News

Local composer Paul Lewis has been in touch. He has written an orchestral piece about the Concert Hall which will be performed on 9th November by Sussex Symphony Orchestra http://ssomusic.co.uk/events-3/concert-schedule/ Many members of his family were musicians and he writes: The sad fate of the West Pier is very poignant for me since my mother ... Read more

It’s a shame Tim Ridgway didn’t talk to us, look at our website or even glance at our Facebook page before writing his article in today’s Argus (it’s not yet on the website so no link yet). We’ve written to the letters page setting the record straight!

Congratulations to Hastings Pier, another arson victim and recipient of a Heritage Lottery Fund award. It has cleared it’s legal problems and restoration can begin! Excellent news for Hastings. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-23699453

Apart from F10 Studios http://www.f10studios.co.uk/  virtual tour of the pier https://www.westpier.co.uk/gallery/virtual-west-pier/ the best way to get an idea of how the pier was in its heyday is to watch Richard Attenborough’s brilliant film version of Joan Littlewood’s Oh! What a Lovely War easily available on dvd at Amazon and other suppliers. It’ll amaze you! With ... Read more

This wonderful picture was taken soon after the pier’s reopening post WW2. It shows the interior of the Concert Hall (the building that was closest to the beach) when it was used as a café.

Here’s a rare aerial view of the pier. The photo was probably taken in the early 1960s when funfair amusements dominated the pier, the management’s attempt to lure holiday makers who were already deserting the UK for European package holidays. it also illustrates how the Brighton skyline has changed in recent decades.

In February 2010 Tiger Beer celebrated the Chinese New Year of the Tiger by sponsoring various public art installations around the country. This included illuminating the pier for one night only. Laurent Louyet of Creatmosphere designed the laser illumination and the effect was stunning. Ever since  we’ve been searching for ways of repeating the show ... Read more

Take a look at this lovely recent photo of the pier, sent to us by Rich McKee #Brighton #piers

There was a great article in Saturday’s Guardian about the Edwards family of Fedora Punch & Judy. Glyn and Katey organise and run our education programme at the Fishing Museum http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/jul/27/punch-judy-family-brighton

This is how the pier looked soon after its opening in 1866. A simple promenading pier with just 6 octagonal kiosks at intervals along its length. We have one of these original kiosks dismantled and stored and hope in due course to restore it as a small visitor centre. You can also see the distinctive ... Read more

There’s a piece on page 6 of the Argus today – an original architect’s design of the pier Concert Hall is on sale on eBay http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/10566118.Original_West_Pier_design_drawing_goes_on_sale/ What a great addition to the Trust’s archive that would be!

There are still large original pier fragments available to buy – columns and lampposts mainly. You can arrange to view them at the pier by contacting us at info@westpier.co.uk . Bear in mind they’re made of cast iron and are very heavy!