Plans for a pleasure pier at Penarth were first proposed as the town grew as a Victorian seaside resort.
Penarth Pier opened to the public as a 658-foot pleasure pier, complete with landing stages for steamships travelling the Bristol Channel.
A severe storm damaged the landing stage, leading to early reinforcements and repairs.
The Penarth to Cardiff tramway increased visitor numbers, making the pier one of the most popular local tourist attractions.
Work began on the iconic Art Deco Pavilion, built as an entertainment venue and shelter for visitors.
The Penarth Pier Pavilion officially opened, housing a cinema, café, concert hall, and reading room.
A major fire destroyed much of the wooden structure and the newly built pavilion interior, requiring significant repair.
The pier was closed to the public and used for military operations and sea defences throughout the war.
Steamship travel declined and tourism patterns changed, resulting in decades of underfunding and deterioration.
Storms caused extensive structural damage, prompting local campaigns to save and restore the pier.
A major redevelopment project (funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund) fully restored the Pavilion, creating event spaces, a cinema, exhibition areas, and a café.
The restored Pavilion reopened to the public, becoming a cultural hub for Penarth once again.
The Pavilion temporarily closed during the pandemic, with community groups continuing to support its activities.
The venue began transitioning to new operational models under the Vale of Glamorgan Council.
Penarth Pier Pavilion remains as a treasured landmark and a place for events, exhibitions, weddings, food, seaside walks, and community life.