Brighton Royal Pavilion



Ad Ad	The Royal Pavilion A Palace Fit for a King... Built by a Prince The original Royal Pavilion was the brainchild of The Prince Regent - later to become King George IV - who, in 1787, was seeking to create his own space away from London. The original building was designed by the architect Henry Holland and was then known as the Marine Pavilion because of its design and its close proximity to the sea. However, as all things eastern came into vogue, it was dramatically remodelled by John Nash between 1815 and 1823 and subsequently became known as The Royal Pavilion. Most commentators rate The Royal Pavilion as both one of Brighton's best visits and one of its top artisitic spots. There's no question that its art is unique and in quite a different league from the rest. However, it's not possible to identify any one single feature of the Pavilion for special mention as it is the entire building which is such a complete experience with everything just clicking together like a ginormous seamless jigsaw. When you first glimpse the building its architecture cannot but to inspire however, as you get closer and closer, it's the detail which cannot fail to impress. Whether or not the eastern style of the building is to your taste, the sheer exhuberence of the building is overwhelming. Individual rooms, while forming part of the whole, still retain their individuality with their grand entrances, ceilings and decoration all blending in seamlessly to form a complete whole. The restorers of this great building have worked skillfully to furnish it in style of the period, completing the picture in way which The Prince would surely have approved of. As a work of art? Well, this is certainly not the type of display which you could see in London's National Gallery because this art is in its context - its a living art piece, an 'installation' in a classical sense! It's art where it was meant to be, framed in an regal building which was built to impress. After the death of George IV, the Royal Pavilion continued to be used by the Royal family up to the time of Queen Victoria. She made several visits to it with her family up to 1845 but from then on stopped visiting. The Queen felt that the Pavilion did not offer her family enough privacy because the newly opened London to Brighton Railway was bringing Londoners into Brighton in ever-increasing numbers. By 1850, the Royal Pavilion was falling into disrepair and much that was worth removing had been removed. At that time, the Brighton Town Commissioners purchased the Pavilion from the Queen in order to restore some of it and to use the space for public events. In 1975, the Pavilion suffered considerable damage when a fire bomb was thrown into the Music Room and this event seems to have spurred efforts to return the Pavilion to its former glory. In 1982, a full-scale restoration project was instigated by the council and the rate-payers of Brighton had to foot a bill of over £9 million (about $18 million) for the privilege of seeing the edifice transformed into a building site for several years. The newly refurbished interior is restored to the John Nash design and is a treat to the eyes for lovers of oriental interiors and furnishings and, in keeping with the Royal connection, Queen Elizabeth II has generously donated furniture and ornaments to the interior to help recreate the 18th century atmosphere. No effort has been spared in the recreation of this gem and the attention to detail is outstanding. Though the candles of the day have been replaced, the chandeliers remain and the sparkle of crystal lotus leaves held by dragons is a sight to behold. The wait of the ratepayers was surely worthwhile as the Royal Pavilion is now one of the gems in the Brighton Collection. The modern visitor is assisted by an audio guide (included in the admission fee) and some of the many rooms which you may visit are: The Music Room The Prince Regent/King George IV loved music and built this room to entertain his guests. His own musicians provided the music, frequently from Italian opera. It's in this room that you will find some of the magnificent lotus-shaped chandeliers The Banqueting Room Many visitors consider this to be the grandest room in the Pavilion and it's absolutely packed with exotic artworks from China. It's easy to imagine its huge banqueting table set for a feast and to wonder at the elegance and craftsmanship of the enormous dragon Chandelier which floats above the heads of the diners. The Royal Bedrooms Here slept the Queen! Victoria's apartments may be visited as may those of the Royal Household and the Yellow Bow Rooms. The Steam-Powered Kitchen - every Palace Should Have One! Steam power was the great wonder of the day when King George IV used his Palace and it was applied in the kitchen to take some of the drudgery out everyday kitchen work. Granted, it's more likely that it was pride in being innovative, rather than easing the burden of his employees which led to this innovation and it is well known that King George was proud of the modern technology in his kitchens. This technology did have a real practical impact, however, allowing the King to put on the huge lavish feasts and banquets which so impressed his visitors. A Period Setting The restored Pavilion now offers a living set for producers of films and documentaries and has been used as the location for 'The End of the Affair' and 'Richard III'. The Gardens Today, The Royal Pavilion is not just about indoors but is surrounded by beautiful gardens which create a delightful setting at all times of the year. There's almost as much to see from outside as from within and a walk around the pavilion on a sunny day is sure to raise any spirit! Opening and Admission The Royal Pavilion is open year-round and the entry fee of £7.70 (about $15.00) or £5.90 ($11.80) for concessions includes an audio guide designed to make more of your visit.
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The Royal Pavilion

A Palace Fit for a King... Built by a Prince

The original Royal Pavilion was the brainchild of The Prince Regent - later to become King George IV - who, in 1787, was seeking to create his own space away from London. The original building was designed by the architect Henry Holland and was then known as the Marine Pavilion because of its design and its close proximity to the sea. However, as all things eastern came into vogue, it was dramatically remodelled by John Nash between 1815 and 1823 and subsequently became known as The Royal Pavilion.

