 In 1962 the Birnbeck Pier Company sold the pier to P & A Campbell , the steamer operators . After the withdrawal of their ships it was sold to John Critchley , who redeveloped it as a " Victorian pleasure centre " which even had special permission to issue its own currency to visitors . There have since been several proposals to make the pier a commercial success again , including converting it into a hotel , casino , residential use , or the centre of a marina . 
