Cleethorpes Pier has hit the market just 10 months after its new owners started operating the refurbished tearoom, private hire venue and restaurant.

The National Piers Society nominated the pier as Pier of the Year 2016, while under the ownership of the Huxford family.

However, the owners believed that they have grown the business as far as they can, primarily due to their lack of experience in the food and drink trade.

CBRE’s Leeds Specialist Markets team has been appointed to sell The Pier.

Bryan Huxford explained that he understands some people will view the decision to sell as yet another failure for the pier, but insists that this view is far from the truth.

Huxford continued: “I have achieved what I set out to do in bringing this beautiful building back to life and giving local residents something to be proud of. However, as a successful businessman I know that you should play to your strengths.

“Unfortunately, I am not at the right time in life to start to learn a new industry, but despite that, and my lack of experience in the food and drink sector, we have already shown what a success The Pier, Cleethorpes can be.”

He added that in the right hands, he is confident that the business will continue to flourish and insisted that the process was never about making money, rather finding the right buyer for the pier.

Huxford said that the buyer must be one who gives him confidence that the future of the pier will be in safe hands to ensure longevity of success.

Mr Huxford was one of a group of investors who stepped in to save the Pier, unveiling their vision for its future in 2013.

It later shut for a major revamp, opening to the public again in August last year in the latest chapter in its history.