Brighton i360 reopens under new ownership

Brighton's i360 is back up and running two months after it closed amid financial problems.

The tourist attraction was bought over by Nightcap Ltd in February after Brighton & Hove City Council wiped the i360's £51m debt.

Sarah Willingham, Nightcap Ltd founder and CEO, opened the tower's pod, gift shop and cafe at 11:00 GMT on Saturday but said there is more to come.

Former Dragons Den judge Mrs Willingham told BBC Radio Sussex ahead of the opening that she wanted the i360 to be "the heartbeat of the prom".

A pre-booked ticket for an adult over 16 will remain at £18.50 but the attraction has introduced £5 tickets for adults and £2.50 for children who live in BN1, BN2, BN3 and BN41 postcodes.

A bar on the site is due to open in the summer, says Nightcap Ltd, and there will be further refurbishments.

Mrs Willingham said: "This is very much a phased opening."

The original owners of the 531ft (162m) tower, which opened in August 2016, suddenly closed the viewing tower in December, making 109 staff redundant the week before Christmas.

In order to secure a sale Brighton & Hove City Council announced in January they would wipe the venue's £51m debt.

Brighton local Sarah Willingham's firm took over the tower in February in a deal which will see 1% of i360 tower ticket sales revenue go to Brighton & Hove City Council.

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