BRIGHTON, England — Brighton Palace Pier opened in 1899, and is the third pier to be constructed in Brighton after the Royal Suspension Chain Pier, which collapsed during construction in 1896, and the West Pier, which closed in 1975 and has since fallen to disrepair after fires in 2002 and 2003. By 1911, the Palace Pier was flourishing as an entertainment and theater venue, frequently visited by locals and held regular entertainment until 1973 when the theater was damaged. The closure of the theater changed the atmosphere of the pier, and it now operates as an amusement park with fairground style rides and roller coasters.Â
The pier was designed and constructed by R. St George Moore and stretches 1,722 feet into the English Channel. At night, the pier is illuminated by 67,000 bulbs. The entrance sits opposite of the Old Steine, where it meets Marine Parade and Grand Junction Road along the seafront. If traveling from Brighton Station, the No. 14 and No. 27 buses will take you directly to the pier.
In addition to rides, a number of kiosks offering sweet and savory treats line the pier — as well as the Palm Court restaurant. Famous for its fish and chips, the Palm Court restaurant lies in the middle of the pier and is a great place to stop and take a rest while dining on English classics. If you’re in a hurry, or don’t feel like sitting down to eat, a fish and chips kiosk is available for takeaway orders. The menu can be found below, but I personally recommend the classic cod fish and chips — they are to die for, even the mushy peas.
