Clarence Pier is an amusement pier in Portsmouth, Hampshire. It is located next to Southsea Hoverport. Unlike most seaside piers in the UK, the pier does not extend very far out to sea and instead goes along the coast.
History The pier was originally constructed and opened in 1861 by the Prince and Princess of Wales. It boasted a regular ferry service to the Isle of Wight. In 1874, the pier's management attempted to close public access to the beach between the pier and the Hot Walls in Old Portsmouth. This led to four days of rioting which became known as the Battle of Southsea.
It was damaged by air raids during World War II, along with the associated Southsea Baths and Assembly rooms.
The pier's decking and landing stages were reconstructed in concrete in 1953–54. The work was carried out by Jno Croad Ltd of Portsmouth to the designs of L. G. Mouchel & Partners Ltd of London. The Lady Mayoress of Portsmouth, Mrs. Frank Miles, drove the first pile on the beach on 10 June 1953 and the pier reopened to the public in June 1954.
Temporary kiosks were initially used on the pier until permanent construction work was carried out. The new main building was built between 1959 and 1961 to the designs of the local architects A. E. Cogswell & Sons, R. Lewis Reynish and P. G. Beresford. The contractor, John Hunt Ltd of Gosport, undertook the work for £180,000, with a further £20,000 spent on furnishing and equipment. It was opened on 1 June 1961 by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Ralph Bonner Pink. The new building provided a restaurant, bars, kiosks and ballroom, as well as a 60 feet high observation tower.
About
The complex consists of a striking pavilion building with distinctive yellow and blue cladding and a small tower, with a fellow building next to it, where the entrance to the rides is located.
The main funfair operates on a free admission, pay-per-ride token-based system. In the early 1980s the amusement park was named "Fun Acres" and as well as the whole pier itself, it also took up 3500 sq metres or so of land to the north-west of the northern part of the pier. This part of the park was cleared and redeveloped as another arcade called "Southsea Island Leisure", The Clarence Pier Public House, a crazy golf course and a Premier Inn during the 1990s, therefore the park itself is significantly smaller than it used to be.
The original northern part of the park formerly contained the 56-seat Corbiere Spherical Ferris Wheel,Richard's Big wheel a large dodgem car arena, giant slides, a spinning centrifuge ride, amusement arcades, stalls, shops, a traditional Gallopers carousel and a ghost train among other attractions. The token booths were shaped as mushrooms.
One of the main landmarks of Clarence Pier until the mid-1990s was the Super Loop ride, since removed. The Ferris wheel was sold and relocated to Pleasureland Southport.Ferris wheel One ride which lasted the duration was the Skyways roller coaster which was removed in 2018.
Golden Horseshoe The main building, known as the "Golden Horseshoe", houses a fairly large amusement arcade as well as a small bowling alley. During the building's reconstruction following the original building's bombing during the war, the venue housed a Cafeteria, Ballroom and various gift shops before becoming an arcade during the 1980s.
A Coffee Cup Café opened up in 2009 in a section that formerly housed a Prize Bingo Hall.
The first floor of the building houses a Wimpy bar which is located within a door on the left of the Golden Horseshoe or a set of stairs situated in the venue.
Pirates and Princesses Play Area/The Putt Hutt The right side of the Golden Horseshoe housed an indoor playground called the "Pirates and Princesses Play Area", which opened in 1985 as Pirate Pete's and closed at the beginning of January 2023 after 37 years of service.
It was replaced with an indoor miniature Golf course named "The Putt Hutt", which opened in August 2023.
The "Clarence Pier" A smaller building, perpendicular but not physically joined to the main pavilion houses another amusement arcade, named the "Clarence Pier". It was constructed for Portsmouth brewers Brickwoods Ltd in 1958 as the Seahorse Bars to replace an earlier public house of the same name that was bombed during World War II. It was designed by W. H. Saunders & Son and the brewery's staff architect, J. V. Nisbet.
The public house, later operated by Whitbread, was renamed "Barnum's" in 1990 before being destroyed in a fire in 1993. During the building's refurbishment, the former pub was converted into 'Jurassic 3001', a futuristic dinosaur-themed dark ride, which opened in 1994. The ride's exterior featured an animatronic triceratops, whose head protruded from the side of the building and roared occasionally at passers-by. The attraction closed in 2001, yet all ride signage and theming on the building remained until the end of 2011.
The amusement arcade located on the ground floor was known as the "Wheel Of Fortune" for many years until being renamed to its current name in 2012. The upper floor space previously occupied by Jurassic 3001 underwent a conversion to apartments, according to planning publications, in 2012. Next to the venue are some small gift shops.
Other facilities A building at the side of the funfair houses an arcade called "Games Wharf" and a food concession stand. Another arcade - Southsea Island Leisure, is opposite Games Wharf; although it operates under separate management from the other three arcades on site.
In pop-culture
"Mind the Baby, Mr. Bean", an episode of British TV comedy series Mr. Bean was filmed on location at Clarence Pier (as well as other locations in Southsea) and aired on ITV in 1994. This was prior to the closure of the north-western part of the park and the closure of the Wheel Of Fortune public house. The episode shows the Super Loop, Skyways roller coaster, and many of the park's other attractions from that time. Clarence Pier was also the filming location to the teen pop band, "S Club Juniors" song, "Fool No More" filmed mainly on the dodgems but the rollercoaster, 'Skyways' can also be seen in the video.
Attractions
Key Roller Coasters Water Rides Dark Rides
Operating Name Opened Manufacturer DescriptionTidal Wave 2019 SBF Visa Group An MX 611 Spinning Coaster.Canyon River 2020 SBF Visa Group A small one-drop Log Flume. Air Raid Extreme 2026 Tivoli Manufacturing Orbiter ride, lent to the pier for the 2026 season. Carousel 1998 J.H. Rundle A modern version of a traditional Carousel, which replaced an older set. Diamond Dodgems 2017 Barbieri a traditional Bumper Cars ride. Up to 1 or 2 people can fit per car. This set previously operated at Presthaven Sands Holiday Camp before being moved to Clarence Pier. Jumping Bugs 2023 Zamperla A Jump Around ride.Mad Mouse 2019 SBF Visa Group A Cyclon coaster. It is a similar coaster model to the Galaxi Coaster Skyways, which this coaster replaced.Runaway Train 2025 Güven Amusement Rides Factory A kiddie coaster lent to the Pier by its owner for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Seal Creek 2022 John H. Rundle A roundabout ride with Seal-themed cars. It was originally located at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre. Tea Party 2023 Amusement Technical Standard Teacups ride. It was formerly located at Dreamland Margate as the "Wedgwood Teacups". Twister 2004 Sonacase A modern version of a traditional Twister Ride. 3 people can sit per car with a total of 12 cars. The ride was previously owned by an independent operator before being sold to the Pier. Since the 2019 season, the ride has been enclosed. Waltzer 1982 Maxwell of Scotland A traditional Waltzer, which replaced an older version. It was known as Power Spin 2000 until 2003. Although the signage and lighting has changed various times, the ride has been the same model.
Other Name Opened Description Treasure Island Golf Early 2000s A pirate-themed mini-golf course. It is owned by the management of the Southsea Island Leisure arcade. The Putt Hutt 2023 Indoor Crazy Golf course located where Pirates and Princesses Play Area formerly was. It contains a standard Crazy Golf course alongside a fairground course based on Clarence Pier's history. A bar named "The 19th Hole" is also located within the venue. Upside Down House 2023 The UK’s first inverted photo experience. Costs £5 to experience.
Former attractions