This pleasure pier has been a destination for day-trippers from London for over a century.
Brighton Pier has been called the finest pleasure pier ever built. Located on the southern coast of England, Brighton has been a seaside resort for Londoners escaping the city since the 18th century. The arrival of the railway in 1841 brought Brighton within day-tripping range. Many of the major attractions in the city were built during the Victorian era, including the Grand Hotel and both pleasure piers. Of the two piers, only Brighton Pier remains. The West Pier built in 1866 has seen abandonment, collapse and catastrophic fires, leaving only a partial skeleton.
The peak of its popularity came in 1939, which saw at least 2 million visitors, including 45,000 on just one Bank Holiday. I had heard about Brighton Pier from a novel that I read a few years ago and thought it would be worth a visit, since I was in the area. After parking a mile or so away (it was a warm Saturday evening after all and of course, there was no place to park), I trekked my way down the hills to the shore. The pier was definitely worth the visit; the carnival atmosphere, the smell of fish and chips, pings from the arcade and fresh sea air made this a unique experience.
The front portion of Brighton Pier, featuring the former winter gardens which is now an arcade
Now a bit about the history of this amazing pier. Construction began on Brighton Pier, originally named Palace Pier, in 1891 and was opened in 1899. In 1901, a pavilion was added to the pier, decorated in oriental style with four large minaret towers, containing dining, smoking and reading rooms and even a concert hall. In 1910-11, the pavilion was remodeled again as a theater and a cafe. A bandstand was added in the center of the pier and the large winter garden was erected near the shore.
The rear of pier, with the new theater and rides.
The now famous amusement park rides were finally added at the end of the pier, starting in 1938 with the ‘big wheel’ ride. The pier was shut down during WWII and was actually damaged by German bombs. Disaster struck the pier on October 19, 1973, when a 70-ton barge broke free during a storm and severely damaged the pier. The theater partly collapsed and was never used again. The domed theater was later demolished, but a new replacement similar to the original was built and is now known as the Dome Arcade. The Winter Garden near the front of the pier has now since become the Palace of Fun Arcade and still retains its fine interior, domed roof, and stained-glass windows. In 2000, the new owners of the pier officially renamed it Brighton Pier, although many residents of the city have not recognized the name change.
The entrance to the pier, which replaced the original in the 1930s.
The Palace of Fun, the former winter gardens, with the new name of the pier prominently placed.
Today the pier has been turned into an amusement park of sorts, a destination for families and pensioners. The end of the pier has rides, such a carousel and even a mini-roller coaster, around its edge. However, I believe the major attractions of the pier happen to be the two very large arcades, probably packed with any kind of arcade game known to exist. These pavilions also have restaurants and bars (maybe the other major attraction), of course selling the traditional English coastal food, fish and chips. If you are not up to games or rides, why not bring a book and sit on the countless deck chairs along the pier.
Let the amusement begin.
The rebuilt domed theater, now an arcade.
Brighton is a perfect place to spend a summer day. Even though the pier has changed much since its founding, it still contains the charms of the early 20th century. The latest rides and games may be featured on this historic pier, but that did not stop me from feeling like I was experiencing the past, walking in the footsteps of the millions of day-trippers before me.
Not sure about the story behind this statue.
Obligatory carousel on the pier.
Brighton Pier was visited on my first day of a 30-Day adventure around Great Britain. Check out what else I saw that day!
Used to go to Brighton when I was a kid. I need to go back.