Expansion of popular bar 'showcases ambition and investment in our town', says mayor
A popular bar in the Lancashire seaside town of St Annes has bucked the trend of widespread pub closures across the UK by completing a major expansion that has doubled its capacity.
The Pier Inn, located at the corner of St Annes Square and Clifton Drive, officially opened its extended premises with a ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by St Annes town mayor Cllr Cheryl Little on 14 October 2026.
Defying national trends
The expansion comes at a challenging time for Britain's pub sector. More than 4,000 pubs have closed across the UK since 2019 as operators battle rising taxes, wages and energy costs. The industry continues to see around seven closures per week, and leading pub companies are forecast to reduce their combined estates by 0.8% in 2026 as they prioritize quality over expansion.
Against this backdrop, the Pier Inn's decision to grow represents a vote of confidence in St Annes, a Victorian seaside resort in the Borough of Fylde with a population of 42,695. The town, which lies on the Fylde coast directly south of Blackpool, was founded as a planned resort in the 1870s, with its official founding ceremony held on 31 March 1875.
Mayor praises investment
Cllr Little, who became town mayor in May 2026 after previously serving in the role in 2016-17 and as Fylde Council mayor in 2022-23, emphasized the significance of the investment.
It's great to see the business expanding and it really showcases the ambition and investment in our town. It was popular already but this extension is a super move and really shows the faith and confidence in St Annes.
New features and facilities
The expansion has seen the bar take over the adjacent former Subway store, bringing new features including pier-related artwork that pays homage to St Annes Pier, the Victorian pleasure pier that opened on 15 June 1885 and extends 600 feet into the sea. The renovation has also delivered enlarged gents' toilets and additional space for customers to relax and gather.
Owner Christine Lee, along with her husband Christopher and brother John Sadler, said the expansion provides more room for events and celebrations.
It also gives us more room for events and more space for celebrations as well as a brand new room to hire for meetings, private events and special occasions.
Supporting the local community
The proprietors emphasized their commitment to the local economy, ensuring all work on the extension used local traders.
We pride ourselves on being a community pub and love to support all the events St Annes hosts. We're in an ideal spot at the heart of town and this expansion is such an exciting move.
The venue's location at St Annes Square, which was developed in the early 1870s as part of the town's planned layout, places it at the geographic and social center of the community. Bar manager Nathan Murray welcomed the additional space, saying:
The extended space is brilliant and it's great to be here in the heart of town at such an exciting time.
Part of wider investment
The Pier Inn expansion fits into a broader pattern of hospitality investment in Lytham St Annes. The town has seen significant recent developments including a £4 million aparthotel that opened in 2020 and the multimillion-pound conversion of two hotels into a 98-bed inn completed in 2024.
The opening weekend featured live entertainment across Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with further events planned including performances by Kendrick and Lee on Saturday and Johnny Roxx on Sunday afternoon. Bingo and Play Your Cards Right sessions are scheduled from 2pm.
Cllr Little concluded:
It was a great opening night and here's looking forward to a really bright future for the Pier Inn.
