Bognor Regis
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Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England.
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History
It was originally named Bognor, and was a fishing and smuggling village until the 18th century, when it was converted into a resort by Richard Hotham. It gradually took off over the next hundred years, and was visited by King George V in 1929; as a result it acquired the suffix Regis (although never actually given regal permission). Reputedly though, the King's last words, upon being told that he would soon be well enough to revisit the town, were 'Bugger Bognor!'.
The nearby village of Felpham, now a suburb of Bognor, was home briefly to the poet William Blake.
The parish church is dedicated to St Wilfrid.
Sir Billy Butlin opened one of his famous Butlins Holiday Camps in Bognor in 1960. The camp later became known as Southcoast World until 1998 and is now known as Butlins Bognor Regis Resort. In 2004 Butlins erected a large pointed roof, which resembles a smaller version of London's Millennium Dome.
In 2005, a new £10m hotel was unveiled at the Bognor Regis resort.
Town
It has a large 1980s pedestrianised town centre, with many specialist shops.
Bognor Regis lies within the constituency of Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, the MP for which is Nick Gibb (Conservative).
The town has several areas, and buildings, that still firmly link it with its past. A good example, and a prominent local landmark, is the Royal Norfolk Hotel. It is just one of the many places in the town that are featured on the excellent Bognor Local History site.
The skyline of Bognor has changed in recent times, the Butlins resort's large Skyline Roof, which resembles a small Millennium Dome, can be seen for many miles.
Nightlife in Bognor - Bognor is home to a few good pubs and two clubs on the seafront. The 'Hatters' bar [part of the Wetherspoons chain] is usually a centre for people before they head off to Club Vision (formerly known as "Sheiks") or the newly-opened The Mud Club (formerly known as Ocean 11 and Empire) for music through until the early hours. The Claremont arms is a great undiscovered pub, hidden behind a launderette! The pub and the launderette are located just off West Street.
Transport
- Rail links
- Bognor Regis railway station is situated on a branch line from the West Coastway Line. It has hourly services to London and services to other south coast towns.
- Road links
- A27 , runs west to east from Salisbury in Hampshire to Pevensey in East Sussex. This road closely parallels the south coast a mile or two inland as it passes through West Sussex.
- A29. To Dorking to the north, where it joins the A24 to London.
- A259. The Coastal Road running along the south coast from Havant in Hampshire to Folkstone in Kent.
Image:Bognor Regis The Peir 1.jpg
Birdman of Bognor
The Birdman is an annual competition for human-powered 'flying' machines held each summer in Bognor Regis. Contestants launch themselves from the end of the pier; a prize being awarded to the one who glides the furthest distance. Rarely taken completely seriously, the event provides competitors with an opportunity to construct improbable machines complete with outlandish dress. The spectacle draws a sizeable crowd in addition to the local media. Inaugurated in nearby Selsey in 1971, the Birdman transferred to Bognor in 1978 when it had outgrown its original location.
Other information
The town is mentioned in the Frank Zappa song Once Upon a Time. The song parodies the story of Genesis where, "In the beginning", God said he needs a floor to support the giant maroon sofa he just created "...and sure enough, boards of oak appeared throughout the emptiness as far as vision permits, stretching all the way from Belfast to Bognor Regis."
In addition to being mentioned by Frank Zappa, "Bognor Regis" is also the name of a currently unreleased instrumental jam by Zappa.
Bognor Regis was placed at number 28 of The Idler magazine's 'Crap Towns' list of UK towns for 2004.