Most commentators rate The Royal Pavilion as both one of Brighton's best visits and one of its top artisitic spots. There's no question that its art is unique and in quite a different league from the rest. However, it's not possible to identify any one single feature of the Pavilion for special mention as it is the entire building which is such a complete experience with everything just clicking together like a ginormous seamless jigsaw. When you first glimpse the building its architecture cannot but to inspire however, as you get closer and closer, it's the detail which cannot fail to impress. Whether or not the eastern style of the building is to your taste, the sheer exhuberence of the building is overwhelming. Individual rooms, while forming part of the whole, still retain their individuality with their grand entrances, ceilings and decoration all blending in seamlessly to form a complete whole. The restorers of this great building have worked skillfully to furnish it in style of the period, completing the picture in way which The Prince would surely have approved of. As a work of art? Well, this is certainly not the type of display which you could see in London's National Gallery because this art is in its context - its a living art piece, an 'installation' in a classical sense! It's art where it was meant to be, framed in an regal building which was built to impress.

After the death of George IV, the Royal Pavilion continued to be used by the Royal family up to the time of Queen Victoria. She made several visits to it with her family up to 1845 but from then on stopped visiting. The Queen felt that the Pavilion did not offer her family enough privacy because the newly opened London to Brighton Railway was bringing Londoners into Brighton in ever-increasing numbers.

By 1850, the Royal Pavilion was falling into disrepair and much that was worth removing had been removed. At that time, the Brighton Town Commissioners purchased the Pavilion from the Queen in order to restore some of it and to use the space for public events. In 1975, the Pavilion suffered considerable damage when a fire bomb was thrown into the Music Room and this event seems to have spurred efforts to return the Pavilion to its former glory.

In 1982, a full-scale restoration project was instigated by the council and the rate-payers of Brighton had to foot a bill of over £9 million (about $18 million) for the privilege of seeing the edifice transformed into a building site for several years. The newly refurbished interior is restored to the John Nash design and is a treat to the eyes for lovers of oriental interiors and furnishings and, in keeping with the Royal connection, Queen Elizabeth II has generously donated furniture and ornaments to the interior to help recreate the 18th century atmosphere. No effort has been spared in the recreation of this gem and the attention to detail is outstanding. Though the candles of the day have been replaced, the chandeliers remain and the sparkle of crystal lotus leaves held by dragons is a sight to behold.

The wait of the ratepayers was surely worthwhile as the Royal Pavilion is now one of the gems in the Brighton Collection.

The modern visitor is assisted by an audio guide (included in the admission fee) and some of the many rooms which you may visit are:

The Music Room

The Prince Regent/King George IV loved music and built this room to entertain his guests. His own musicians provided the music, frequently from Italian opera. It's in this room that you will find some of the magnificent lotus-shaped chandeliers

The Banqueting Room

Many visitors consider this to be the grandest room in the Pavilion and it's absolutely packed with exotic artworks from China. It's easy to imagine its huge banqueting table set for a feast and to wonder at the elegance and craftsmanship of the enormous dragon Chandelier which floats above the heads of the diners.

The Royal Bedrooms

Here slept the Queen! Victoria's apartments may be visited as may those of the Royal Household and the Yellow Bow Rooms.

The Steam-Powered Kitchen - every Palace Should Have One!

Steam power was the great wonder of the day when King George IV used his Palace and it was applied in the kitchen to take some of the drudgery out everyday kitchen work. Granted, it's more likely that it was pride in being innovative, rather than easing the burden of his employees which led to this innovation and it is well known that King George was proud of the modern technology in his kitchens. This technology did have a real practical impact, however, allowing the King to put on the huge lavish feasts and banquets which so impressed his visitors.

A Period Setting

The restored Pavilion now offers a living set for producers of films and documentaries and has been used as the location for 'The End of the Affair' and 'Richard III'.

The Gardens

Today, The Royal Pavilion is not just about indoors but is surrounded by beautiful gardens which create a delightful setting at all times of the year. There's almost as much to see from outside as from within and a walk around the pavilion on a sunny day is sure to raise any spirit!

Opening and Admission

The Royal Pavilion is open year-round and the entry fee of £7.70 (about $15.00) or £5.90 ($11.80) for concessions includes an audio guide designed to make more of your visit.