Overview
- A court issued a compulsory winding-up order for Lions Pier Limited on May 12, 2026, and the Official Receiver now runs the liquidation and day-to-day oversight of the business.
- If the physical pier is held by Lions Pier Limited the Official Receiver can sell it to pay creditors but if owner Abid Gulzar holds the freehold he may retain control of the structure.
- Owner and sole director Abid Gulzar faces unrelated fraud charges over alleged unpaid water bills and Hastings Pier has been frozen by the court ahead of his November trial.
- Eastbourne Borough Council says it is monitoring the situation, will continue routine safety checks, and hopes the liquidation can be resolved without closing the pier or harming the traders who operate there.
- The case follows earlier insolvencies linked to Mr Gulzar and highlights that in compulsory liquidations the Official Receiver can investigate director conduct and recommend disqualification if misconduct is found.