Cleethorpes Pier workers 'told of closure by text'
STAFF at Cleethorpes Pier have been left fearing for their jobs after claiming they were told the iconic venue had closed in a text message.
The future of the seafront landmark – renamed The Pavilion nightclub and Tides Bar And Restaurant – seems once again uncertain after staff say management told them "the business has sadly come to an end."
-
LOCKED OUT: Staff from the Pier, in Cleethorpes, which has closed down, who claim to have been notified by text message. They are, from left, Carol Hardy, waitress, Anna Meredith, restaurant manager, Joanne Hewson, head cleaner, Chantelle Robinson, bar staff, and Verity Witt, duty manager.
Yesterday, removal men were seen taking children's rides and disco equipment from the landmark, and as reported, a promoter said he had turned up on Wednesday night to find people clearing out furniture, and was told his event wouldn't be going ahead.
However, premises owner Bryn Isley, who leases the venue to businessmen Alastair Clugston and Hugo Marfleet, told the Telegraph that he was meeting with the pair today to discuss future plans.
MAYFAIR ESTATE AGENTS
IF WE CANNOT FIND YOU A TENANT WITHIN ONE MONTH WE WILL FIND YOU ONE FOR FREE, YES FREE, YOU WILL PAY NO FEES.
Terms: TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY.
Contact: 01472 355 553
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
Meanwhile, staff claim they have been told in a text message from Mr Clugston that the venue has been closed.
Cleaner Joanne Hewsom says she received a message, which the Telegraph has seen, stating: "Hi Jo, I'm sorry to tell you our business has sadly come to an end."
He said he did not know how things had been left with staff and added: "Please let me know if you have been left short and by how much."
And duty manager Verity Witt claimed she had received a response from Mr Clugston, saying: "It has been a very long few days. Our company has been put in an untradeable situation. We hoped to open on Friday and the following weekend but sadly been forced to cancel. This is an exceptionally difficult time for everyone involved."
Joanne's daughter, barmaid Chantelle Robinson, 19, alleges she was the one to tell her work friends after the assistant manager confirmed to her it was closing.
She said: "I am upset with how the managers have handled it.
"I absolutely loved working there but I thought something was going on. I can't believe I was the one to let some of the others know. If you are a manager I think you should tell the staff where they stand, we shouldn't have to find out by text or through other people."
Despite numerous attempts to contact Mr Clugston and Mr Marfleet, who took over the £90,000 lease in December, at the time of going to press there had still been no response.
Mr Isley said: "I have a meeting with them tomorrow. I told Alistair the rumours today and he burst out laughing. They have told me they are shutting it down for three weeks to put in the new band stands and that is it."
Comments
by Piggle
Saturday, October 06 2012, 8:23AM
“Can the telegraph reprint its amazing front page when the pier reopened! The promenade would have to be closed to accommodate the big artists who would be playing the pier, a few rides and drunk teenagers later it closes.”
by vikti
Friday, October 05 2012, 11:45PM
“There is no decent events venue in Cleethorpes since the demise of the Winter Gardens, if the Pier were run properly then it could fill the gap.”
by EnlightendOne
Friday, October 05 2012, 10:39PM
“Saw-doctor and Marcus - what on earth would be the point in Nelc buying the pier - lest it be to house the excesses of the council in the hope that the tide might sweep them away. What do you really think Nelc would do with the pier other than waste even more tax payers money on it. Of course we could always use it to park cars on instead of raising the costs of parking in the streets or perhaps turn it into a bit more than a 50 mtr swimming pool; but like Cleethorpes itself it's probably in the wrong location!”
by Mark66
Friday, October 05 2012, 10:33PM
“Oh dear , another get rich quick scheme that never happened , I guess there is always a possibility of building flats on it or could it not be converted to a car park , seems the powers that be in this town are only capable of.”
by Saw-Doctor
Friday, October 05 2012, 6:27PM
“Why, if the council are always trying to promote the last resort as a seaside town, don't they buy the place and put it back to theatre status with a summer season show etc? It'll never work as a club or pub, Mark Mayer had the foresight to do that when the time was right, which it is not now. Alas I fear Grimlander and Calypso have really hit the nail smack on the head.”
by smoker
Friday, October 05 2012, 4:59PM
“Is there nobody around with a decent business plan and enough cash to sort the Pier situation out? In the past we seem to have been stuck with people whose plan was to get people to drink themselves silly. This failed because of the associated problems. It now seems that we are stuck with those that can't even finance a business.”
by markus250666
Friday, October 05 2012, 4:30PM
“With the stash of cash that NELC have got hidden they could buy this and transform it to its former glory back to what it was intended for in the day. Afterall i would rather see the money going on this rather than the decayed wonderland that NELC was intending to buy.”
by sunshine2000
Friday, October 05 2012, 3:08PM
“I think thatthe way the staff have been told about their jobs is dicussing”
by sunshine2000
Friday, October 05 2012, 3:07PM
“Why can't the pier be used like the Grimsby Auditorium. Cleethorpes would benefit from it rather it been another club and pub”
by daveyw
Friday, October 05 2012, 2:33PM
“worst pint of guinness in cleethorpes and thats a fact.”