Life & Style | Travel
Pier into Brighton's past
Fun, games and a bit of history make for cherished memories
- By Maey El Shoush, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:04 August 2, 2008
The bluish-green water gazing back at me from beyond the wooden decks of Brighton Pier made me wonder how cold it would be.
The answer revealed itself as I walked a little further, leaned across the side and saw people jumping off the rocks and splashing around in the waters.
Others were strolling or lazing on one of those signature deckchairs striped red and blue.
While some people sported that perfect summer tan, others looked painfully burnt.
Ground reality
The idea of having our feet meet the chill of soft sand on a warm summer afternoon was, however, replaced by the harsh reality of even harsher pebbles. Yup, Brighton's is a pebble beach.
I grew up in this English seaside town on the south coast that accounts for half of the city of Brighton and Hove.
This made lazing at the beach or on the pier part of my everyday life.
You would think not having sand flowing through your fingers and not being able to run barefoot towards the sea would be enough to put anyone off.
Yet, I was always amazed at how busy Brighton would be, especially on the weekends.
Cafés lining the cobbled streets of The Lanes would be filled with people either looking forward to a late night or just enjoying a relaxing evening.
The pier (previously the Palace Pier) first opened to the public in 1899 but it was not until almost two decades later that a big wheel was included as part of an expansion plan.
Further development was, however, put paid by the wars. It was only in 1984 that fresh features, including rollercoaster rides and the Super Booster, were developed.
I still recall the all-familiar tunes that drifted from the amusement park on the pier and the times when I caught a whiff of the sweet fragrance of candyfloss, toffee apple and fish-and-chips.
This, I thought, somehow made up for the odd stone I found stuck in my shoe.
Brighton is trendy, lively and very popular among tourists. Events are often organised along the beach to attract people from all over the United Kingdom.
That apart, this beach also makes for a great weekend getaway.
Trains to London, which is just 50 minutes away, are frequent and, therefore, provide Londoners an escape from the rigours of the big city.
A stroll to remember
The beach is just a short walk away. I would stroll to Western Road, the high street — where fashion outlets rub shoulders with cafes — pass Churchill Square shopping centre, which boasts local and international labels, and through The Lanes, the oldest part of town.
A Lanes Tour is the perfect way to hear fascinating legends that surround the area — where the Beatles once played and Laurence Olivier is said to have made his stage debut.
That is not to say that the new generation has not left its mark — tattoo parlours, grunge and hippy shops, funky hip hop outlets, sports shops and jewellery stores also share space.
History in the making
For those more interested in delving into the historical aspects of Brighton, the West Pier provides a good starting point.
Built in 1866, it was engineered by Eugenius Birch and designed to attract people who sought nothing but the best on their seaside holiday.
It turned into a full-fledged funfair pier after the Second World War.
And although the haunting structure has remained closed since 1975, the theatre and concert hall at the site are still considered two of the best Edwardian and Victorian seaside structures ever built.
The ravages of war reduced the pier to a mere skeleton. Thankfully, restoration is now under consideration.
It would, after all, be a shame to lose such a historic monument to the vagaries of time.
Go there ... Brighton
From the UAE ... From Dubai
Emirates flies daily to London Gatwick.
Fare from: Dh4,000
Qatar Airways flies daily to London Gatwick via Doha
Fare from: Dh3,120
Oman Air flies everyday except Sundays to London Gatwick via Muscat.
Fare from: Dh2,700
Info courtesy:
The Holiday Lounge by Dnata.
Ph 04-4298576
Share this article
More from Travel
Bringing you the world at your doorstep
Popular in Travel
Life & Style editor's choice
-
Quiz: Do you know how to look your best?
Take this quiz to work out who you are style-wise and how to look your best
-
Lexus LFA: The new rising star
Lexus rockets the Land of the Rising Sun into the supercar lead
-
Passing expectations
Unwind met five of rugby's finest; set to strike fear in the hearts of competitors
-
Travel
Cool breaks abroad
Book with care and you'll find winter prices up to 25 per cent lower than last year
