Brighton Pier

Brighton Palace Pier is for sale, which tells you everything about the economics of British seaside fun

In January 2026 it was reported that Brighton Palace Pier had been put up for sale by its owners, citing reduced revenue and rising costs. The pier welcomed 3.9 million visitors in 2025 and still couldn’t make the numbers work comfortably. This is a genuinely revealing fact about the British seaside economy, and it should not deter you from going – if anything, it makes the place feel more poignant and more worth visiting before whatever comes next. The pier has been here since 1899, which means it has survived two world wars, the decline of the traditional British holiday, and the invention of budget flights to actual sunshine. It will probably survive its current ownership uncertainty too.

The pier is Victorian ironwork stretched 524 metres into the English Channel. There are arcade machines that have been there since before anyone reading this was born alongside newer funfair rides, two bars, a restaurant, soft-play areas for small children, and the kind of deep-fried food that tastes better in sea air. Entry costs £2 from March through September for non-residents; Brighton residents can apply for a card that gets them in free with discounted ride packages. The admission was introduced recently and remains low enough that no serious visitor should care.

The Pier Itself

The pier’s full name is Brighton Palace Pier, which distinguishes it from the West Pier – the ruined iron skeleton you can see offshore to the west, burned and storm-battered, which has been deteriorating since the 1970s and now functions primarily as a bird roost and a melancholy backdrop for photographs. The comparison between the two piers is instructive. The West Pier was arguably the more architecturally distinguished of the two; it closed in 1975, fell into disrepair, was targeted by arsonists in 2003, and is now protected as a listed structure in a state of beautiful decay. The Palace Pier chose entertainment over elegance and is still standing.

The new rides for 2025 include Jungle Jeeps and Dizzy Jets for children, and new sideshow games like Lobster Pot and Rebound alongside the long-standing Hook-a-Duck. The Palm Court Restaurant has expanded its menu beyond fish and chips into curries and pasta – not a decision everyone will applaud, but reasonable given that families need more than one option. The view from the seating area at the pier’s end, looking back at the seafront with the Royal Pavilion’s domes visible above the roofline, is as good a view of Brighton as you’ll find.

What Brighton Rewards Beyond the Pier

The Royal Pavilion is worth more time than most visitors give it. Built from 1787 onwards for the Prince Regent (later George IV), it is an extravagant Indo-Saracenic fantasy on the South Coast of England that makes no geographical sense and looks exactly right. The state rooms inside are as excessive as the exterior suggests. Book ahead; it fills up on weekends.

The Lanes, the maze of narrow streets in the old fishing quarter, is better for wandering than shopping – though the antique jewellery dealers here are legitimate and not especially overpriced by London standards. The North Laine area adjacent is where the independent record shops, vegan cafes, and vintage clothing stores cluster. These two neighbourhoods together represent a more interesting two hours than the pier for most adults, though the combination of all three across a full day is the actual Brighton experience.

Brighton Museum and Art Gallery on Church Street is free and consistently underrated. The collection ranges from Art Nouveau furniture to Brighton’s LGBTQ+ history, and the building itself is worth entering for the architecture.

Eating and Staying

Riddle and Finns on the seafront does fish and shellfish well, with views of the pier that justify the price. The Flour Pot Bakery, with multiple locations around the city, is the sensible breakfast choice before a day of walking. For something more substantial in the evening, the area around North Laine has enough variety that you don’t need a specific recommendation – walk it and something will present itself.

Hotel du Vin Brighton is the reliable upscale choice. Jurys Inn on the waterfront is comfortable and practical, with rooms looking toward the pier. Brighton Backpackers near the station is the standard budget option and genuinely central.

Practical Notes

The weather in Brighton is better than in most of England and worse than visitors from continental Europe expect. Bring a waterproof layer regardless of the forecast. The pebble beach is uncomfortable to lie on without a mat but the swimming at the designated areas is perfectly good in summer. The bike-share scheme makes getting between the seafront, the Lanes, and the station manageable without walking the whole way.

The Pride festival in August is one of Europe’s larger celebrations and brings a specific energy to the city that is worth experiencing once. Book accommodation three to four months ahead if you want reasonable prices.