Piers like those in Weston-Super-Mare — which largely burnt down on Monday — and Brighton are traditional 19th century decks extending into the sea housing fairground carrousels, fish-and-chip shops and other wholesome family fare.

They first sprung up as the growth of railways and better working conditions under Queen Victoria prompted more people to take seaside holidays but fell out of fashion in the 1960s as package breaks opened up mass market foreign travel.

Now, though, Britain's 55 piers could be on the cusp of a revival as rocky economic conditions mean many people — including Prime Minister Gordon Brown — are holidaying in their own country this year, while there has also been a string of redevelopment projects capitalising on pier nostalgia.

"The architecture's all really old — this is the way the Brits do it," said Danny Alder (30) from Melbourne, Australia, strolling down Brighton pier in 27°C heat.

"It's the kind of stuff you would see in old movies," added his friend Geraldine Hickey (29) also from Melbourne.

ascination with the faded grandeur

Judging by the number of recent redevelopment scenes, the fascination with the faded grandeur of piers is widespread.

Weston-Super-Mare pier had reopened just months before Monday's fire after being bought by new owners, who installed a go-kart track and climbing wall as part of a multi-million pound regeneration of the resort.

Southwold, where Brown is holidaying this week, also has a newly redeveloped pier which, to cater to its largely middle-class clientele, features an art shop and café selling muffins and coffee.

Brighton residents have also staged a long-running campaign to rebuild the resort's second West Pier, which burnt down in 2003 after falling derelict.

There could also be more tourists around British resorts to appreciate such new developments this year, experts say.

Dorothy and John Smith from Sheffield, northern England, are among those shelving a holiday abroad for a British seaside break this year due to the credit crunch, which they fear could continue to bite for several years.

The couple normally vacation in the south of France but this year came to Brighton on the spur of the moment, without a booking.

"There aren't many places like this left," said Dorothy Smith, about to start a promenade along Brighton pier with her husband.

"I just like everything that's on it — and the fact that it's still here."

Holiday website lastminute.com has recorded an increase in British holiday bookings of nearly 20 percent, British media reported.

The head of tourism promotion body VisitBritain, Tom Wright, is optimistic of rising numbers, telling newspapers: "Economic factors coupled with renewed enthusiasm for what a holiday in Britain can offer present real potential for domestic tourism this summer."

"Clairvoyant to the stars" predicts big summer

Chris Foster of the National Piers Society, which works to conserve the historic relics, also detected a rise in Britons holidaying at home this year.

"One of the things they will be drawn to will be amusements that are there on piers," he added.

Local business people in Brighton are hopeful that their own pier — immortalised in Graham Greene's noirish novel "Brighton Rock" — will draw in hoards of crowds this summer.

"Clairvoyant to the stars" Eva Petulengro, who has a shop in the shadow of the pier, said the town was seeing many more Britons taking holidays there and foresaw great success in the coming months.

"I predict that pier will have a big summer, the best summer for 20 years, because of the weather and the fact that people are not going away," she said.

"We're going to have an Indian summer."

AFP