Brighton Wheel Could Return To Brighton Seafront

The Brighton Wheel could return to the seafront after councillors backed plans for a new 25-year lease.

Brighton and Hove City Council's cabinet has agreed to grant the lease for the Dalton's Bastion site, just east of the Palace Pier.

The new company taking on the lease is being set up by the existing tenant at the site.

The Brighton Wheel was previously in place between 2011 and 2016, when it proved a popular attraction.

At a cabinet meeting on Thursday, councillor David McGregor, the council's cabinet member for economy, culture, heritage and tourism, said he was "very excited" about the prospect of its return.

He said the latest figures showed 12.2 million people visited Brighton and Hove last year, close to the pre-pandemic high of 12.4 million in 2019.

Councillor McGregor said the operator would take on the costs and commercial risk of bringing the attraction back.

However, concerns were raised about the length of the proposed lease, which would keep the wheel on the seafront until 2051.

Kemptown councillor Theresa Mackey said a 25-year commitment was significant for an important piece of council-owned seafront land.

She suggested a shorter initial lease with the option to extend it.

The council's deputy leader, Jacob Taylor, said the returning wheel had been discussed by the new Seafront Development Board, with strong support from its members.

The council says the wheel would complement other attractions and provide a different visitor experience.

It had previously been agreed that the wheel would not operate alongside the i360, but the report to cabinet says the i360 is now more established following its takeover out of administration by entrepreneur Sarah Willingham's company, Nightcap.

The new plans could now see the Brighton Wheel return to the seafront for the first time in a decade.