The Banqueting Room Gallery is in the oldest part of the Royal Pavilion on the site of the original farmhouse. It was extensively altered and rebuilt by Nash. The tall French windows opened onto a terrace at the front of the building.
Reached from the Banqueting Hall, this room was designed to provide a calm atmosphere after the opulence of the other public rooms, with pale cream walls with a gilded fretwork border and green furnishings. Lighting was provided by lamps standing on a dolphin leg base and the marine theme was continued in the small scallop shell chairs in front of the windows.
The tall elegant palm tree columns served a structural role as well as being decorative, with the cast iron cores supported the upper floors.
The Banqueting Room Gallery leads into the Saloon, which was the central room of Holland’s Marine Pavilion. This was the formal reception room where George would greet his guests, and like the Banqueting room, was designed to impress. It has recently been restored to its Regency splendour and has the WOW factor. It looks amazing with its scarlet and gold silk wall panels and curtains, reflecting George IV’s status as King.
The rest of the walls are decorated with small motifs of leaves and flowers on a pearl white background. These were originally silver leaf but have been replaced by platinum which won’t darken over time. It looks stunning.
Mirrors reflect light from the central cut glass chandelier hanging from a sky ceiling.
Many of the items on display in the room have been returned on long term loan by Buckingham Palace.
The carpet is a modern replica of the original woven by Axminster Carpets with a central sunflower and stylised peacocks in the doorways. Nothing was too lavish.
