The birdcage bandstand on Brighton seafront has long been a fav-ourite of many who visit the resort. It was originally designed by Philip Lockwood, the enterprising borough engineer also responsible for laying out Preston Park and building a clock tower there.

The bandstand was made largely of cast iron, like its larger neighbour, the West Pier. This material is remarkably durable, especially by the seaside, but is prone to rusting.

An unusual feature of the bandstand is its height, as it is on two levels. The lower part, originally used for lavatories, is on the esplanade and the upper part is on King’s Road.

Its many admirers have included historian Clifford Musgrave, who was director of the Royal Pavilion during and after the Second World War.

Describing it as delightful, he added: “It was built in 1884 with delicate tracery in cast iron and a shallow bulbous dome to its roof, all in the highly individual and pleasing tradition of pleasure architecture established by the Brighton Corporation in the later part of the 19th century.”

Many other resorts have boasted bandstands at one time. There was even one in Hove occupying a site south of Kingsway, now used as gardens for the Babylon Lounge, but it was demolished in the 1950s.

The splendid bandstand on Eastbourne seafront is still used regularly for concerts.

In the 1950s, the council put forward plans for demolishing the Brighton bandstand, after finding the costs for bands to play there were too high.

Rebuilding was ruled out on the grounds of expense and an ambitious scheme for a new entertainments centre with a bandstand came to nothing.

Although now a listed building, it was left to rot, until about two years ago when the incoming council decided to save the bandstand.

£950,000 was found for a complete restoration, which involved dismantling and renovating the cast-iron columns weighing more than 20 tonnes.

Architect Giles Ings, of local firm Atkins Blair Ings Richardson, had problems, including not having the original Philip Lockwood plans for the floor of the bandstand.

Instead, he installed a simple, patterned, Victorian, tiled surface which has met with general approval. Although the bandstand looks resplendent now in its traditional green and cream colours, it still rusts and will need regular repainting.

The lavatories underneath have been converted into a cafe and there are seating areas for events on the lower esplanade.

A programme of summer concerts was arranged and, surprisingly, despite the greatly increased levels of traffic, the musicians can still be heard.

Toni Manuel, the council’s leisure development officer, says there has been nearly universal praise for the renovation, an achievement in a city such as Brighton and Hove which can often be all too critical.

Manuel and most councillors are now hoping the Brighton Eye can be built a little to the east, an attraction in itself, which may aid the flagging fortunes of the West Pier.