A Kent pier has been ranked third in a list of the UK’s best, beating the likes of Blackpool and Brighton.

While Herne Bay may not be known as a trendy hotspot or holidaymakers’ paradise, its 320ft sea structure has been commended by experts.

The Pier of the Year awards 2025, held by The National Piers Society, ranked Herne Bay’s pier as third, while Swanage came second. Llandudno pier, in north Wales, clinched the top spot.

It beat more popular and well-known attractions such as Brighton and the UK’s longest in Southend.

Explaining their decision, judges said: “Herne Bay Pier has been a lively and buzzing focus to the town since the opening of the Beach Hut Village in 2013, following the work of Herne Bay Pier Trust.

“Even though it is still without its other 1000 metres (having been severed by the 1978 storm), this short stub still makes very good use of what it still has.

“The pier maintains a very busy events schedule throughout the year, and the individual retail outlets are numerous.”

All that remains of the town’s original structure is the pier head, which has sparked safety concerns in recent years.

Previously, there were plans to extend the current shore pier by 100 meters, but these have been put on hold due to difficulty securing funding.

The town’s first pier opened in 1832 and was 3633ft long.

London steamers, which were using it, ceased in 1862, and damage caused by worms and winter storms led to its closure.

A new one was constructed, but in 1978 it was destroyed by a storm, leaving just the pier head and a short section at the shore.

It did not reopen until 2012, after being lovingly restored.