| Thoughts

Extending out into the English Channel are the infamous wooden boards of Brighton Pier with its numerous white and yellow painted contraptions sitting neatly on top.

The Pier is a clean cut traditional sea side amusement park with a modern collection of rides, which can be used by either purchasing individual tokens or an inclusive wristband.

The ride compliment is fairly impressive with seaside classics helter skelter, dodgems, waltzer, carousel and more contemporary log flume, twist and techno jump, plus two coasters the monotonous whirling zig zags of the Crazy Mouse spinning coaster and the rickety rumbling concussions of Turbo a zyklon loop coaster.

Somewhat unusually the coasters aren't the big rides here, as the pier has taken full of advantage of its quirky location and installed Booster and Super Booster, having these ominous cranes teetering on the edge of a plank jutting out above the choppy turquoise waters below cranks up the intimidation factor to unfathomable levels

It's evil genius, the Booster is just bizarre seeing the sky above, then the sea comes into view upside down before you flip for a face down view of the sea then the pier rushing towards you, it's a spectacular vision, it really attracts the spectators, all you can see from high up are the little people far below, craning their own necks, looking up in awe

Super Booster takes the intimidation to the next level, as you slowly rise up, extending outwards over the edge of the pier, in a standing position with your legs dangling free above the sea, the chunky restraint provides a reassuring feeling of security, though the structure has a sense of unsteadiness as it withstands the battering from the boisterous coastal breeze, you click into position then very suddenly swing downwards at an incredible speed, a very different and exhilarating rush all together.

Horror Hotel is the newest ride, a lengthy ghost train with a steep spiral climb, some interesting tricks and a very smart themed façade, unfortunately the interior doesn't match up to the quality of the exterior.

A visit to the sea side is about traditions, ice creams, deck chairs, fish n chips however in Brighton a ride on the pier is part of those traditions and Brighton Pier will certainly be around for some time to come, unlike other seaside traditions, because its managing to constantly update itself, staying fresh and entertaining.