Millennium Promenade - Clarence Pier West

Clarence Pier was opened in 1861 by the Prince and Princess of Wales who attended a concert given by the combined band of the Royal Marine Artillery and the Royal Marine Light Infantry.

The original pier cost £3,300. The design was unusual as it was a ‘landward pier’ and therefore did not stretch out to sea. It was a short, T-shaped structure and was primarily a landing place for passenger steamers. Up until 1873, tram lines ran onto the pier from Portsmouth Town Railway Station (now Portsmouth & Southsea rail station).

The promoters of Clarence Esplanade Pier hoped to make large sums of money from the tolls they could charge ship passengers, as well as those who wanted to ‘take a turn’ along the pier to admire the maritime views. Provision was made at the pierhead for two paddle steamers to berth at once. As hoped, the trade proved lucrative, enabling the pier to be enlarged in 1869-71 and then again in 1874-5. The polygonal pavilion for concerts and dancing was opened in 1882.

In 1905, the pier was extended further to accommodate increased boat traffic.

Further extensions were made in 1932 when a cafe, sun deck and concourse hall were added. Prior to opening his holiday camps, Billy Butlin ran a number of amusement parks across the country and one of these opened at Clarence Pier, in 1933. It included better dodgem cars and all the latest games and novelties.

On the night of 10 June 1941, Portsmouth suffered its heaviest air raid of World War II. The pier was bombed and severely damaged. It re-opened in its present form (with a funfair) some twenty years later, on 1 June 1961.

It remains popular with visitors today.

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