Abid Gulzar has been given permission to separate the premises licenses for Hastings Pier into three, allowing for greater flexibility in staging live music and family events.

The proposals mean the events space, middle building, and food outlet area will each have their own hours of operation and DPS, as well as being approved to sell alcohol. 

“With the limited buildings on the pier and the flat deck, we are very, very limited to what we can do,” said pier operations manager Manus Singh. “We are trying to do things to generate some sort of revenue to keep the pier sustained.”

“If the events are lost, or if the events cannot continue on the pier… the sustainability of the pier in the long term will come into question, especially because of the expense it takes to keep the pier afloat.”

During the hearing on 23 April, local residents registered their concerns over the frequency of events, with the regularity of amplified music last summer causing “significant distress” to those living in the White Rock Gardens complex.

Singh added he and the pier team wanted to find “the right balance,” and agreed to a condition which prevents the pier hosting events on consecutive weekends.