Blog – Hythe Pier Heritage Association

Rock the Pier 2025

Hythe’s premier live music event is still Hythe’s biggest and most popular music event, this year at a new location – Ewart Recreation Ground. Much as we loved being on the Promenade, the new site offers a comfortable park environment making for a more family friendly event and a lot more space – which the enthusiastic audience managed to almost fill.

We were pleased to welcome Noadswood School Choir, their first time in front of a large audience outdoors, performing a set of contemporary songs to open the event.

Rock the Pier favourites Travcats were back on the bill.

Returning for a second year were both Mike and the Mojitos and Davy Jones Locker.

Dodgy Jammers made a welcome return having played at the inaugural Rock the Pier in 2018 and again in 2019.

Making their first appearance at Rock the Pier were keyboard wizards Ghost in the Machine.

Thanks to all the bands who gave their time for free to support our event.

Between bands things kept rocking with our always popular MC, Byron Witchell keeping the large audience engaged and entertained. Even when ‘monsoon’ conditions prevailed late in the day some folk toughed it out to enjoy Byron’s DJ set.

Thanks to everyone who turned up, what a brilliant audience you were. Thankyou for your generous donations that will go to support our work restoring Hythe Pier Railway.

As always HPHA are extremely grateful to all our sponsors including principle sponsor The Scratch Project . Without the sponsors it would not be possible to hold Rock the Pier.

Thanks to all the HPHA Volunteers who’s hard work planning Rock the Pier 2025, and helping out on the day made this fantastic event happen.

Waterside Heritage Day – Sat 28th June 2025

In participation with other members of the local community, HPHA was pleased to celebrate our local heritage as part of Waterside Heritage Weekend. The Pier workshop was open for visitors to explore and inspect work in progress on the Pier train restoration. Many people took advantage of free rides on the Pier Railway. After much hard work by the members of Hythe Shed (at the Pier), Ann Fairhead, widow of former HPHA board member Alan Fairhead officialy opened the Hythe Pier Museum and Shop where HPHA merchandise is available for sale. Throughout the day HPHA volunteers were available to chat about our conservation work on Hythe Pier and Railway.

A Royal Visit.

We were very proud to welcome HRH the Duke of Gloucester to Hythe Pier on 2^nd October 2024.

The Duke, who has a keen interest in architecture had kindly offered to open the newly restored platform and associated tracks.

The visit commenced with his Royal Highness being introduced to restoration volunteers from HPHA and Hythe Shed (at the Pier), members of Hythe Ferry staff and local councillors.

The Duke was then escorted to the pier workshop where ferry engineers and Hythe Shed (at the Pier) volunteers were able to explain the carriage and tractor restoration work undertaken there.

Outside the workshop HPHA board member, John Goddard (CEng) explained the work involved in the station restoration project which initially necessitated structural work to take the load off decaying Victorian beams.

Tractor unit ‘Edward Fort’ which is currently undergoing restoration was also of interest to the Duke.

His Royal Highness was then taken around to the ticket office and he stepped up onto the new platform for the opening ceremony. After a short speech the Duke duly cut the ribbon to applause from a group of invited guests and the new Hythe Pier station was officially open.

The Duke then boarded the Pier train to travel to the seaward end of the Pier.

Waiting with a warm welcome in the waiting room were a group of pupils and staff from Hythe Primary School. They explained the part they played with the initial fundraising for Carriage 4 restoration which involved them writing letters to the Beaulieu Beaufort Foundation.

Before the Duke of Gloucester’s departure, he chatted with invited guests and was given a presentation piece of the original pier railway track as a memento of his visit.

Heritage Day 2024

The 2024 Heritage Day got under way with a gathering in rather ‘damp’ conditions at the newly refurbished station platform for the naming of the second (16302) tractor unit, it’s restoration now nearing completion.

Chairman of HPHA, Anthony Smith introduced Jo Shields, daughter of Edward Fort, the chairman of the Beaulieu Beaufort Foundation, who have provided much of the funding for our restoration projects. Jo cut the ribbon to officially name the unit ‘Edward Fort’ in his honour. Even with rain drops running down its new green livery, it was a splendid sight.

In spite of the dismal weather many hardy folk turned out to enjoy the attractions around the pier and the adjacent Hythe Shed (at the Pier).

The pier workshop was open for visitors to chat with the engineers involved in the restoration work as well as displays of heritage pier railway parts.

Unfortunately the pier itself was too slippery to be safe to walk on, however, engine ‘Gerald York’ was on hand running free pier train rides.

Wandering back to The Shed there were some fine heritage vehicles to be seen.

The Shed itself was open with various display items and Shed volunteers were more than happy to talk about the railway carriage restoration work undertaken there. Historian Marc Heighway also gave a fascinating talk.

On the quayside an avenue of gazebos housed a ‘pop-up’ café, the HPHA merchandise stall, book stall and other attractions.

Youngsters could search for various hidden nautical flags to complete the children’s trail.

New Forest Brass provided a musical accompaniment throughout proceedings to keep spirits high.

Rock the Pier 2024

Hythe Promenade was rocking as our very popular live music event ‘Rock the Pier’ took place on 15th June . Once again a large audience of all ages gave the event their enthusiastic support.

Stone Branches opened up the event at midday and there was a full line-up of bands right through to nearly 7pm when the always popular Soul Catchers brought the day to a close.

When there was a brief pause in the live music during band change-overs Byron Witchell and Rozzy Turner took over to hold the audiences attention with sing along hits and games for the youngsters.

Thank-you to all the bands who gave their time for free.

And we are grateful for the support of our Rock the Pier event sponsors. Without their help it would not be possible to run Rock the Pier.

HPHA would like to say thankyou to all our volunteers and those who worked hard to organise and run Rock the Pier.

And of course a big thankyou to everyone who attended Rock the Pier and those who made donations.

The event raised a total of £13,900 from sponsorship, donations, merchandise and other sales. After costs this has left £7,400 which will go into HPHA funds to help with our work to preserve and restore Hythe Pier and Railway.