Comment Magazine Issue 5

West Pier Trust –
150-year anniversary
One hundred and fifty years ago, the West Pier in Brighton first opened its doors to
Victorian sightseers. It was an instant success. Its more recent history has been a little
more chequered and well-documented. But now, following the enormously successful
launch of the British Airways i360, the West Pier Trust has an exciting future.
Comment Magazine met Rachel Clark, the CEO of the West Pier Trust, and client of
Coffin Mew, to discover more.
Image credit: Visual Air
Brighton’s ruined West Pier remains
a much loved landmark. The launch
of the British Airways i360 – a vertical
pier – is a mark of the West Pier Trust’s
ambition.
“Our 150th anniversary started in
October, and includes a series of events
planned for the next 12 months,” says
Rachel. “The first event, an invite only
drinks reception sponsored by Coffin
Mew, was hosted by architect David
Marks, and included a special birthday
cake from Great British Bake Off contestant
and Brighton resident, Kate Henry.”
A full programme of events can be
found on the West Pier Trust website -
www.westpier.co.uk.
The West Pier Trust has ambitious plans
for the short, medium and long term,
which, says Rachel, include building a
completely new and contemporary pier.
“Our first priority, however, is to move
the West Pier Trust into one of the restored
beachfront archways,” explains Rachel.
A new seafront base will significantly raise
our profile, giving us the opportunity to
open a shop and visitor centre.”
Rachel and her team of trustees and
members have raised just over half of
the £25,000 needed to make the move,
which is scheduled for the Spring of
2017.
“Our next project is to restore and
replace the original octagonal West Pier
kiosk, creating a dedicated heritage
centre,” says Rachel. “That will take
upwards of £1m and our hope is to have
that completed by 2020.”
More ambitiously, Rachel and the West
Pier Trust would like to see the creation
of a new, contemporary pier, and the first
tentative steps have already been taken.
“We conducted an extensive
consultation with Brighton residents
last year,” explains Rachel, “and there is
overwhelming support.”
“We have begun to work up a
development brief, but we do recognise
that this will be an expensive build with
ongoing maintenance. I suspect that we
are a decade or more away from seeing
a new pier rise from the water.”
Whilst Brighton’s West Pier is largely no
more, its memory will continue to live on
through the work of the Trust, and new
and fitting monuments will emerge.
Its future for the next 150 years is looking
promising.
To find out more, or to support the
West Pier Trust visit www.westpier.co.uk
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