Brighton Palace Pier Put Up For Sale With Summer Sale Aim

Brighton’s iconic Palace Pier has been put up for sale, with its owners suggesting a new buyer could be in place by the summer.

The Brighton Pier Group has confirmed the 126-year-old Grade II* listed attraction will go on the market for an undisclosed price, saying the decision has been made in the interests of shareholders.

The move follows what the company has previously described as “difficult” trading conditions in recent years, affected by rising costs, challenging weather and a fall in visitor numbers.

Chief executive Anne Ackord said the pier remains a hugely important part of the city.

She described the decision to sell as sad but necessary, adding that the attraction is “a national treasure and a Brighton treasure”, and that any sale would effectively be handing over “a piece of history”.

She suggested any prospective new owner would likely want to take over ahead of the busy summer season.

Although no guide price has been released, the company says any buyer will need “many millions”.

Brighton Palace Pier opened in 1899 and was bought by the Brighton Pier Group in 2016 for £18 million.

The group has previously reported falling like-for-like sales and introduced a visitor admission fee in 2024 to help offset declining revenue.

The pier remains one of Brighton’s best-known landmarks and one of the most visited tourist attractions on the south coast.