# Phoenix From the Flames

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2010-10-28  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/fire2.html

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## Analysis

This historical article from October 2010 documents the reopening of Weston-super-Mare's Grand Pier in England following a devastating 2008 fire that destroyed the original arcade and its machines. The newly rebuilt pier, which cost £39 million, has reinstalled four pinball machines (Shrek, Spider-Man, Big Buck Hunter Pro, and Batman) alongside other modern arcade attractions.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] A fire in 2008 destroyed the Grand Pier arcade, including four new Stern machines: Indiana Jones, Spider-Man, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Shrek — _Article reports on documented historical event at Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare_
- [HIGH] The new Grand Pier reopening cost £39 million ($62.5 million) — _Explicitly stated in article body with currency conversion_
- [HIGH] Four pinball machines were reinstalled in the new arcade: Shrek, Spider-Man, Big Buck Hunter Pro, and Batman — _Article documents installation with photos of each machine_
- [HIGH] Kerry Michael, co-owner of Grand Pier, vowed to restore the pier after the fire — _Reported in original 2008 coverage referenced in this article_

### Notable Quotes

> "work tirelessly to restore the pier"
> — **Kerry Michael (Grand Pier co-owner)**, Post-2008 fire, referenced in article
> _Documents commitment to rebuilding pier after disaster; promise fulfilled two years later_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Grand Pier | location | Amusement pier in Weston-super-Mare, England; destroyed in 2008 fire; reopened 2010 with new arcade |
| Weston-super-Mare | location | Seaside town in England where Grand Pier is located |
| Kerry Michael | person | Co-owner of Grand Pier; committed to restoring pier after 2008 fire |
| Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer of original machines destroyed in fire (Indiana Jones, Spider-Man, Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek) |
| Spider-Man | game | Stern pinball machine; destroyed in 2008 fire; replaced with new machine in 2010 reopening |
| Shrek | game | Stern pinball machine; destroyed in 2008 fire; replaced with new machine in 2010 reopening |
| Indiana Jones | game | Stern pinball machine destroyed in 2008 Grand Pier fire; not reinstalled in 2010 reopening |
| Pirates of the Caribbean | game | Stern pinball machine destroyed in 2008 Grand Pier fire; not reinstalled in 2010 reopening |
| Big Buck Hunter Pro | game | Arcade game (not pinball) installed in 2010 Grand Pier reopening |
| Batman | game | Arcade/pinball machine installed in 2010 Grand Pier reopening |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Venue reopening and reconstruction, Fire destruction and recovery
- **Secondary:** Pinball machine placement in commercial venues, Amusement arcade attractions and equipment

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — Article celebrates successful pier reconstruction and reinstallation of pinball machines. Tone is upbeat and congratulatory about restoration achievement and visitor enthusiasm.

### Signals

- **[event_signal]** Grand Pier reopening as major amusement venue recovery event (confidence: high) — Documented historical event with £39 million investment, new attractions, and successful reopening with crowds

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## Transcript

Date: 28th October 2010

Pictures and report by Fishboy

Two years ago we reported on a devastating fire which destroyed the Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare along with decades of history.

The fire in 2008

Apart from the building itself, the coin-op machines
in the arcade were also destroyed.  These included four new Stern machines - Indiana Hilton Jones, Spider-Man, Pirates of the Caribbean and Shrek.

We also reported how the co-owner Kerry Michael vowed to "work tirelessly to restore" the pier.

Well, just two years later, the pier is back and better than ever.

The new Grand Pier

Visitors to the new Pier

The facade of the new pier building

The opening of the new pier this month, which cost a reported £39 million ($62.5 million), has been a huge success with people pouring in to see the new attractions;  two £355,000 Formula 1 simulators, a multi-level go kart track, a 4D cinema and Robocoaster to mention just a few.

Inside the new building

The arcade floor

Fortunately another four pinball machines have been installed and were being enjoyed alongside the other new arcade machines.  These are a Shrek, a Spider-Man, a Big Buck Hunter Pro and a Batman.

Visitors enjoying a game of Spider-Man

Shrek and Spider-Man

Big Buck Hunter Pro and Batman

It's always good to play a new machine and these are fresh out the crate.

Back to the News page

Back to the
front page

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 7c83acd0-9738-4993-a416-c2ce1c0b69d2*