News

The Attenborough family name is to be associated with Brighton’s iconic West Pier once again, 52 years after Richard, Lord Attenborough filmed Oh! What A Lovely War on the historic Grade I-listed structure. Lord Attenborough also starred in the 1947 movie Brighton Rock and now his son, the acclaimed theatre director Michael Attenborough CBE, has joined the board of ... Read more

Artist, Sarah Mitchener is exhibiting her work at the West Pier Centre, on the seafront until September 2021. As well as having framed originals, giclée prints and original monotypes on the wall, she will also have a browser full of all original ‘studio sale’ sketches and paintings in watercolour and mixed media all in mounts ... Read more

We’re delighted to announce that Brighton Artist Alej ez will be in residence every Thursday at the West Pier Centre on the seafront starting 15th April. Alej ez exhibited his work at the Centre in autumn 2019. Come along anytime between 11am – 5pm and meet Alej ez as he creates art prints and drawings with the ... Read more

Solo exhibition, Shoreline by photographer John Brockliss reopens on 17th April 2021. Featuring over 30 original colour and monochrome marine landscape photographs, the exhibition will  run until May 23rd with prints available to buy. Using class Leica 35mm rangefinder cameras and lenses, John images are printed and presented uncropped, just as they were composed in-camera. ... Read more

Brighton before the Pavilion looks at aspects of the town that were important before the arrival of the grandees; the physical geography that ensured it was the largest town in Sussex, the social geography that gave it the liberal spirit and its radical edge and the psycho-geography that makes Brighton…Brighton! Geoffrey Mead was born and raised in ... Read more

Watch The West Pier Trust’s second online talk featuring Faye Davies talking with Fred Gray about ‘Restoring a Seaside Jewel: The West Pier Kiosk Project’. Faye discusses the history and importance of the kiosk, the world’s oldest surviving pleasure pier building.  As a specialist conservation architect, Faye has a fantastic understanding of the kiosk and ... Read more

Two Centuries of Walking on Water: Fred Gray and Michael Farthing in conversation about Fred’s new book The Architecture of British Seaside Piers. West Pier Trust had established a regular and popular monthly talk programme which took place in West Pier Centre until Covid-19 forced us to cancel all events in the Centre. We plan to resume the ... Read more

Talking To The Moon was published in March by Nosy Crow: https://nosycrow.com/product/talking-to-the-moon/ Although listed as being for 8-12 year olds, many other readers will enjoy the sensitive story. The locally-based author, S.E. Durrant, explains that the story ‘is narrated by ten year old Iris who is staying with her grandmother, Mimi, in Brighton. As Mimi ... Read more

Members, Friends and Supporters As I write these words, I realise that it is over a month since we all retreated into splendid isolation. Thus, although our activities have been significantly curtailed, and sadly we have had to close the West Pier Centre on Brighton’s West Beach, West Pier Trust’s Executive Committee has continued to ... Read more

FOLLOWING THE GOVERNMENT’S ADVICE WE HAVE REGRETTABLY DECIDED TO CANCEL THIS TALK. WE HOPE TO RESCHEDULE IT AT A LATER DATE. Volk’s Electric Railway is a familiar sight running along the beach from near the Palace Pier towards the Marina, but the story of the man behind it is less well known.   Magnus Volk ... Read more

Led by Sarah Tobias, WPT is offering its first study day. We will study social, cultural, local and West Pier history, characters and events – all drawn from Patrick Hamilton’s excellent novel, followed by tea or/and cocktails at the Hotel Metropole. The morning session will be followed by a short seafront tour. Bring a packed ... Read more

    Our next talk on the 27th February at West Pier Centre is with Sarah Tobias. Sarah will explore the history and importance of parks and green spaces from the eighteenth to twentieth centuries and discover some of Brighton and Hove’s parks as well as unknown, hidden gardens. Book here via Eventbrite. Ticket includes a ... Read more