In March, Gulzar appeared at Hove Crown Court alongside co-defendent Mansadeep Singh to deny ten charges of fraud in a private prosecution brought by utilities provider Castle Water.

A three-week trial has been scheduled to begin in November.