The Brighton Pier Group
British leisure and hospitality company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Brighton Pier Group Limited (BPG), formerly known as Eclectic Bar Group, is a British leisure and hospitality company that has owned the Brighton Palace Pier since April 2016.
| The Brighton Pier Group | |
| Type | Private |
| Industry | |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Brighton, England , United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom |
| Key people |
|
| Subsidiaries | Paradise Island Adventure Golf |
| Website | www |
The company has owned Paradise Island Adventure Golf since December 2017 and formerly owned Lightwater Valley from June 2021 to January 2026.
History
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In November 2013, Eclectic Bar Group floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).[1]
In June 2015, Luke Johnson, the former chairman of Channel 4, invested £1.5 million into Eclectic Bar Group and became its executive chairman.[2]
In April 2016, Eclectic Bar Group acquired the Brighton Marine Palace and Pier Company, the operator of the Brighton Pier, for £18 million.[3] Following the acquisition, the company renamed itself as The Brighton Pier Group and chief executive Reuben Harley resigned.[4] Johnson also stated that the company's focus had moved from operating bars to operating visitor attractions.[4]
In July 2016, the company renamed the pier to the Brighton Palace Pier.[5] The pier had originally been named the Brighton Marine Palace and Pier prior to 2000.[5]
The company acquired Lethington Leisure Limited, trading as Paradise Island Adventure Golf, for £10.5 million in December 2017.[6] The company also bought Lightwater Valley, an amusement park in North Yorkshire, for £5 million in June 2021.[7] That same month, the company apologised after it was reported that hundreds of customers had been incorrectly overcharged £2,100 for tickets to Brighton Palace Pier.[8]
In July 2023, it was reported that the company lost about 25% of its value.[9] The group cited railway strikes, poor weather and the nearby Royal Albion Hotel fire as reasons for declining sales.[9] In May 2024, the company introduced an admission fee of £1 due to rising costs.[10] In March 2025, the admission fee was increased to £2.[11] The admission fee did not apply to those with a local residents card.[11]
In April 2025, the company announced it would deregister from AIM and became a private limited company.[1]
In October 2025, the company confirmed it was selling Lightwater Valley.[12] The company also put Paradise Island Adventure Golf on the market in December 2025.[13] Lightwater Valley was sold to the Mellors Group in January 2026 for £3 million.[14]
In January 2026, it was announced that the company would be selling Brighton Palace Pier.[15] The group's chief executive Anne Ackord said the sale was part of the company's "strategy to divest our leisure assets and return capital to shareholders".[16]