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(Redirected from Eclectic Bar Group)
The Brighton Pier Group Limited
The Brighton Pier Group
TypePrivate
Industry
Founded2006; 20 years ago (2006)
Headquarters
Brighton, England
,
United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
SubsidiariesParadise Island Adventure Golf
Websitewww.brightonpiergroup.com Edit this at Wikidata

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 company has owned Paradise Island Adventure Golf since December 2017 and formerly owned Lightwater Valley from June 2021 to January 2026.

History

[edit]
Luke Johnson in 2011

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 were 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]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 Taggart, Emma (2 April 2025). "It's the end of the Brighton Pier show". The Times. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  2. ↑ Farrell, Sean (15 June 2015). "Luke Johnson invests £1.5m in Eclectic Bar Group". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Brighton Pier sold for £18m to ex-Pizza Express boss". BBC News. 8 April 2016. Archived from the original on 24 July 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 Walsh, Dominic (9 April 2016). "Pizza tycoon buys Brighton Pier for £18m". The Times. Archived from the original on 27 July 2026. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Palace to return to Brighton Pier name". BBC News. 1 July 2016. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  6. ↑ Walsh, Dominic (6 December 2017). "Brighton Pier Group buys Paradise Island crazy golf". The Times. Archived from the original on 24 July 2026. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Walsh, Dominic (18 June 2021). "Brighton Pier Group pays £5m for Lightwater Valley theme park". The Times. Archived from the original on 2 January 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Brighton Palace Pier: Hundreds overcharged £2,100 for rides". BBC News. 24 June 2021. Archived from the original on 26 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  9. 1 2 Walsh, Dominic (26 July 2023). "Brighton Pier Group hit by strikes, rain and Royal Albion Hotel fire". The Times. Archived from the original on 2 January 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  10. ↑ Fuller, Christian (8 May 2024). "Brighton Pier to introduce admission fee". BBC News. Archived from the original on 15 September 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  11. 1 2 Fuller, Christian (12 February 2025). "Brighton Pier admission fee to double". BBC News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  12. ↑ Johnson, Emily (29 October 2025). "Theme park on the market for £3m". BBC News. Archived from the original on 27 July 2026. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Snook, David (17 December 2025). "Paradise Island golf chain on the market". Amusements and Attractions. Archived from the original on 25 July 2026. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  14. ↑ Johnson, Emily (6 January 2026). "New rides to open at Lightwater Valley after sale". BBC News. Archived from the original on 27 July 2026. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  15. ↑ Whittlesea, Peter; Pike, Danny; Barlow, Patrick (2 January 2026). "'National treasure' Brighton pier put up for sale". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 February 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  16. ↑ Gosden, Emily; Howard, Tom (2 January 2026). "Brighton Palace Pier for sale as Luke Johnson throws in towel". The Times. Archived from the original on 9 January 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
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