Couple wed on Hastings Pier after anxious build-up

Stuart Simons married James Parsons on Saturday, July 21

A St Leonards man whose wedding plans were disrupted following the sale of Hastings Pier said owner Abid Gulzar and his team '˜could have done no more' to facilitate him and his husband on their big day.

Dog groomer Stuart Simons, 44 – who moved back down to St Leonards after 25 years living in East London – married James Parsons, 46, on Hastings Pier on Saturday, July 21, a little more than a month after Mr Gulzar purchased it.

In the days following Mr Gulzar’s purchase, members of pier staff who had helped Stuart and James plan their big day quit their jobs and, according to Stuart, turned the couple’s ‘world upside down’.

Stuart said: “We had pretty much everything prepared with the caterers, catering managers and wedding organisers and with just three weeks to go didn’t really think we had a worry in the world. The day was set as far as we knew and all the plans had been made. That is until it was sold to Mr Gulzar.

“Suddenly our world got turned upside down. Social media started a hate campaign, the catering manager, caterers and chef and wedding planner all left with no notice leaving James and I totally out in the cold as to what was going to happen to our special day.

“We had heard that Mr Gulzar was going to honour all of the events on the pier but we knew little else and time was ticking.”

Stuart, who runs three businesses – including pet supply store Tails of St Leonards – said he had no time to discuss his plans to a brand new team.