Nicola, hmm - it is certainly looking decidedly more dodgy since the first time I went to Brighton. However there is a dedicated restoration programme going on - all the news here: http://www.westpier-trust.demon.co.uk/
Thanks very much for that, Andy. Absolutely brilliant! I really enjoyed looking around the inside of the pier with the interactive camera...closest we're going to get to it for a long, long time I think!!
Unfortunately I have a computer which stops Java applets from downloading, so I haven't been on the tour yet. Will sort something out though, 'cos it sounds brilliant. Am definitely looking forward to it being reopened as well, but also fear it is going to be a long, long time.