HERITAGE campaigners hope Cleethorpes will return to its heyday as two of its most iconic buildings get set to go under the hammer.
The Friends of Cleethorpes Heritage are looking forward to the sale of the Pier and Wonderland next month, believing it may signal the start of a new era for the resort.
There has been worldwide interest in the Pier, which has a guide price of £400,000, with potential buyers contacting Swindells Auctioneers every day.
Chairman of Friends of Cleethorpes Heritage, Ann Reavey, said: "It will be great to see fresh life put into both of them. There is so much that could be done.
"They were both so important for the resort, they brought so many visitors to the town and it meant we had a wonderful south end for somewhere quiet and the north end to go and have fun. It would be great to have that back.
"People may think the kiss me quick games and slot machines are old fashioned, but it was a wonderful time.
"Trends go full circle and vintage is definitely making a comeback."
Eddisons property auction, which is in charge of Wonderland's sale, on Thursday, February 21, hope whoever buys the Pier will take on Wonderland, too.
They have dropped the asking price for the 5,500 sq ft site from £575,000 on the open market to £425,000 at auction.
Eddisons auctioneer, Tony Webber, said: "Wonderland seems to work very well as a market, but it certainly needs lifting.
"The fact the Pier is being auctioned off before Wonderland is very interesting to us. I am hoping the person who buys it might want to come along and bid for Wonderland as well.
"The sale of both is bound to develop Cleethorpes and get it back to how it used to be.
"We are looking forward to it."
The Pier will go under the hammer on Saturday, February 2, and Swindells promise quite a show for potential buyers and the public – including a free bar and hog roast for all who attend from 5pm.
There has been talks of turning the Pier into a theatre, amusement arcade and a conference centre.
Auctioneer Edward Swindell said: "We are getting very excited about the forthcoming sale and want people in their thousands to come and watch.
"The Pier will probably only ever go to auction once in its life-time. This is something for the entire local community to come and see.
"It is likely to achieve above the asking price given its unique nature, but how far above that is hard to say."
