IT is business as usual at Blackpool’s famous North Pier after a brewery withdrew a winding up order against it.
Last month Northampton-based Carlsberg UK issued a writ for the recovery of a debt against the company which owns the attraction, Northern Victorian Piers.
The case was due to be heard in Blackpool’s County Court and the pier’s owners said the claims made against them were unfounded.
The pier has a sparkling programme of events planned for Christmas in its bars and theatre and some of the performers have been lined up to entertain the crowds when Blackpool’s Christmas Lights get their official switch-on after being delayed by last week’s storms.
Today a spokesman for the brewing giant refused to give any details about the agreement but admitted: “Carlsberg UK is no longer proceeding with the winding up petition.”
The 149-year-old Grade Two listed pier has a number of bars including the Merrie England bar and the Carousel Lounge bar.
Earlier this year, the pier’s holding company Premier Pier Blackpool Ltd went into liquidation.
Companies House states a practitioner was appointed and the company wound up on May 24.
None of the pier’s attractions were affected.
The attraction is in the hands of the Sedgwick family who bought it for an undisclosed sum from Six Piers, a company owned by businessman Trevor Hemmings.
When they acquired the pier in April 2011, the family, which operates attractions including the big wheel on Central and South piers, vowed to continue with the theatre entertainments programme and abolish the pier admission charge.
On September 2, 2011, as part of this pledge, the Sedgwicks ended the summer season shows early to refurbish the Victorian attraction.
At the time, Peter Sedgwick said he had fulfilled a dream as he had proposed to his wife Sue on the North Pier and he had promised to buy it for her one day.
A spokesman for Northern Victorian Pier Ltd added: “We can confirm Carlsberg UK dropped their petition and we are pleased we can now draw a line under this and move on.”
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