Sarah Willingham hopes that people can “remember the bigger picture” as the Brighton i360 reopens today.
The former Dragons Den entrepreneur is the chief executive of hospitality group Nightcap, which purchased the attraction in February after the business fell into administration.
The i360 will reopen its doors for visitors today, seeing customers in the building for the first time since its
sudden closure late last year.
Residents with postcodes BN1, BN2, BN3, and BN41 will be offered a reduced entry fee with an adult ticket costing £5 and a children’s tickets only £2.50.
As part of the changes made to the attraction, visitors will now enter through the café, which will be serving coffee from Brighton business, Red Roaster.
They will then enter the pod via a lounge area, and exit through the newly laid out gift shop, selling a range of products from Sussex-based businesses. Sarah told The Argus how she hopes visitors will sense the changes being made to the attraction.
She said: “Visitors will start to see a glimmer of some of the physical changes that we've made. They’ll start to see some of the changes in the colours and it will feel warmer. But I think more than anything, what people should feel is what we're great at, and that's hospitality.
“For us, it is that warmth and hospitality, that service is what we're good at. And it will be a bit rough around the edges because we're so early in. But I hope people will start to feel our vibe and over the coming weeks, they'll see our plans.”
In design plans, exclusively shared with The Argus, Sarah hopes to fully convert the café/restaurant area, including a new colour palette and lighting.
She also has plans to remodel the seafront patio area, with the hope to create an inviting space for guests in both a daytime and evening setting.
Additionally, plans include transforming the queuing system to create a more immersive and interactive experience, displaying the history of the tower as well as the West Pier, which sits directly out to sea.
Sarah hopes that the attraction's refurbishment and development will help to change the narrative and people’s opinion.
She said: “What I found very interesting is a lot of the people that really had a lot to say about the I360 had actually never used it. What I'm hoping is that this encourages them to come and actually look and realise it's pretty cool.
It's a magnificent structure and I will never tire of it. It's really fun to go up and down and the view is incredible. It's a good head clearer and for £5 it's a complete no-brainer”
Ahead of the attractions sale, Brighton and Hove city council made the decision to write off the £51 million debt attached to the landmark.
Administrators Interpath Advisory had said that it would not be possible to sell the tourist attraction unless the council wipe the money owed.
Sarah praised the council’s difficult decision. However, as a Brighton resident herself, she sympathised with people’s frustrations.
She said: “As a resident, I'm as unhappy as others are about what's gone in the past. I think the decision that the council made to write off that debt saved the city.
“I think it was a big decision, and I think it was a brave decision, but I think it was also the right decision.
“I'm very grateful as a resident that they made that decision because it is here. So, let's make it work and with the stranglehold of the debt, it would never have worked and that's the important thing that we all must remember.”
She encouraged people to think of the “bigger picture” and the positive impact the reopening can have on the city.
Sarah explained: The i360 has had a huge impact on the Brighton economy while it’s not been open. So, we need to remember the bigger picture here and consider what this attraction does is bring a lot of people to Brighton every single year.
“The impact that it has when it's working and when it's thriving on the Brighton economy, on Brighton itself and on the local businesses is huge. We could be angry but actually let's not lose sight of the bigger picture here, that's actually what we need to do.”
Sarah hopes that transformation works will be complete by summer 2026, with plans to gradually complete projects across the site.
The works will also embrace the historical ticket booths and terrace, as well as transforming the former Sixes Cricket area.
There are also plans to host more events at the venue, including attracting a corporate audience.
Sarah shared her excitement ahead of today’s opening, she said: “I always have an excited apprehension before any opening. I love the buzz and all the energy, the optimism, the hope, the excitement. I love all of that and
thrive off it.
“There's always a part of me that is always nervous because you just never know because it's something in the future and nobody's got a crystal ball.
“I hope it goes as well as planned because the team deserve it too. They've worked really, really hard to get it open this early.”
The site will open to visitors from 11.30 today (March 8) and customers can book online via the Brighton i360 website.
Walk in bookings are also available.
