Brighton Bandstand Verandah West Pier Song

Print description

View of the two most iconic Victorian structures along Brighton Seafront. A depiction with strong block colours in blue, red and

Print details

I created this print from my original ink drawings to which I apply colour digitally. Printed on fine art paper using archival inks. I issue the formats A0, A1 & A2,A3 and A4  as limited editions of 100 where I individually sign and number each print.

The Brighton Bandstand – A Touch of Andalusia by the Sea

Brighton’s beautiful ‘birdcage’ bandstand isn’t just a slice of Victorian elegance — to me, it also feels like a little piece of southern Spain. With its fluted columns, natural leaf details, and delicate arches, it’s often compared to the architecture of the Alhambra in Granada or the Alcázar in Seville. Since I was born in Granada and lived in Seville for many years, seeing this structure here on the seafront always gives me a feeling of home.

The bandstand was built in 1884 as part of a grand plan to smarten up Brighton’s western promenade. It was designed by Philip Lockwood, the Brighton Council surveyor behind many of the town’s most elegant iron structures – from shelters and railings to the Madeira lift on the eastern side.

Everything was cast locally, just up the road at the Phoenix Foundry in Lewes. You can still spot their stamp on the railings and lamp posts all along the seafront.

It’s not just a bandstand – it’s a work of art, full of craftsmanship and charm. And for me, it holds a quiet echo of Andalucía.

The Story of the Brighton West Pier

The West Pier is one of Brighton’s most loved – and most haunting – landmarks. It was built during the 1860s, when pleasure piers were popping up all around the UK. Designed by Eugenius Birch, the pier opened in 1866 and quickly became a favourite spot for a sea breeze, a stroll, and a little escape from the city.

Not everyone was keen at first – some of the Regency Square residents complained that the toll houses would spoil their sea views. But the pier went ahead, and over the years it brought music, theatre, and joy to thousands of visitors.

Sadly, storms and time weren’t kind. Damage from the Great Storm of 1987 and safety concerns in the early ’90s meant the pier had to close. Then came more storms, two devastating fires in 2003, and high winds in 2004 that brought down the central section completely. What’s left today is a striking, skeletal structure standing proud in the waves — still full of character, memory, and beauty.

For many of us in Brighton, it’s more than a ruin — it’s a symbol of resilience, history, and the romance of the sea. I can’t help but keep drawing it.