Pier Bandstand, Weymouth

[3] An open competition was launched for its design and the plans of architect V. J. Wenning of London were selected by the assessor, H. S. Goodhart-Rendel, in May 1937 from twenty-six entries.

[4] The first pile was driven on 18 March 1938 and the opening ceremony for the completed structure was performed by the Mayor of Weymouth, John T. Goddard, on 25 May 1939.

[5] The two-storey entrance building at the landward end contained a 30 foot wide staircase, providing access to the raised main deck, and a café on the first floor with capacity for 150 people.

The bandstand was carefully designed to "produce reinforcing reflections and distribution of sound", making it not only suitable for band performances but a range of other shows and events.

[1] The lighting scheme, which used neon tubing and tungsten filament lamps,[5] was prepared by Falk, Stadelmann & Co Ltd of London, and their associate company, Ionlite Ltd, and the wiring installation was undertaken by Bennett & Escott Ltd of Weymouth.

[15][16] In 1979, the Pier Bandstand Amusement Park underwent a £50,000 refit, which included the installation of new arcade machines, mini dodgems, an inflatable castle, and radio-controlled boats.

[18] In 1985, a structural report by the engineers Lewis and Duvivier concluded that the Pier Bandstand was in an "unsafe condition" and its closure to the public was recommended on health and safety grounds.

In order to keep the existing structure open to the public until the end of the 1985 peak season, the council carried out temporary measures.

They had additional props and deck strutting installed to provide extra support, and fencing was erected around the structure at beach level to stop public access underneath the pier.

[23] A national competition was launched, offering a free package weekend at Weymouth, during which the winner would 'press the button' to demolish the seaward end of the pier.

[25][26] In 1986, following the demolition of the pier, the ground floor of the entrance building continued to function as an amusement arcade and a storage room was converted into a retail shop.