LED lights along the underside of the pier were switched on, bathing the pillars the length of the pier in a combination of red, green and blue lights. Over the years, it played host to wrestling competitions, midnight bathing, dances, firework displays and the Miss New Brighton contest. Repairs will focus on damage sustained by the support columns at seabed-level, and there will be additional repairs to cosmetic earthquake damage on the deck and railings. The theatre was damaged in 1973 and following a buy-out was demolished in 1986, changing the pier's character from seaside entertainment to an amusement park, with various fairground rides and roller coasters. The West Pier was extended in 1893, and a concert hall was added in 1916. Find out what's going on in your local area by entering your postcode below: Owners of the much loved arcade said they could no longer keep up with maintenance costs and the building is set to be replaced by apartments, shops and a luxury hotel. People's changing leisure activities also marked a change in what former seaside destinations were offer in their heyday. It’s not sustainable to run it as it is.”. [7], The pier was awarded the National Piers Society's Pier of the Year award in 1998. A condition to be met by its builders, in exchange for permission to build, was that the Chain Pier was to be demolished as it had fallen into a state of disrepair. The whole was to be protected by a double breakwater. Sadly, this isn't the first thing New Brighton has lost. The pier complemented New Brighton’s role as a favourite seaside outing and, for many years, as the only place where you could shop on Saturdays. The city council ordered the pier to be demolished, and this was done during just four and a half hours in the early morning of 12 October 1965 on a receding tide. The pier will be open for use throughout the period of repair. June 2016 – Remembering New Brighton Pier. The pier complemented New Brighton’s role as a favourite seaside outing and, for many years, as the only place where you could shop on Saturdays. The trust claimed a new pier is more – not less – likely as a result of the i360 being built. The Brighton Palace Pier, commonly known as Brighton Pier or the Palace Pier[a] is a Grade II* listed pleasure pier in Brighton, England, located in the city centre opposite the Old Steine. For the building complex in Toronto, see, Brighton Palace Pier in early-October 2011. The pier sustained some damage in the various earthquakes, and this was exacerbated in the 2016 Christchurch earthquake. By 1965, the pier had become so run down that the council ordered that it be demolished. New Brighton Pier, Wallasey, Wirral, Merseyside. All this combined together makes New Brighton a great place to visit and chill out in Christchurch. [4], The Graham Greene novel Brighton Rock featured the Palace Pier. It also has a selection of Bars, Cafes and Accommodation on offer. A similar bomb by the same perpetrators had exploded in Bognor Regis on the same day. About 100 20 ft piles were winched out or cut off 18 inches below ground level. Work started in the Palace Pier in November 1881 however the enormity of the project wasn't realised and the developers had to request permission from the government to allow extra time to complete the build. New Brighton Pier: includes a brief history of the current and original piers and links to additional resources; Pier construction photographs; New Brighton: a selection of historical photos from our collection; Big Storm at New Brighton Pier, 20th July 2001 Much of the pier's length is out over the water, even at low tide. [9] Both Stan Laurel and Charlie Chaplin performed at the pier to hone their comic skills early in their career, before migrating to the US and finding major commercial success in Hollywood. The Palace Pier was intended as a replacement for the Chain Pier, which collapsed in 1896 during construction. By the 1950s, the pool was attracting around 150,000 people on a bank holiday weekend. [11][14], The pier was an immediate success and quickly became one of the most popular landmarks in Brighton. During World War I, the sea surrounding the pier was extensively mined to prevent enemy attacks. The pool could accommodate up to 2,000 swimmers and there was seating for 10,000 spectators. Little Richard and the Rolling Stones were also big-named acts that performed at the iconic building. [15] As of February 2001, it was one of 70 Grade II*-listed buildings and structures, and 1,218 listed buildings of all grades, in the city of Brighton and Hove. New Brighton has long been a favourite resort with families on Merseyside and those visiting from further afield - but it's changed dramatically over the years. Townshend later said that the rest of the band understood this element of the story, as it related to their mod roots. John Boulting's 1947 film adaptation helped established "low life" subculture in Brighton, and the climax of the film is set on it, where gangleader Pinkie Brown (played by Richard Attenborough) falls to his death.