Brighton i360 Celebrates a Decade as City's Most Iconic Landmark

The Brighton i360 reached a milestone moment this week as the city's most talked-about landmark marked a decade since opening its doors to the public. Owner Sarah Willingham, the entrepreneur and former Dragons' Den star, hosted guests aboard the distinctive observation tower for a special anniversary celebration complete with champagne and a vanilla-frosted birthday cake.

A Decade of Iconic Views

The tower, which stands 162 metres tall at the landward end of the old West Pier, first welcomed visitors on August 4, 2016. Over the past ten years, it has become an unmistakable feature of Brighton's skyline, offering sweeping 360-degree views across the city, the South Downs, and along the Sussex coast. The pod flight, which typically lasts around 25 minutes, continues to draw visitors eager to experience those panoramic vistas.

Pride in the Project

Speaking to guests during the celebratory flight, Willingham described herself as "local to Brighton, despite my dulcet Northern tones," and paid heartfelt tribute to the city's decision to embrace the once-controversial seafront project. "When you look back 10 years, Brighton did a very brave thing, and created something that is iconic, and is talked about all over the world," she said.

Willingham, who took over the attraction last year through her hospitality group Nightcap after it was bought out of administration, acknowledged her relatively short tenure as custodian of the tower. Despite feeling "a bit of an imposter" at the celebrations, having been involved for only 18 months, she made a powerful case for why the city should champion its creation.

An Engineering Masterpiece

"This really is a masterpiece of engineering — and it's in Brighton," she told those on board. "It's something that we should all be very proud of."

Willingham recognised that the i360 has faced its share of controversy over the years, but she was adamant about its value to Brighton. "Understandably there's been a lot of controversy about it over the years, but my god, dismantling it would have been awful," she said. "That would have been a real failure."

Looking Forward

Willingham explained that she and her team stepped in to take over the attraction because they believed it "deserves to really be put on the map, for Brighton." She emphasised that local residents should feel proud of what the city has achieved.

"Brighton locals need to be proud of it," she said. "And it had years where we'd all not been as proud of it as I think we could have been."

As the i360 enters its next chapter under new stewardship, the birthday celebration was a fitting reminder of just how far this engineering marvel has come—and how much potential still lies ahead.

Source: 'Brighton should be proud of iconic structure' says owner at i360 birthday party