 The
Royal Pavilion was built on the command of the Prince Regent
initially in 1787 (the architect was the famous Henry Holland) – the
original result was known as “The
Marine Pavilion” but it was dramatically redesigned
by John Nash between 1815 and 1823 when the East became in
vogue with royalty. Ultimately, the Royal Pavilion was sold
by the Queen in 1850.
Inside, the pavilion has a very Oriental theme – with
everything from the furniture to the fixtures and artwork
taking on a very Chinese theme. It’s safe to say that
every item is exquisite and was designed and built with no
expense spared. Some of the chandeliers are almost beyond
belief – crystals in the shape of lotuses held by a
giant dragon.
 Before walking into the Pavilion, you can enjoy a stroll
around the impressive surrounding grounds. Once inside, your
ticket price includes an audio tour which explains the history
and heritage of the Pavilion throughout history. It’s
well worth it.
Just some of the rooms you should view once inside are:
The reason this room was built was
King George IV’s love for music. Here, the King would
entertain guests with recitals, often from Italian opera
performed by his own musicians. One of the highlights of
this room are the nine splendid lotus shaped chandeliers.
Is this the grandest room of the
Pavilion? Many visitors seem to think so and it’s hard
to argue when you consider the elegant artwork depicting
various scenes from China, a huge banquet table and a wonderfully
huge dragon chandelier which hangs menacingly above the diners
heads.
Among the famous rooms include
the Yellow Bow Rooms and Queen Victorias Apartments.
King George IV was highly proud
of the steam-powered kitchen that was built in the kitchen – a
state of the art system in its time. The equipment was required
to hold the lavish feats and banquets that were given regularly.
Interestingly, the Royal Pavilion has also been the location
for various films and documentaries – including “The
End Of The Affair” and “Richard III”.
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