RESTAURANT staff working at the i360 will now be paid the Living Wage.

Heritage Portfolio, part of the Centerplate Group, has agreed to pay all 160 staff working at the attraction at least £8.25 per hour.

It follows threats of a boycott from unions after it emerged staff working at the i360, but employed by a third party, would not be paid the rate.

The viewing tower, which is expected to open towards the end of the summer, is one of the few tourism and hospitality businesses signed up to the Brighton and Hove Living Wage Campaign.

Eleanor Harris, chief executive of British Airways i360, said: “We are delighted that our catering partners, who will be managing our 400 seat Belle Vue brasserie and Tollbooth tea rooms, have made this commitment.

“We recognise that it’s not easy for the catering industry to do this and we want to publicly thank them – they didn’t have to do it as we undertook our tender process long before we even knew about the Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign.

"We are proud that our attraction will be an exemplar in this way and we have attracted some fantastic staff who will make the visitor experience really enjoyable.”