I’M in pursuit of the perfect pier – this year’s best boardwalk is a firm favourite for my family and should definitely be on your beach bingo card for 2026.
Great Yarmouth’s Britannia Pier was recently declared ‘Pier of the Year’ and is the perfect spot for a classic British day out at the seaside.
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I’ve been visiting Great Yarmouth ever since my boys were little – the town that is historically the birthplace of the fishfinger, and the hometown of Keith Chapman, the creator of Bob the Builder and PAW Patrol.
Over the years, I’ve seen the hard work that’s gone into breathing new life into the pier at the north end of Great Yarmouth.
With it having just been named pier of the year, it’s the perfect gateway onto the town’s famous Golden Mile, with a little bit of everything you’d expect from a best-of-British day out at the beach.
Whether you want refreshments, rides, arcade machines, a trip to the theatre or just a spot of sea air, this really is peak pier here.
You can catch the little land train that transports day trippers and holidaymakers along the seafront to arrive at the big pedestrian plaza at the entrance to the pier.
The white frontage and subtle slimline signage are a far cry from the iconic 70s orange lettering that was controversially removed last year.
But the streamlined makeover’s more modern vibe makes you want to step through the doors and check out what else is new.
I really loved the curved ceiling and vibrant red walls of the new amusement arcade, which feels light and airy thanks to a wall of windows and doors down one side.
The sit-down booths in Krispies fish and chip restaurant reminded me of an American diner, while food stalls selling ice cream, sweet treats and seafood line the walkway up to the arcade.
You can certainly see where the new owners Joseph and Cherise Abbott, who took over at the end of 2022, have spent their £2million makeover money and why it wowed the judges looking for the best of the boardwalks to beat off competition from 60 other piers across the UK.
Ever since the pier of the year prize was announced at Easter, more areas have been unveiled, including a fresh look for the Pier Tavern overlooking the plaza and a new casino and sports zone with pool and interactive darts.
Combining modern makeovers with timeless seaside staples like the end-of-the-pier theatre and funfair is certainly one way to hit the jackpot.
The theatre is hosting plenty of big names this summer, including Jason Manford, Gareth Gates and Joe Pasquale, with pantos, tribute acts and variety shows also taking to the stage.
I enjoyed taking a promenade to check out family favourites new and old like the ghost train and the dodgems, while looking out over the wide golden sands to either side of the boardwalk.
The pier’s new look is just the latest in a series of seafront improvements that are putting the Great back into Yarmouth.
If you turn south onto the Golden Mile and head past Joyland with its popular Super Snails ride, a short stroll will take you to the recently relocated big wheel in between the Marina Leisure Centre and Sealife aquarium.
But my top tip would be to head north along the prom to take a wander through the refurbished Venetian waterways and up to the boating lake, where you can enjoy a pastry at the thatched cafe on an island in the pool while watching passing pedalos.
It’s a little slice of what the coastal resort would have been like a century ago, with its recent multi-million-pound makeover taking it back to its heyday.
What’s lovely is that Britannia Pier feels totally in keeping with both vibes – the ‘olde worlde’ waterside walks to the north and the bright lights and hustle and bustle of beachside attractions to the south.
It’s found a brilliant balance of new and old – like all the symbols lining up on a fruit machine for the first time in a while.
If you visit and fall in love, you could even lease a beach hut nearby for £12k, after Great Yarmouth Council offered up some of its newly built huts on the Esplanade.
With the picture-perfect pier taking pride of place on the promenade this year, it certainly seems to be taking inspiration from the famous anthem – Britannia Rules the Waves and long may it continue.