It has been nine years since Bognor Regis shoppers were treated to the sight of people hurtling through the air above the high street. The “Aerial Birdman” event, held over the August Bank Holiday weekend in 2015, saw London Road transformed into a 135-metre flight path, bringing a high-octane twist to the town’s traditional Birdman celebrations.
The initiative, which took place on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August 2015, was designed to draw visitors away from the seafront and into the heart of the town centre. Suspension cables were rigged at a height of 15 metres (50 feet), allowing participants to fly above the pedestrianised precinct in “Superman” style harnesses at speeds reaching 30mph.
Economic and footfall impact
Official data from the time highlighted the event’s success in boosting high street trade. According to Arun District Council reports, 40,277 people visited the town centre over the two-day event. This included a record-breaking Sunday footfall of 17,915 visitors. The surge in visitors reportedly led to record sales for several local branches of national retailers, including Greggs and Holland & Barrett.
The project sought a way to ensure the wider town benefited from the crowds attending the International Birdman pier-jumping competition on the seafront. By providing a 445-foot zip wire through the main shopping thoroughfare, organisers managed to distribute footfall more evenly across Bognor Regis.
Local figures take flight
The event was not just for visiting thrill-seekers; several prominent local figures took to the skies to support the initiative. Participants included Councillor Phil Hitchins and Councillor Andy Cooper, as well as Stuart McGinley from the local radio station Spirit FM.
While the traditional International Birdman event was known for its eccentric costumes and leaps from the pier into the sea, the Aerial Birdman brought that spirit of adventure directly to the shopfronts. Despite the success of the 2015 weekend, the town centre zip wire has remained a unique moment in Bognor’s event history, remembered for its technical scale and its immediate impact on the local economy.
