ONE of the UK’s most iconic seaside attractions could be saved after campaigns were launched to transform it into a Wetherspoons.
The Brighton i360, which suddenly closed in December 2024, could be rescued by a prospective buyer.
AlamyThe viewing tower has struggled with debt since it opened in 2016[/caption]
GettyThe Brighton i360 has a potential buyer[/caption]
The abrupt closure of the 531ft landmark saw more than 100 staff members lose their jobs just days before Christmas.
Brighton and Hove City Council have now announced a buyer has put forward a bid for the problematic attraction.
The potential new owner will not take on the i360’s debt – including the £51million owed to the council.
After opening in 2016 the attraction failed to thrive and fell into severe debt.
At the end of last year the i360, which provides visitors with incredible panoramic views of Brighton and Hove, filed for insolvency.
Interpath Advisory, the viewpoint’s administrators, must act in the best interests of creditors.
As the building’s largest creditor, the council will need to agree to release the debt owed by Brighton i360.
Cabinet members will discuss the potential sale at a council meeting next week.
A petition started on change.org with the title: “Turn the i360 into a spoons“.
The poster wrote: “We can all agree that the i360 was a bit ****. Cheap pints are not.
“So what I propose is that council pull their finger out and turn it into a spoons. Give the people what they want.”
The petition has gathered 646 signatures at the time of writing.
Wetherspoons told The Sun they did not have any concrete plans to turn the tower into a pub – but locals remain optimistic.
The Brighton beach attraction, dubbed “i-sore” by locals, first opened in August 2016 with the help of £30 million’s worth of funding from the council.
City bosses claimed it would become an iconic global landmark attracting millions of tourists to the resort.
But its first 12 months were plagued by mechanical and technical faults which caused the viewing pod to become stuck leaving visitors stranded high in the air.
Falling visitor numbers, bad weather and up to £20 ticket prices left the attraction struggling to pay its debt and then the Covid pandemic struck.
Operators had promised to pay back the loan and pledged the attraction would bring “millions” of tourists into the city.
Deputy leader Jacob Taylor said: “The new government has provided a significant uplift in local government funding, but the cumulative underfunding of local government over the past 10 years is taking its toll.
“As a council that listens to its residents, we would like as many people as possible, from as many communities as possible, to take part in this budget exercise and share their views.”
The plea was met with outrage online, with one user saying: “I am absolutely stunned.
“I remember thousands of people objecting to the i360 when plans were first unveiled, especially the cost of it.
“When I heard the councillor asking for ideas to save £30million it was like being hit in the face with a wet fish.
“So in answer to the request for ideas I would say: ‘Listen to your taxpayers, councillor.’”
AlamyHigh ticket prices and the coronavirus pandemic are said to be the biggest hurdles the attraction has faced[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
