What's coming and how did we get here

SOUTH Parade Pier is expected to be a bustling family hub this summer.
From left, Karen Lee, 36, originally from Portsmouth, with her 19-week-old baby Jasmine and Gemma Mallard, 29, from Bedhampton, with Jasmine's second cousin Primrose Mallard, who is 20 weeks old

Picture: Sarah Standing (170498-9764)From left, Karen Lee, 36, originally from Portsmouth, with her 19-week-old baby Jasmine and Gemma Mallard, 29, from Bedhampton, with Jasmine's second cousin Primrose Mallard, who is 20 weeks old

Picture: Sarah Standing (170498-9764)
From left, Karen Lee, 36, originally from Portsmouth, with her 19-week-old baby Jasmine and Gemma Mallard, 29, from Bedhampton, with Jasmine's second cousin Primrose Mallard, who is 20 weeks old Picture: Sarah Standing (170498-9764)

A fish and chip takeaway and restaurant will open its doors to customers in the coming weeks. It will be in addition to an ice cream parlour, gourmet sandwich bar, cafes and a zip wire with rides.

The pier is the subject of a court order and following final approval, the bottom part of the pier is hoped to be opened later this summer and it will be the home of an operator which has already been secured to run boat trips around the Isle of Wight.

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It will mark an end to a tumultuous period of the 137-year old structure.

It was plagued by fires and rebuilds over the course of its first 100 years but recent troubles began in 2010 when it was sold to Frenash Ltd - a group of businessmen who pledged to return it to its former glory.

Frenash were liquidated in 2011 and the site was closed down for safety reasons in 2012.

It failed to reach its guide price at auction but in early 2014 contracts were exchanged on South Parade Pier Ltd to take control of the structure.

Since then work has been going on and £5m has been spent on its restoration.

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