Buyer confirms takeover of Brighton i360

A buyer has been found for the i360 viewing pod in Brighton.

Hospitality group Nightcap Limited, which runs 46 venues in England and Wales, has taken on the remaining 115-year lease of the i360 for an as-yet undisclosed fee.

Sarah Willingham, founder and CEO of Nightcap, said: "We couldn't be happier to welcome the i360 to the Nightcap family."

The i360 went into administration in November. Brighton & Hove City Council then announced in January it would be writing off the attraction's £51m debt.

Brighton-based Nightcap said clearing the debt and any "historic liabilities" would give the i360 a "fresh start" after significant investment from the new owners.

"We pass the i360 every day and were as disappointed as everyone else when it went into administration and no buyer was found," said Ms Willingham, a former star of TV show Dragons' Den.

"The impact of its closure would have been catastrophic to our local businesses and a blemish on this important part of the Brighton seafront.

"We hope we will get the support of our tight-knit local community as we embark on this new chapter for the i360."

Councillor Jacob Taylor, deputy leader of the city council, said the sale was the "best option" for Brighton.

"We are delighted that Nightcap has taken such a keen interest in revitalising the i360, and their passion and commitment to the city is evident," he said.

Rachel Clark, chief executive officer of the West Pier Trust, said she was looking forward to a "fruitful and collaborative partnership" with Nightcap.

Nightcap confirmed it would operate both the viewing tower and hospitality areas.

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