Brighton Palace Pier, Brighton (must see)

Established in 1899, the Palace Pier is the third pier to be built in Brighton. The Royal Suspension Chain Pier and the West Pier came before the Palace Pier, but now only the Palace Pier still stands. It is managed by the Eclectic Bar Group. The Palace Pier replaced the Chain Pier which collapsed in 1896.

The Palace Pier remained in operation as a theatre venue until 1975. The theatre was demolished in 1986 and the pier became an amusement park featuring roller coasters. The Pier can be reached at the south end of the Old Steine by the Marine Parade and the Grand Junction Road on the waterfront. It is 1,722 feet long. Can't miss it.

The pier was designed and built by Richard St. George Moore. It cost 27,000 pounds to build and it had 3,000 lights for illumination. It had reading rooms which were replaced by a theatre. Stan Laural and Charlie Chaplin appeared there before their Hollywood days.

In 1984 the theatre was replaced by a dome with an amusement arcade. The seaward end of the pier had thrill rides, children's rides and roller coasters. Entertainment was still popular. The Spice Girls performed there in 1996. The Pier is still a popular tourist attraction in the 21st century.