Sunderland's Roker Pier has been named one of the world's 10 best piers by Guardian readers.
They put the Grade II listed pier up alongside piers in California, Western Australia, Thailand, Cuba, South Africa, Holland, two piers in Poland and closer to home, Clevedon in Somerset as their favourites. https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/aug/23/10-best-piers-readers-tra...
Council Leader, Councillor Graeme Miller, said: "It's fantastic to see Roker Pier being named one of the world's best piers, especially in the week after it opened to tours for the first time in its history.
"We always knew it was one of the best but it's brilliant to see it right up there with some of the most beautiful piers in the world."
The Grade II Listed pier tunnel and lighthouse opened to public tours last week following a £2.5m restoration by Sunderland City Council, funded with the help of the National Lottery.
The pier tunnel, which once provided the only means for the lighthouse keepers of old to reach the lighthouse in stormy weather, has also been restored with a new entrance structure which allows members of the public to access it via a staircase.
The tours are being run by local volunteer group, Roker Heritage Group with any profits made from them being reinvested into activities, events and outreach work.
These have proved so popular that demand for the tours crashed the website in the first week.
For more information and to book a tour visit www.rokerpier.co.uk