Without the support of the government and its furlough scheme and our bankers it could well have been the end, said Mr Ball, with the pier shut for three months during what would have been one of its busiest times of the year.
Fortunately, the site was able to reopen for the summer season, albeit with restrictions still in place.
A Covid compliant Halloween event and the North Pole Experience at Christmas helped to boost income at the tourist hotspot, which was awarded Pier of the Year in 2020, while the new Log Flume proving to be a big hit among visitors.