Famous UK seaside town fury as £2 pier charge to tourists branded 'absurd'
One of the UK's most iconic piers has sparked backlash after doubling its seasonal entrance fee to £2 - with many vowing to boycott the attraction. However, not everybody has to pay the up-charge
A UK pier which is a famous backdrop in a famous seaside town has become a point of contention among tourists - who are being charged £2 to visit.
Stretching an impressive 1,722 ft into the English Channel, construction of the Brighton Palace Pier started in 1881 - 33 years before the start of the First World War. It's remarkable stature comes with a whole host of maintenance jobs to tackle every year, something the owners have cited as the reason why visitors are being financially stung to walk along it and experience its wonders.
But not everyone is hit in the wallet when they go to enter, as residents with a BN postcode maintain the right to use the pier for free, the organisers say.
Brighton's impressive pier was no easy feat to construct all those years ago, with developers requesting permission from the government to allow extra time for completion. However, in 1896 the pier was wrecked by a powerful storm that washed away the old Chain Pier and caused serious damage to the partly built Palace Pier - casting its future into jeopardy.
Following a cash-boost from Sir James Howard, work and repairs continued on the pier until it was finally opened in 1899. Since then, millions has been injected into its maintenance. Even painting the pier - which is done every year - is not simple, and divers are employed to survey and maintain the steel structure that stands underwater.
For many years, entrance onto the pier - which now boasts a four-storey soft play centre, restaurant, dome arcade, and several funfair rides - was completely free. However, at the end of March last year - a £1 entrance fee was controversially introduced.
From March 8 until the end of September, this fee has now doubled - but does come with a £1 voucher to spend on the pier. Taking to TikTok, one user named Katie sparked fierce debate after showcasing the new £2 fee being advertised. "Boy bye," she captioned the post.
In the comments section, dozens of viewers slammed the up-charge - with one person arguing: "I'd walk straight through. [It's] absolutely absurd to pay." Another agreed, commenting: "Brighton is a rip off - expensive parking, expensive everything," while a third added: "Simple. Don't go on it. They are charging us out of existence. Too greedy to see that people will just stop."
However, others appeared to not mind the £2 charge. "If you can afford to travel here and spend on the pier, you can afford the £2 entry," one user suggested. Another pointed out: "Someone has to pay for its upkeep and repairs etc," while a third asked: "Am I the only one who doesn't mind? Like, it obviously needs daily cleaning, and long term maintenance?"
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After being approached by the Mirror, Brighton Palace Pier revealed the charge only applies to tourists - and not residents that have a BN postcode. "To gain free entry to the pier the residents can collect their resident's card from our team at the Pier entrance or by contacting us through our website," they added. "Last year we welcomed an additional 20,000 people to the Residents club. Not only can they have free entry but also receive various offers especially for them, throughout the year."
Responding to criticism over the charge, Brighton Palace Pier explained the profits will be used to 'invest in the maintenance' of the structure. "Teams are already working on this year's sub-structure programme and half a mile of new decking is already completed," they explained.
"The pier is a substantial structure and in recent years maintenance costs have risen by more than a third. The admission fee is critical in helping to meet the unique challenges and costs of preserving the pier's structural integrity as well as continuing to remain as an all-year-round attraction."
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