West Pier Centre celebrates landmark’s history
The West Pier Trust is celebrating the landmark’s heritage and cultural contribution to the city with the newly opened West Pier Centre.
The centre will act as an office and information point, a shop, gallery and event space as well as welcoming tourists to the city and being a valuable community resource for the city’s residents.
Located in one of the seafront arches by the i360, the centre sits within the newly created West Pier Piazza, which celebrates the West Pier’s heritage and its iconic status for the city’s residents.
Also located within the piazza is the Golden Spiral. The Golden Spiral is made up of 24 of the original columns from the old pier. These have been expertly restored by Steve Geliot from the Swan Foundry in Oxfordshire. The spiral commemorates the work of Eugenius Birch – the West Pier’s architect.
The West Pier Centre as well as Piazza and Golden Spiral are also illuminated at night, allowing visitors to experience the vision of the spiral and the seafront.
To celebrate the opening of the new centre, an exhibition showcasing the work of former Guardian photographer Roger Bamber is on display from today (23rd August). Bamber has taken photographs of the pier from 1988 to the present day. He is considered one of the greatest photographers of the pier in its history.
Rachel Clark, Chief Executive of the West Pier Trust, said the opening of the centre signals the “start of a new chapter for the seafront and the trust” and they are “over the moon” to have a permanent base back on the seafront.
The centre is open from 10.30am daily and entry is free.
By Clare Calder
