28th September 2021 – PRESS RELEASE
Bacta hosted a reception during the Labour Party Conference in the wonderful surroundings of Brighton Palace Pier.
The event attracted a number of MPs and bacta ‘seaside champions’ – so-called for their support of coastal communities and amusement businesses, as well as some bacta members.
Alex Sobell MP for Leeds West and the Shadow Minister for DCMS, and Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP for Brighton spoke to the guests about the importance of the industry to coastal communities and the wider economy.
Anne Martin, CEO of Brighton Palace Pier also spoke to the guests and gave an insight into the huge price of keeping the pier standing out at sea – which in exceeds £1m for infrastructure alone. She called for more support from government to help businesses such as hers and highlighted how there are now only 55 piers remaining in the UK, when there were once over a hundred.
Bacta’s John White, Greg Wood and fifth-generation family business owner Billy Edwards also spoke briefly about the issues facing the sector and the contribution that it makes.
Bacta CEO John White said, “It was great to see so many MPs attend our reception and enjoy a pint and some fish and chips. The message from bacta was clear and well received and our relationships strengthened. It is important for politicians to hear first-hand from members such as Billy and Anne – just how hard business has been and what support they require. Thanks to everyone who attended and to Anne and Mike and the team at the pier who looked after us so well.”
IMAGE: Alex Sobell MP
ENDS
About bacta
Bacta represents the owners and operators of over-18 amusement centres (AGCs), seaside amusement arcades, and the companies that hire machines to pubs, clubs, bowling alleys, bingo halls and similar venues. It also represents the manufacturers and distributors of all types of gaming machines and amusement equipment ranging from children’s rides, to jukeboxes, fruit machines in pubs and clubs, redemption machines, crane grabbers, penny falls, tuppeny nudgers, test your strength machines, videos, and pool tables.
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Steph Norbury – Managing Director, Upgrade PR Ltd.
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