Pavilion Theatre, Cromer Pier

The Pavilion Theatre stands on Cromer Pier, a long wooden structure jutting into the North Sea at Cromer in Norfolk. Originally built as an open bandstand when the pier opened in 1901, it became an enclosed pavilion in 1905. The pier itself was damaged by wartime removal of its middle section and by the 1953 gales. After repairs it reopened for the 1955 season. In 1978 the theatre was remodelled and joined with impresario Richard Condon to create the Seaside Special. The theatre is famous for shows like Ronnie Brandon’s Out of the Blue and the later Seaside Special. This show won the National Piers Society Pier of the Year Award in 2000. Many well-known comedians and singers have appeared there, including Ken Dodd, Cannon and Ball, Joe Brown, Jimmy Tarbuck and Paul Daniels. The pier also appears in the film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa. Inside the theatre visitors find a 510-seat auditorium with a restaurant called Tides, a shop named Footprints and an extended bar. The redevelopment in 2004 added these facilities. Outside, the pier offers views over the North Sea and along the Norfolk coast. The theatre’s long history and regular shows make it a lively spot on the seafront.