Â鶹APP

Brighton Pier by Barbara Mürdter –

Top 10 Facts about Brighton Palace Pier

Brighton Palace Pier popularly known as Brighton Pier is a grade 2 listed pleasure pier owned by Eclectic Bar Group. It is located in the heart of Brighton and Hove’s 8 miles of coastline and opens throughout the week.

It is one of the city’s most famous tourist attraction sites. In the article  are the top ten facts about  Brighton Pier Palace

1. It has featured in various films

Brighton pier is famous for its guest appearance in various series and films including; Bank holiday (1938), Pink String and Sealing Wax (1946), Brighton Rock (1947), and One Good Turn (1955) among many more interesting films and series.

2. It experienced a fire in 2003

Brighton Pier fire by Mark Harris –

It was in March 2003 when Brighton’s beloved West pier was ravaged by fire. Flames tore through the Grand Old Lady sealing her fate forever.

As fire investigators were unable to access the site for safety reasons the cause of the fire remains unknown, although it is thought to be arson. A more severe fire, also thought to be intentional, burned through consuming what was left of the concert hall.

With the loss of lottery funding, the restoration of the west pier became impossible. Deemed a public hazard, the burnt-out Concert Hall was removed in 2010. The skeleton remains of the pavilion, however, were left to become a feature of Brighton’s seafront.

3. Brighton palace pier boss wins national award

Brighton Pier photo by Ecky4free –

The woman who has run Brighton’s Palace Pier for more than a decade, helping it become the most visited free attraction outside London was recognized by a national industry body.

Under her leadership, the business has enjoyed consistent growth and is a landmark that reflects the fantastic vibrancy and energy you experience when visiting Brighton palace pier.

4. It is privately funded

Brighton Pier by August Schwerdtfeger –

The vast majority of Brighton’s Palace is financed by privately-owned companies who rely on the revenues they generate to sustain and protect the jewels in the seaside crown.

For over one hundred and twenty years, Brighton palace pier was the only totally-privately funded conservation project in the UK and the biggest revenue stream for Britain’s pier is the income derived from amusement machines.

In 1998 the National Piers Society named Brighton Palace Pier, pier of the year.

5. It was restructured

Brighton Pier photo by Arild VÃ¥gen –

In 2010 the west pier underwent structured demolition to make a way for the construction of a new observation tower the i360.

They left the remains of the pavilion and built the landward end. Opened in August 2016, the i360 is the tallest moving observation platform in the world, 162 meters tall in total with a viewing platform at 138 meters.

It was designed by the same architectural company that designed the London Eye. There are also several surviving artifacts from the West pier on display at the Brighton Fishing Museum.

The sculptural casting an eerie beauty over the seafront, the West Pier is still the most photographed building in Brighton.

6. Its proximity to classic restaurants attracts tourists

The Brighton Palace Pier is located near fancy and classic restaurants and hotels which enables both local and international tourists to visit the Pier at any time of the year.

Restaurants such as Ohso Social Beach Bar, Palm Court Restaurant, and Jurys Inn Brighton Waterfront among many others provide the best foods and services in Brighton.

Although traditional pub grub such as pies, bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, and fish and chips remain popular, Brighton’s abundant gastro-hubs serve these classics with innovative twists or create exciting dishes on their own.

7. Storm wreckage

In December 1896 a storm destroyed the first Brighton piers, the chain pier. It had been built in 1823, the same year the finishing touches were added to John Nash’s transformation of the Royal Pavilion into an oriental-looking fantasy palace.

The Old Chain Pier was destroyed by a violent gale from the south-south-east as it was reported in our Saturday’s issue. The collapse occurred at about half-past ten when the two central piers fell with a crash, and the head very shortly followed.

The damage did not end by sweeping away of the Old Chain Pier, for enormous waves dashed the great iron girders against the piles of the new palace pier now in the course of erection, smashing away two piles completely and doing considerable mischief to other portions of the cast-iron frame.

8. It was closed during World War II

Brighton Pier photo by AndyScott –

After the British retreat from Dunkirk and the French surrender of June 1940, the South Coast was left dangerously exposed and Brighton’s Beaches were closed at 5 pm in July 1940. Defense measures were put in place along the beach including mines, barbed wire, and barricades.

The Brighton Blitz was the bombing of Brighton by the Nazi German Luftwaffe during the second world war. Brighton was attacked from the air on 56 recorded occasions. Casualties in the area were 1978 killed and 357 seriously injured with 443 receiving minor injuries.

9. Britain’s most visited tourist attraction site

Brighton palace pier was named the fourth most popular tourist attraction site. It is the most visited free tourist attraction outside London.

Research from visit England shows the Pier welcomed an estimated 4,684,000 visitors in 2017 and almost five times the number of visitors of any other attraction in the South East.

Annual figures for 2018 have yet to be released but the sunny summer could well have boosted the performance of the pier. It’s not the first time Brighton Pier has been listed as one of the Nation’s favorite places to spend a day out.

In 2019, over 1.5 million overnight trips were made to Brighton and Hove. Of these trips, domestic visitors contributed seventy-six percent and overseas visitors made twenty-four percent.

10. It is a grade 2 listed building

A photo of Brighton Pier by Hassocks5489 –

Grade 2 listed buildings such as the Brighton Pier are subjected to regulations that protect their historical and architectural significance.

These buildings are of special interest, meaning alterations and building work can’t be carried out without written consent from the relevant authorities. In August 1971, Brighton Pier has declared a grade 2 listed building.

Being the most visited tourist attraction site outside London, Brighton Palace Pier is the most recommended destination for families and also a team-building site for employees and employers. This is highly supported by the presence of classic and fancy hotels near the Pier. It is also a free tourist attraction site in England.