The wheel is back but not forever as it’s been introduced as an attraction as part of the Brighton Christmas Festival this year.
The Brighton Wheel is back in the city of Brighton after it was last seen here in 2016 down on the seafront. Taken down in 2016 after the Brighton and Hove council determined it “detrimental” to the nearby historic buildings so was taken down in May 2016 after being up since 2011. At the time the owner of the wheel appealed the decision, but nothing happened as a result. This all happened before the now infamous i360 opened and at the time Eleanor Harris, chief executive of the i360, said “We will guarantee to interview all the Brighton Wheel staff when it closes next year.”
But this year as part of the ‘Brighton Christmas Festival 2021’ the wheel has been brought back, but this time it’s been placed in Old Steine alongside other rides and attractions, where founder David Hill hopes to bring the Christmas spirit to the city. Within the Festival will be; Christmas stalls, food stalls, a Santa’s grotto, live music, rides and of course the Wheel where the public will be able to see the City of Brighton from up high.
In the Christmas Market, I spoke to the owner of ‘Fudge-a-holic’ which was set up and he loved the whole aspect of the creation of this years festival, “I think it’s great for the city where families can come along and bring their children to celebrate this time of the year, especially after the past couple of years where it has been difficult to hold such an event like this”.
It got underway on the 26th November 2021, and is here to stay until the 31st December 2021. A worker of ‘The Old Steine Café’ described how he is looking forward for the extra business that the event is likely to bring in for the business, “I think this will really help my business kick on from what has been a difficult couple of years for us”. It was extremely busy on the opening night since people of Brighton have had their wheel taken away since 2016 so where keen to jump back on and view the beautiful landscape of the city and all it’s natural beauties.
