'Exciting' ideas proposed for Brighton Pier - CEO

"Exciting" ideas have been put forward by potential buyers of Brighton Pier, its chief executive has told the BBC.

Anne Ackord, the Brighton Pier Group's CEO, says there have been more than 40 expressions of interest in the famous Victorian attraction.

She said there were a mix of local, national and international potential buyers, though added she could not give specific names.

Ackord told the BBC most interested parties were "very keen" to continue using the pier in its current state and "certainly appreciate" its heritage.

"Though of course there would always be new developments and new ways of looking at things," she continued.

"Everyone's got lots of different ideas, some of which would be quite exciting.

"It's early days," Ackord added.

Brighton's 126-year-old Palace Pier was put on the market for an undisclosed price in January.

The move followed warnings of "difficult" trading for the pier in previous years - linked to declining tourism and poor summer weather.

Ackord previously warned that costs had also risen overall by about 50%.

But Lord Bassam, chair of the Seafront Development Board, told the BBC the "good news" is the attraction is still getting a very large number of visitors.

"We don't want it to end up going the same way as the West Pier did," he said in reference to Brighton's West Pier which was severely damaged in two fires in 2003.

"It's a bit of a national institution, really," he said.

Ackord told the BBC expressions of interest in the Grade II* listed pier would continue to be accepted for another couple of weeks.

"Then it will come down to more serious contenders," she said.

"We are, of course, pleased with the level of interest."

Brighton Palace Pier opened in May 1899 after three years of construction.

The Brighton Pier Group bought the structure in 2016 for £18m.

An admission fee of £1 for non-residents was introduced in 2024, which was doubled to £2 in March.

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