Article updated 27th July 2017
***Please note – We are not affiliated with the Zip Wire in any way so we are unable to answer any phone or email questions you may have about it.
To book tickets please visit the official booking page.
The Brighton Zip Wire has finally opened for a few test runs and also for a few lucky friends of the owners of the attraction. The official launch is due to take place on 1st August 2017, with the new zip ride being open to those who have already booked in advance. At the moment, staff are familiarising themselves with the ride, which should be in full swing once the summer holiday season is underway.
How much does the zip line ride cost?
If you’re prepared to clamber up the 90 steps to reach the launching platform, you’ll have to cough up £16 if you’re on your own, or £30 for a dual ride (the ride consists of two parallel lines). If you’re looking for a cheaper option, the ride also has a second attraction called the Drop Zone. If you want to experience both the Zip Wire ride and the Drop Zone, you can buy both for £22.
Drop Zone
The Drop Zone allows to you plunge straight down from the upper platform, which will give the feeling of weightlessness for around a second. This freefall experience will set you back £8.50
A 140 cover restaurant which was also part of the project will now be built over the winter months and is expected to open some time in 2018.
How can I book?
If you’re seeking the thrill of riding this new attraction, you can book your space by visiting the ride’s official booking page.
Original article written in October 2016
After the recent dismantling of the Brighton Wheel in June 2016, a new attraction is set to take its place.
The Brighton Zip has recently been granted planning permission by local councillors.
The new ride will have 2 zip lines and will be a humongous 300 metres long (984ft) and will be 22 metres (72ft) high. It will be located on the same spot as its predecessor in Madeira Drive, which closed in May of this year.
It’s thought that the new zip wire attraction will be open all year long from 10am to 11pm and it’s expected to attract around 32,000 high adrenalin visitors per annum – In its lifetime, the now defunct Brighton Wheel had a total of 750,000 visitors over the course of its 5-year history.
Also approved in the planning application is a 140 cover cafe with a glass-fronted terrace overlooking the sea. There will also be a landing area in the shape of a boat’s hull which will be on the beach directly opposite Lower Rock Gardens and Atlingworth Street.
The estimated cost of the project is said to be somewhere in the region of £1.7 million and it’s claimed that the zip wire attraction will create around 30 new jobs.
Opposition to the Brighton Zip project
According to one recent report, the developers have said that they won’t allow stag or hen parties to take the thrilling ride down the wires as there has been some opposition from local residents who are concerned about shouting and screaming coming through their windows late at night.
There were several official objections concerning noise levels and “excessive screaming” from people zooming down the wires. There have also been concerns about riders accidentally dropping coins, shoes and other items on the unsuspecting public below. Alongside this were objections about residents’ sea views being obstructed and the obvious problems associated with a venue that stayed open until 11 o’clock at night.
A representative speaking on behalf of the developers (Paramount Entertainment) claimed that reports had shown that there wouldn’t be a severe impact in comparison to general background noise in the area, and mentioned that the noise made by seagulls can reach 80 decibels.
Planning conditions
As there have been several objections to the Brighton Zip, Paramount Entertainment (who also owned and operated the Brighton Wheel) will be under strict orders by the planning committee regarding what materials can be used in its construction, what types of food and drink the cafe will be permitted to sell and they will also be required to install CCTV at the site in order to monitor and prevent any anticipated crimes near the zip wire ride on Brighton’s seafront.
The Brighton Wheel before being dismantled Despite concerns from the locals, Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee has given its unanimous support for the project. The chair of the planning committee, Julie Cattell, is quoted as saying:
“This fits well with the council strategy to bring new life to the seafront, particularly to the section between the pier and the marina. This should complement other businesses in the area, such as the pier and the Volks Railway, without affecting people’s enjoyment of the beach”.
Alcohol licensing worries
As the sale of alcohol at the new venue is a concern for local residents and Sussex Police, there have been fears that Paramount Entertainment would eventually look to apply for an alcohol license for the premises. Councillor Clare Moonan claimed that if granted, it would lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of the zip wire ride. However, another councillor, Lynda Hyde, who sits on the licensing committee, has mentioned that:
“They would be very lucky to get a licence in that area”.
When will the new ride open?
The Brighton Zip is scheduled to open in the spring of 2017 and will be in place for at least 25 years – assuming it remains for the duration of its newly acquired 25-year lease. It’s being labelled as a sporty alternative to the recently opened i360 (owned by British Airways), which is only a stone’s throw along the promenade past Brighton Pier. It’s hoped that the new ride will bring in more day trippers to the Brighton and Hove area, which has apparently seen a downturn in daytime visitors over the last year.
Optimism of Local Councillors
Councillor Joe Miller has said:
“It’s a vast improvement on what’s on the seafront. I look forward to going on it”.
Lynda Hyde is also quoted as saying:
“I think it’s a fantastic application. I saw people enjoying the one in Bournemouth. It’s wonderful that people want to invest in our city. It will encourage day trippers to come down. I think it’s well thought out”.
What will the Brighton Zip be like?
We assume that The Brighton Zip ride will be similar in many respects to the zip wire that’s been around for some time at the end of Bournemouth Pier.
The Bournemouth ‘PierZip‘ claims to be the first of its kind that runs from a pier to the shore. It’s slightly shorter in length at 250 metres long (820ft) and is very similar in design to the sketch shown above of the Brighton Zip.
Here’s a video courtesy of Visit Bournemouth to give you a taster of what you can expect.
Also consisting of 2 zip wires, riders can race each other to the bottom of the line if they fancy adding a competitive edge to the experience.
The 250 metre ride takes around 30 seconds to complete and currently costs £18 per descent in summer, and £15 in the winter months. Family tickets can reduce this amount; for a family of 4 (2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children), the cost is currently £48.
Group bookings are also available and work out at £12 per person if the group consists of 10 people or more.
We assume that the charges for the forthcoming Brighton Zip line will be roughly the same.
Ride restrictions
As you’d expect, there are certain restrictions in place when choosing to ride the Bournemouth Pier zip wire ride – An adult must accompany children under the age of sixteen until the child has been secured by a harness.
All zip riders must be at least 1.3 metres tall and must be between 30kg and 110kg in weight (you have to step on scales before going on the ride to prove this) although their official website says that this can vary depending on the weather.
It’s also worth mentioning that once you’re harnessed up, if you ‘chicken out’ at the last minute, you won’t get a refund!
There are also some restrictions on the type of clothing a footwear a rider must have. Closed toe shoes are recommended and clothing should be comfortable. If the organisers aren’t happy with what you’re wearing, you can be turned away.
So, if you want to get a feel for what a ride on the ‘Brighton Zip’ wireline ride might feel like, nip on down to Bournemouth and have a go!
The highest urban zipline in the world
If you’re feeling more adventurous and fancy a bigger rush, then take a look at the video below. It puts the ride in Bournemouth and the coming ride in Brighton into perspective. The zipline on top of a high rise building in Panama City is an astonishing 2000ft long. Riders on the wire wear parachutes so that they can let go of the line in mid-descent and parachute the rest of the way down – Blimey!
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