ALMOST 2,000 people have signed our petition to rename the city’s best known attraction the Palace Pier.

Broadcaster and patron of the Argus Appeal Nicholas Owen was among those who yesterday added his support.

He said: “I absolutely support the call to make it the Palace Pier again.”

And today The Michaels, stars from the Channel 4 show Gogglebox, have joined the clamour to bring back the original moniker.

Alex Michael, 25, said: “I was genuinely quite saddened when the Palace Pier changed to the Brighton Pier. 

“I remember thinking the name change was taking away from the Pier’s charm which I had come to know so well. 

“Racing the horses in the arcade with my 10ps, playing House of the Dead and stuffing my face with the ridiculously good smelling doughnuts were all staples of my childhood. 

“As a Brightonian I am certainly pro the name change and will always feel a sense of home when I see it.”

Katy, 26, said: “In my mind, I have always referred to the pier as the Palace Pier. Even after the name change, I was reluctant to accept it. For one thing, Brighton Pier just did not roll off the tongue quite so well! As a true Brightonian, I think it is fair for me to say that pier is most definitely Brighton’s most beautiful and iconic structure, but my favourite thing about it has to be the delicious hot and tasty doughnuts. Yum!

Louis, 19, said: “The pier, for me, is the epicentre of the leisurely side of Brighton. While the Pavilion holds our city’s history, and the town centre our commerce, the pier represents the fun to be had in Brighton, past and present. Renaming it won’t change that; rather like the shift from Brighthelmstone to Brighton, it will mark progression into a new era.

Andy, 56, said: I nearly died of fright when I went on Crazy Mouse with the boys! I thought we were going to be plunged into the sea. Loved fish and chips at the restaurant.”

Mum Carolyne, 54, a retired teacher, said: “For those of us who were born and bred in Brighton it was and always will be the Palace Pier – even now. It encapsulates everything about Brighton – it’s colourful, fun and exhilarating.

"Brighton wouldn't be Brighton without it and Brighton wouldn't have become the edgy racey Brighton that it is without Prinny and his little pleasure palace the Royal Pavillion - so the Palace Pier is the preferred adjective as it is a pleasure palace for everyone no matter who you are or how old you are.

"I've loved it ever since my parents first pushed me and my panda over its boards in my pushchair.”

All the city’s MPs have backed our campaign, as have hundreds of readers – by flocking to the online petition to add their support.

Chrissy Welsh, from Hove, said: “If we’re going to be historically correct it has to be Palace Pier.”

Jacqui Theoret, from Brighton, added: “I want it back to Palace Pier. I have lived here most of my life and it’s always been the Palace Pier.”

Deborah Jordan said her parents “worked, met and married” on the Palace Pier, and the name was very important to her.

Manda Curry, from Portslade, said that changing the name to Brighton Pier demonstrated a complete lack of care for Brighton’s heritage and history.