Clarence Pier

Clarence Pier is an amusement pier beside Southsea Hoverport in Portsmouth. It runs along the coast rather than stretching far out to sea. The structure was first built in 1861 by the Prince and Princess of Wales. A ferry service to the Isle of Wight ran from the pier for many years. During the Second World War the pier suffered bomb damage along with nearby Southsea Baths. After the war the decking was rebuilt in concrete between 1953 and 1954 by Jno Croad Ltd. A new main building opened in 1961 with a restaurant, bars, kiosks and a 60-foot observation tower. The pier’s main pavilion, known as the Golden Horseshoe, has a large amusement arcade and a small bowling alley. Inside the building a Coffee Cup Café opened in 2009 in space once used for bingo. The first floor houses a Wimpy bar reached through a side door or up a staircase. To the right of the Golden Horseshoe stood an indoor playground called Pirates and Princesses Play Area from 1985 until early 2023. It has now been replaced by an indoor miniature golf course called The Putt Hutt. A smaller building next to the main pavilion once housed a pub that became Barnum’s in 1990. Other facilities include an arcade called Games Wharf with a food stand beside the funfair. Across from Games Wharf is Southsea Island Leisure, another arcade run separately. The pier has featured in television and pop videos, including an episode of Mr Bean filmed in 1994. A 110-foot observation wheel called the Solent Wheel operated from 2016 to 2020 before being removed. The pier’s rides and arcades sit alongside the seafront, offering views across the water.