I maybe shot down in flames but I was somewhat disappointed with Brighton Pier. I visited Brighton with my mother and my two small children for a mini break recently and had high hopes for the holiday. The weather as usual let us down, but the pier even more so.

As we entered the pier the first thing that hit me was the incredibly strong smell of deep fried food combined with sickly sweet doughnuts. For some people that description may be enough to start them salivating but it just left me with a horrid taste in my mouth.

The pier was busy and which gave it atmosphere but not the kind of atmosphere i enjoyed, lots of pushing and bumping. At the time my little girl was asleep in her pram so tried to stick to the smoother track on the pier, dedicated to wheel chairs and buggies but was constantly forced off onto the bumpy boards by rude pedestrians.

The staff were not forthcoming with their enthusiasm either, i can't imagine that working there is the best job in the world, but if you are facing the public, especially in a tourist hot spot the odd smile isn't frowned upon, maybe even encouraged. I witnessed one girl who was running the carousel having an argument with a member of the public and two minutes later having another!!!

The rides were quite expensive i had to pay four pounds for my almost three year old to go on the carousel which lasted approximately 2 minutes. She was 1/2 inch too small to travel unaccompanied so i had to travel to, hence four pounds!

All the rides required tokens which you buy from machines... which don't give change!!! Very frustrating especially when the staff also refused to help.

To conlcude; its the kind of place that i felt i should keep my hand bag close to my side but my little girl loved it.