Worthing Photo Gallery

While tourists flock to Brighton to party, other towns along England's southern coast offer just as nice views of the sea but without the crowds. Just a short drive west of Brighton is Worthing, a quiet bedroom community. Worthing Pier was built in 1862 and became popular enough to be expanded shortly after. In 1933, a fire devastated it and during World War II, the central section was removed to prevent the enemy from landing. You can easily spot Brighton and the South Down chalk cliffs down the coast on a sunny day. At the pier entrance is the Pavilion Theatre, which was built in 1926. Just across the street is the Dome Theatre, which opened in 1911. Roller skating and stage performances were available downstairs while moving pictures were shown upstairs. The cinema was moved downstairs in 1921 with movie-going becoming quite popular. The borough bought the building in 1969 and tried to demolish it for a shopping mall redevelopment in the 1980s, and eventually sold it to a preservation trust. It reopened in 2007 as a cinema again. I explored the quiet side streets around the promenade towards the town's High Street. Liverpool Terrace was completed in 1830 with a neat uniform appearance, now just steps away from a modern shopping mall. The Art Deco Connaught Theatre opened in 1933 but came under threat of demolition in the 1980s. Luckily, it still functions as a cinema for now. The Venue is a live music and entertainment space that can accommodate up to 500 people. The curved and covered Royal Arcade offers a sheltered shopping experience in style as it makes its way down to the seaside promenade.