Located across from Old Steine, the Palace Pier isn’t the first iteration of a pleasure pier in Brighton. It’s actually the third that was built, the first two ended up getting destroyed, the Royal Suspension Chain Pier in a storm in 1896 and the West Pier fell into disrepair and was the victim of a couple of arson attacks in 2003. Richard St George Moore constructed and designed the pier which was inaugurated in 1891 but officially opened in 1899 and originally named the Brighton Marina Palace. The pier was successful from the get-go and people flocked to Brighton’s newest landmark. In the early 1900s a series of amusement machines were installed on the pier, along with a theatre where comedians such as Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel performed in the early stages of their careers. The distinctive clock tower was added in the 1920s after the pier was expanded. During the Second World War, the pier was under strict instruction from the War Office to close down as a security precaution. When the war came to an end, the pier reopened and the crowds were once again able to enjoy everything the pier had to offer. In the years following the war, the pier continued to develop and stand as a pillar of leisure in Brighton. Fairground rides were added and entertainment events continued to be held on the pier, with the Spice Girls even performing in 1996. The pier was renamed the Brighton Palace Pier by new owners in 2016. Today, the pier remains popular amongst visitors and locals alike, and is one of England’s most visited free attractions, amassing on average 4 million visitors per year.
