Save Grand Pier Teignmouth

Good afternoon, Teignmouth Community,

Grand Pier has stood at the heart of Teignmouth for generations.

It’s a place of memories, family days out, sea air, laughter, connection and a landmark that means far more to our town than just a business.

In recent years, repeated storms and the ongoing loss of sand on Teignmouth Beach have caused increasing damage to the Pier.

The majority of structural assessments, repairs and maintenance work at Grand Pier Teignmouth have been carried out by TMS Ltd, a trusted local maritime engineering firm. Their long-term involvement means they have an in-depth understanding of the Pier’s structure as well as the surrounding environment and the challenges we face each year.

Who we are

We are a small, family-run business. Four generations of the Brenner family have cared for and maintained this Pier. We have always believed that maintaining it was solely our responsibility, and until recently, we have been able to fund all repairs ourselves, excluding the damage we incurred following a severe storm in 2014, for which we claimed £800,000 through insurance, which was fully spent on repairs to the building. Since 2015, however, the Pier has been uninsurable for storm damage, meaning all subsequent repairs have had to be funded directly by us.

What has changed?

Like everyone, we have faced sharply rising costs across all areas of the business. Where possible, we have passed them on to the consumer, such as through our ice cream shop and beach shop. However, we cannot raise the prices of our machines as it’s just not possible; we have had to absorb a lot of these higher expenses.

At the same time, storms have become more frequent and severe. This has created a consistent cycle of structural maintenance.

On top of this, due to the lack of sand, the Pier has become more exposed than ever, putting strain on the piles. This is the most serious issue and possibly the least visible and known, as the sand acts as a natural buffer, protecting the piles from the full force of the sea.

What have we already done?

Since 2014, our family has invested nearly three-quarters of a million pounds directly into repairs, in addition to the insurance-funded works carried out after the 2014 storm.

We are fully aware that parts of the Pier look tired or inaccessible, particularly following the recent loss of the end of the Pier during Storm Ingrid. This is because we’ve had to allocate our limited funds to where they’re most needed; unfortunately, this has meant that the end of the Pier has not been repaired. Much of our investments have gone into essential, unseen structural work that keeps the Pier standing. The reasoning behind not restoring the end of the Pier after the 2014 storm is simply financial. The insurance didn’t cover anything below the deck; the piles and beams weren't covered, and our funds couldn’t stretch to cover this.

One of our biggest investments was the installation of steel deflectors under the shoreward end building. Our aim… to deflect some of the energy, after the waves return from the seawall. We believe, amongst other things, this has saved us from losing the front building not only from Storm Ingrid, but previous storms.

We have done our best to make cosmetic improvements where possible, including renovating the front of the Pier, as well as multiple instalments of cladding on the sides of the building.

Why we are now asking for help

Following the recent damage to the pier, we will be launching a fundraiser using GoFundMe, a well-established and transparent platform. This will allow us to raise funds directly towards urgent structural repairs while keeping the process open, accessible, and supported by regular updates.

We want to be clear and realistic about what this fundraiser is intended to achieve.

The cost of fully restoring and safeguarding the Pier is not a fixed figure. Early estimates for comprehensive restoration have previously been quoted at around £1 million, but the reality is that, given the age of the structure, the marine environment, and ongoing storm damage, the true long-term cost could be significantly higher. At this stage, it may ultimately run into several million pounds, and this is not something we can responsibly or accurately define as a single final number.

This fundraiser is not about “fully restoring” the Pier in one go, nor are we expecting the community to carry that burden alone.

Instead, funds raised will be used to support essential, staged repairs, carried out alongside continued investment from our family. We will always continue to put our own funds into maintaining and repairing the Pier, as we have done for generations. However, the scale and frequency of damage, most recently from Storm Ingrid, mean that our resources alone are no longer sufficient, and we have had to accept that we can no longer do this alone.

We do have to be explicit about what restoration work will be done first. We will work from the shoreward end of the building outward, depending on how much we raise and when we are allowed to open again. At the end of the day, we are a small family business, and our funds are finite.

All structural planning, surveys and restoration work is being carried out in partnership with TMS Ltd, and this process is currently underway.

Why this matters

Grand Pier is part of Teignmouth’s identity. Losing it would mean losing a piece of our shared history.

If Grand Pier Teignmouth has ever been part of your life, whether you grew up here, visited on holidays, or believe in protecting our coastal heritage, we invite you to be part of saving it.

If you are unable to donate, sharing this page helps enormously. We would appreciate any help we could get.

Written by Maddy Brenner, but represented by the shared voice of our family, all of whom are directly involved in running and caring for Grand Pier Teignmouth.