MAKE MEMORIES
WITH EVERY VISIT
TO BOGNOR PIER!
The History
When you visit the Pier Bognor, you’re following a tradition that started about 160 years ago. For over one-and-a-half centuries, people have been coming to the Pier for fun days out, to enjoy the sea, to walk out over the waves and try their luck at the arcades. To this day, Bognor Pier is filled with the spirit of all those memories. And when you come to Bognor Pier in the twenty-first century, your fresh experience makes a special contribution to the Pier’s unique magic.
Here’s a brief history of Bognor Pier
The nineteenth century
Bognor has been a seaside resort since the railway came here in 1864. Work started on the Pier at the same time and it was finished in 1865. At that time, the Pier was a whopping 305m long – three times as long as it is now. A simply jetty in those days, it had a small kiosk at the shoreward end where visitors could pay a penny for the privilege of walking the length of the Pier.
In 1876, the Pier was widened and a bandstand was constructed. In 1900 a pavilion was built at the seaward end. Landing stages were also added so boats could stop for passengers. We love the idea of visiting the Pier by boat – unfortunately, the water isn’t deep enough now the Pier is shorter (read on to find out why).
The twentieth century
There were more developments in 1912, with the construction of the building you see today. Bognor Pier gained a parade of shops (now the Café and Neptune’s Arcade and Casino), a cinema and a theatre. Guests at Venue 24 will spot the top of the theatre’s old proscenium arch over the modern bar, as well as the stunning plasterwork on the ceiling. We’ve also managed to hang onto some of the original stained-glass windows from this period – something to look out for while you’re waiting for your friends!
For much of the twentieth century, the Pier was synonymous with a fun day by the sea. It now had entertainments at both the seaward end and the shoreward end, and in a moment of sheer genius, the Pier’s management installed a mini train line to take guests from one end to the other – choo choo!
World War II
It even played its part during World War II, when it was used as a Royal Navy observation station and anti-aircraft guns were mounted on the Pier. Like all Royal Navy buildings, it was treated like a ship: the Navy named it HMS St Barbara, officers would be piped “aboard,” and time was kept by ships’ bells.
Survivor of the storms
Disaster struck in the mid-1960s, when storms in 1964 and 1965 swept away the middle of the Pier. That’s why it’s now two-hundred metres shorter than it used to be. These storms were followed ten years later by two fires in the winter of 1974 which kept the Pier closed for some time.
Bognor Birdmen
All was not lost – in 1978, the Birdman competition incorporated Bognor Pier into its circuit. Skilled hang-gliders and enthusiastic amateurs launched themselves off the Pier, making piles of money for charity and having a laugh into the bargain. The most famous Bognor Birdman was Richard Branson, who took part in 2003.
You can watch his flight here
Bognor Pier today
Today, Bognor Pier is back on the map. We offer everything from family fun to freshly mixed cocktails, and no day at the sea is complete without a stroll on the Pier.
When you visit the Pier, you’re doing what people have been doing since 1865 – you’re part of a long and important tradition of grand days out.
