Sandown Pier - The Last Resort (Culver Pier, Sandown (Isle of Wight))

Member Name: adambrown400

Product:	Culver Pier, Sandown (Isle of Wight)
Date:	04/02/09 (179 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It keeps em' off the streets don't it?

Disadvantages: Filthy in winter

Since Woolworths packed up shop and deserted town, Sandown really only has one saving grace left - the pier. Its so unfortunate that the town has gone so downhill - as it could be a fantastic spot right by the sea, but with zero investment by the local council and drunkards vommiting in the street every night - It seems a bit far off happening.

The Pier hasn't changed a huge amount since I was young, the main difference being that the theatre part has been closed. Yes, Sandown's only venture into culture (apart from the library) is no more. I once saw Norman Wisdom there as well! Thats culture for you!

The Pier now boasts a myriad of ways to lose all your hard earned cash. It has every arcade machine under the sun, from your average 2p machines to more recent arcade games like House of the Dead etc.

When jbsabbath and I were much younger, we played on the Simpsons arcade game and WWF Royal Rumble many, many times. Theres also the old classics like the horses and kick the football at the rubber man - always great.

The pier also has a large indoor crazy golf course. This is in the same place as the old theatre. Its pretty good actually and is quite cheap. There are usually a buy one get one free offer in the IOW tourist guides. Its kind of like based on a jungle with lots of squawking birds and chimps and stuff - kind of like Sandown after midnight.

There is also a small bowling alley which costs around £2.50 for a game. This is quite good fun too.

We recently took cousins of ours and their children to the childrens 'ball-pit' area in the pier. It was good, but wan't suitable for very small children.

At the end of the pier is a helter skelter and dodgems - which is sometimes closed off due to being out of season. As you walk along the pier there is also a small cafe where you can buy the greasiest excuse for min-donuts on planet earth. I wouldn't eat them unless you were planning on a coronary before you're thirty.

At the bottom of the pier there are two other eateries. One is your usual run of the mill cafe where you can have a cuppa tea and watch the world go by, and then there's a pub opposite. Both are well looked after and offer a decent alternative to throwing your money into a rubbish game machine.

The best part about Sandown pier is the 'grabbing' machines. I went through a phase of loving these machines and actually became quite good at it - until I realised the pointlessness of it all and that my house was full of Disney-related junk.

Sandown Pier is the last refuge for a holiday in Sandown. If there was no pier, god knows what the town would be like - I expect like something from 'Mad Max'. However, its worth a visit if your are on holiday - just remember to bring along a wodge of cash!

Summary: The last resting place of culture in Sandown.