News

As part of the i360 the two original pier toll booths will be restored and reinstated in more or less their original positions. The eastern one that became in later life a rock shop until it was dismantled four years ago, can be seen in all its glory in the foreground of this photo. The ... Read more

Lots of action on site at the moment, preparing for the start of the i360 build. The columns that have been removed from the beach will be safely stored until they’re reinstated as part of the new West Pier themed landscaping scheme either side of the attraction. It will include lots of original pier material that ... Read more

Neil Rosborough is a long-term member of the Trust and a lives close to the West Pier site. Here are his thoughts. Home from home neglect   Living in Sussex Heights my front garden has been Regency Square for 28 years and for most of this time I was working at the South Bank Centre’s (SBC) Royal Festival Hall In London. Before the turn of the century both home and workplace environs were suffering years of neglect and under- investment. At home the crumbling West Pier and seafront arches, the neglected Regency Square where railings and other damage is not repaired, flowers are not provided and where the front of the square has been allowed to become a motorcycle park/ workshop. At work  the area between the Royal Festival Hall and County Hall had become a depressing slum and all our efforts over decades to get major funding for regeneration had come to nothing. An icon charges over the hill   And then ­ just in time for the turn of the century celebrations ­ the Seventh Cavalry arrived. It was the London Eye and everything on the South Bank began to change. The area achieved a massive concentration of media attention and focus and the Festival Hall  was finally rewarded funding of over £80m. The whole area is now completely transformed with thousands of visitors each day attracted by the London Eye and whose footfall is reflected in activity and ticket sales for all the South Bank venues. The same team for the i360, ­ Regency Square to prosper?   So this is why I feel so excited that the London Eye team has come to Brighton and that our new icon will similarly be a major catalyst for change and progress. ... Read more

Timber decking is being stripped from the root end. The dismantling work is progressing well, helped by glorious weather. It’s wonderful to see action on site after years of gradual decay and the fact that so much of original pier material will be reused in the i360 scheme is very exciting.

Removal of the root end of the pier, in preparation for i360 construction, began on Friday

Latest picture from the beach – excellent progress has been made this week and work should begin on the root end structure itself in a few days time. These piles will be reinstated within the new landscaping  on the western side of the i360. Lots of original pier material will be incorporated in the i360 scheme ... Read more

Great progress is being made removing the pier columns from the beach. They will be stored until they are reused in the West Pier themed landscaping scheme either side of the i360. Next week work should begin on removing the root end of the pier. This is all in preparation for the start of i360 ... Read more

Work to dismantle the root end of the pier to prepare the site for i360 construction started on 19th May. Today they will begin to remove the columns on the beach. These will be kept in safe storage until they are reused as part of the West Pier themed landscaping scheme either side of the i360. Click ... Read more

We’ve had a fantastic response to our appeal for photos and film footage. Here’s a postcard from the 1920’s sent by Cathie Smith of The New Club – the great bar opposite the pier http://thenewclubbrighton.com/

Click here for the latest news from the Trust.

Anna Stanley is making a film about the West Pier and what it means to people. She’s looking for personal stories.

Click here for a look at the latest version of Shutter Films’ wonderful film – with music now!