“We are constantly refreshing our offer,” said Clacton Pier’s general manager Harry Peek, as the attraction invests thousands of pounds in three new arcade machines, including a VR fighter jet simulator and three-player carnival wheel.

Clacton Pier has invested “thousands of pounds” in three new arcade machines, including a multi-directional two-seater VR fighter jet simulator, which is “already proving popular” having been installed in the central concourse.

A three-player carnival wheel has also been introduced in the main amusement arcade, and a VR car machine is due for delivery this month, as the pier continues to invest in enhancing its entertainment offer.

“We are constantly refreshing our offer and providing new additions around the site,” said GM Harry Peek. “The fighter jet simulator is already proving popular and we expect it to be the same when the VR car game arrives.”

The machine additions come as the pier prepares for the main season, with 50 more staff joining the ranks in readiness for the height of summer. 

“We have some excellent new staff with us, some of whom will bolster our management team and some will operate rides and work in our food and drink outlets,” said Peek. “While the number of seasonal employees is down on previous years due to the current financial climate we are confident that we have both the numbers and quality to provide a great service to our customers.”

“We have also continued with incentive schemes brought in last year to ensure our staff know they are a very valued part of the business.”

The additions take the pier’s current team to more than 170 full and part-time employees, and the figure is expected to rise to above 200 by the start of the main summer period.