Seaside amusement park on a pier overlooking the Solent at Portsmouth
Seaside amusement park on a pier overlooking the Solent at Portsmouth
| Opened | 1861 |
|---|---|
| Season | March to late October |
| Owner | Billy Manning Limited |
| Website | www.clarencepier.co.uk |
| Nearby | South Parade Pier (1 miles) Funland Hayling Island (5 miles) Pirates Cove Fun Park (11 miles) Blackgang Chine (16 miles) Paultons Park (23 miles) |
Clarence Pier
There has been a pier on the coast near Southsea since 1861, although the original suffered damage during air raids in the Second World War. The current Clarence Pier was opened in 1961.
The pier is free to enter, with rides operating on a pay-as-you-go token system. One of Clarence Pier’s landmarks was the Skyways rollercoaster, which could easily be seen by passengers on passing ferries. This was removed in 2017 for “refurbishment”, although another rollercoaster has now opened on the site so it is not known whether it will really return.
Unusually, the pier doesn’t stick out to sea, but instead extends alongside the edge of the coast. This gives the park more of a boardwalk feel. Clarence Pier is not particularly large, but offers a small selection of other rides that are likely to keep families amused for an hour or so.
Traditional carousel
Bumper cars
Spinning flat ride
Traditional waltzer
Take to the skies on a flying elephant
Children's balloon ride
Small ferris wheel
Train ride for small children
Miniature carousel
High ropes course
The entrance to the Pier
On the Pier
Looking towards Mad Mouse
The ropes course at the end of the Pier
View from the Solent Wheel
Twister
Clarence Pier seen from the beach
Walkway and shops beside the Pier
The old Pier sign and Skyways in 2005
On the walkway looking towards the Pier in 2005
Entrance to Clarence Pier in 2005, with Twister out in the open
The old Waltzer paint scheme in 2005
