SOUTHEND’S iconic pier has been named the best in the country at a prestigious competition.

The National Piers Society has announced that in Year of the Pier 2023 its coveted annual prize will go to Southend Pier.

The pier, which is the longest pleasure pier in the world, first opened nearly two centuries ago in 1830.

It proved too short for boats trying to dock at low tide so had to be extended, then extended again, and again, to its current length of 1.3 miles.

Over recent years Southend Pier has gone from strength to strength with it welcoming more than 412,000 visitors last year, which was the highest ever recorded in a single year.

In 2023 it is on course to continue this success with 37,000 visitors having already visited the pier in February alone.

The news comes as the pier prepares to open its new café in the coming days.

Mark Harvey, executive director, adults, and communities at Southend Council, said: “I am delighted that Southend Pier has been awarded the Pier of the Year award by The National Piers Society.

“It is our city’s most treasured and historical icon, and we are extremely proud of this achievement.

“We are now seeing the results of considerable investment into Southend Pier including our two new eco-friendly electric pier trains which have been transporting visitors up and down the pier in style whilst they enjoy panoramic views of the Thames Estuary.

“We have also invested £1.2m towards a new pier head pavilion café which is set to open at Easter, and we introduced a new crazy golf course for all the family to enjoy.

“The record number of visitors was also achieved by us extending our tourism season with the addition of our spectacular Halloween Parade which attracted hundreds of extra pier visitors throughout October, and our Santa on the Pier events which boosted visitor numbers in the lead up to Christmas.

“Last month also saw Southend Pier host one of our brilliant art light installations as part of our annual LuminoCity festival of light.

“With an Easter trail coming soon and visiting ships planned for the next few months, there’s more to do on Southend Pier than ever before.”

The Pier Of The Year Award was inaugurated in 1997 and is voted for by the members of the National Piers Society.

In the Year of the Pier competition, Cromer Pier was voted in second place, followed by Brighton Palace Pier in third.

Tim Wardley, the society chairman, added: “Southend Pier is a true survivor having withstood storms, fires, collisions, and threats of closure to transform into the vital contributor to the resort's tourism and leisure economy it has become today.

“Southend Council continue to demonstrate their commitment to the success of the pier through record investment, and I am delighted this year the coveted accolade goes to the iconic longest pleasure pier in the world. Congratulations Southend.”