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Formerly a small fishing village and haven for smuggling, Brighton became popular as a resort, when it\'s frequent visitor, the 21 - year old Prince of Wales, later King George IV, purchased a farmhouse here in 1786. In line with his extravagant lifestyle, the farmhouse was redeveloped extensively to become the Marine Pavilion. The rebuilding of the farmhouse was by the Neo Classical architect Henry Holland in 1787.
The interior was decorated in the Chinese style and a circular stable in the Indian style was added.
Becoming Prince Regent in 1811, George IV commissioned John Nash to further develop the building, which was finished in 1822. The result was an Indian style palace with a widely oriental interior with a riot of onion domes an minarets, a blend of opulent Chinese interiors, extravagant as the Prince himself. You\'ll view exquisite furniture and works of art as you wander through the beautiful restored rooms of this dazzling summer palace which changed Brighton from a sleepy seaside village to a fashionable community giving rise to elegant white and cream regency terraces, squares and crescents.
These buildings are now known as The Royal Pavilion and The Dome.
The Royal Pavilion is famous throughout the world and has to be one of the most extraordinary creations in England, if not Europe. The Royal Pavilion along with the Palace- and West Piers are the most prominent landmark of Brighton.
It is hard to believe that this oriental wonderland was born form the imaginations of a man who had never ventured further east than Germany.
Although some predictions said that it was an absurd waste of money and would be a ruin after half a century or more, the Pavilion could survive a disastrous fire, a extensive hurricane damage and let\'s not forget Queen Victoria who removed everything including the kitchen sink. But Victoria couldn\'t stand Brighton, with the strange palace and so she gave the building which cost half a million Pound for ridiculous 50000 Pound to the city.
Outside, the Gardens of the Pavilion, which are not extensive, have been returned to then 1826 appearance.
Food has always been an important place in life at The Royal Pavilion, from the time of George IV has so dedicated too food and proud of the Pavilions \"modern\" kitchens that he once dined in there along with his servants. George IV loved food so much that by the time when he was 57, he weighted 23 stone.
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