In March 2003 the West Pier suffered a terrible fire and plans for its restoration were abandoned. In 2016, The i360 was opened as a tourist attraction to eventually fund the building of a contemporary West Pier.
‘Back in 2003 I was studying film at Northbrook College and spending the day with fellow students, wandering around Brighton with an old 16mm Bolex camera. Whilst aimlessly taking street footage, one of our group heard on his portable radio about a fire at the West Pier so we immediately ran down to the beach to find it ablaze. It was a strange and awful sight. The flames were all consuming we were expecting the whole structure to completely give way at any moment. People on the beach were already gossiping about how it could have happened; “a cigarette”, “arson”, somebody said they saw a boat speed away just before the flames.’
‘When I was a schoolboy in the 1920s we lived in Powis Square opposite St Michael’s Church. When I returned [from travelling] some years ago, I was devastated to see my beloved West Pier almost in ruins. I immediately joined the West Pier Trust. I must say that I was quite excited by the i360 project. Imagine my delight when I was invited to make a celebratory “flight” on my 100th birthday in 2016. Would I be able to see Powis Square and the church from the top of the tower? At the top I leaned on the rail and peered northwards. Sure enough there was the church and beside it Powis Square. What a thrill!’
Continue East along the lower promenade stopping at the seafront arches, just before the groyne with the bronze, donut-shaped sculpture.