Early amusement machines
The pier’s history records machines on the pier in 1905.
Source: Palace Pier: historical amusement timeline (opens in a new tab) ↗Games & seaside nostalgia · Palace Pier
From mechanical curiosities to modern games.
Palace Pier arcades
The Palace of Fun and The Dome arcades are part of a much longer story of seaside amusement on Brighton’s pier.
Discover the facts ↓
LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER
Three things worth knowing.
A fortune-telling past
The early collection included a machine called The Lady Palmist.
Source: Palace Pier: historical amusement timeline (opens in a new tab) ↗Two arcades to explore
The Palace of Fun is near the front of the pier; The Dome arcade is farther along near the rides.
Source: Palace Pier: current arcade guide (opens in a new tab) ↗What came before the video game?
The pier’s older history timeline records amusement machines arriving in 1905, including a fortune-telling machine and a punch-ball game. Today’s mix of traditional and modern games carries that entertainment story forward, even though the machines and surroundings have changed.
Palace Pier: historical amusement timeline (opens in a new tab) ↗
Make it part of your Brighton.
Check the pier’s arcade information for current games and visitor conditions. The Dome arcade on the pier is a different place from Brighton Dome, the cultural venue near the Royal Pavilion.
Sources & further reading
- Palace Pier: historical amusement timeline (opens in a new tab) ↗
- Palace Pier: current arcade guide (opens in a new tab) ↗
Researched using venue, museum and local visitor information. Historical claims are linked to their sources. Visitor conditions and availability can change; check directly. Last checked 21 October 2026. Photographs retain their individual licences and show the stated capture dates.