History of
Weymouth Pier Bandstand
The pier, known as the Pier Bandstand, was the subject of an
architectural competition run under the supervision of the Royal
Institute of British Architects. V.J.Venning's design was chosen
from twenty-six entries and the pier was subsequently built,
opening on 25th May 1939 to a length of 200 feet.
On clear summer evenings,
it was the ideal venue. However, with only 800 of the 2400 seats
under cover, rain would inevitably cause the inadequate shelters
along each side of the auditorium to become overcrowded.
In the 1970s, facilities
included amusements, a restaurant and a gift shop. However, by the
mid-1980s, the actual bandstand section had become too expensive
to maintain and it was demolished in April/May 1986, leaving just
the entrance on the esplanade.
In 2007 a redevelopment
scheme was proposed for Weymouth seafront to be completed in time
for the 2012 Olympic Games. It was envisaged that the scheme could
include the restoration and extension the pier bandstand. The Art
Deco exterior would be restored, and the upper floor extended out
to sea, with new facilities provided on the ground floor.
However, in 2009, the South
West Regional Development Agency’s (SWRDA) announced it was
withdrawing the £6.6million it had pledged to the project, which
now seems very uncertain.
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