The Brighton i360 marks ten years of operation this week, a milestone defined by significant financial turbulence and shifting ownership. When the observation tower opened on August 4, 2016, it held the record as the most slender building in the world. Designed by the team behind the London Eye, the project faced early operational issues and consistent difficulty in reaching projected visitor numbers. A report from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy later found the original business plans were marred by optimism bias, with initial footfall totaling only one-third of forecasted figures.
The tower experienced a series of ownership hurdles, eventually leading to its operator entering administration in 2024. During this period, the Brighton and Hove City Council wrote off £51m in debt to clear the path for new management. This massive public expense remains a point of contention among local officials and residents, though some argue the structure provides a vital piece of seafront regeneration.
In 2025, the hospitality firm Nightcap, led by Sarah Willingham, secured a 115-year lease for the site. The company has since invested over £1m in upgrades to revitalize the attraction. Despite acknowledging that current visitor numbers mirror a broader city-wide trend of decline, Willingham maintains that the tower serves as an essential hub for tourism. The focus for the new ownership remains on stabilizing operations throughout the difficult winter months while establishing the tower as a permanent fixture of the Brighton landscape.