Brighton Royal Pavilion

1128 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

October, 2021

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

On your own

Reasons for trip

Guests stayed for several days, but rarely longer than a week. They were often joined at dinner by others staying in the town. Dinner was served in the banqueting room at six and was followed by conversations, games or musical entertainment. This could often last until the early hours.

The Prince did not join his guests for breakfast, who had the option of breakfasting in their rooms or sharing a meal in the first floor galleries.

Household management was shared between three departments, headed by an Officer of the State. The Office of Woods and Forests was responsible for the fabric of the building, structural alterations and the exterior.

The Lord Chamberlain’s Office was responsible for interior decoration, refurbishment and management of the servants. The Lord Stewart’s Office was responsible for the kitchens, gardens and supply of food, fuel, and staff involved in these areas. There was some overlap of responsibilities.

George paid his staff quite well by the standards of the day. Staff were paid quarterly and received allowances for clothing and lodgings. Pensions to retired members were generous.
A small skeleton staff were kept on for the full year, although most staff arrived with George at the start of his winter visit. The quality of accommodation depended on rank and space available.

Public rooms had luxurious wall to wall carpets, specially designed for each room. Servant areas had hard wearing drugget oil cloth coverings.

Water closets were provided through out the Pavilion with water pumped from the well by a forcing engine in a tower in the courtyard. Panels hid the pipes. Most bedrooms also had a chamber pot. The King’s bedroom had a bidet chair. The King also had his own bathroom, now demolished with a plunge bath fed by a supply of fresh as well as sea water. This was pumped from the sea into a tank in the gardens. A boiler heated the water.

Lighting played a key role and was crucial in creating a dramatic atmosphere

Many first floor areas had painted glass skylights. Crystal chandeliers were designed to complement the different rooms. The most impressive is that in the banqueting room. At night rooms were lit by a combination of candles and oil lamps . Smoke caused damage to paint work and ceilings, necessitating regular cleaning. Gas was mainly used to illuminate the exterior , especially the painted glass windows. This was particularly effective at night.

The pavilion was partially converted to electricity in 1883.

ESW

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.