Royal Pavilion Estate

Learn about the Royal Pavillion Estate.

The Royal Pavilion Estate includes:

Combining a royal palace and Regency garden, a museum and art gallery and three performing art spaces, the estate is Brighton & Hove’s cultural heart, and the Royal Pavilion its internationally recognised icon. Its magnificence, bold design and daring experimentation with form helped establish the city’s reputation two centuries ago.

Attracting over 1.2 million people a year, with hundreds of thousands more visiting the garden, the estate’s venues make a significant economic contribution to Brighton & Hove. But, while the buildings are magnificent, they are also facing unique challenges and are in need of refurbishment and upgrade in some areas.

Heritage open day

Celebrate Brighton Dome’s heritage links to food on Heritage Open Day, 19 September, from the time when Indian soldiers recuperated in the building during the First World War.

There will be a series of free family-friendly events in Brighton Dome, as well as online activities for anyone wanting to join in from home.

More information on the Brighton Dome website.

Plans for the future

The council, Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust, Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival are working together to revitalise the estate and secure its future.

A phased approach to delivering the Royal Pavilion Estate vision

As this is a major project, it has been divided into three phases.

Phase one

Phase one is well underway. It includes  a major refurbishment of the nationally important Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre, alongside essential conservation work.

New spaces include a ground floor restaurant which will open onto New Road.

Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival (BDBF) is looking for a partner to put forward a proposal for the food offer and take out a  lease for the space.

More information on the restaurant and catering opportunity is on the BDBF website.

Previously hidden heritage in the Corn Exchange will be restored for public view with a magnificent new viewing gallery. Spaces within the Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre will be improved to enhance audience comfort and help the building operate more efficiently. Services and equipment will be upgraded to ensure these unique buildings are looked after. We will also help to engage new audiences with the history of the estate which has often been hidden to visitors.

The main construction includes:

  • major improvements to the Studio Theatre including a ground floor bar and café opening on to New Road
  • creation of a magnificent new Corn Exchange viewing gallery and audience circulation space
  • transformation of the Corn Exchange with new seating and more efficient infrastructure
  • a dedicated creation space
  • provision for additional offices, back of house accommodation and storage.

In February 2021 the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) awarded phase one of the project an additional £1 million from its Heritage Capital Kickstart Fund. The funding is part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Culture Recovery Fund package.

It will be added to the £4.823 million grant allocated by the NLHF for the project in 2016. In December the Royal Pavilion Estate was also awarded £458,920 from Arts Council England’s (ACE) Cultural Capital Kickstart Fund. 

Get updates and learn more on the Brighton Dome website.

Phase two

Phase two includes internal refurbishment of the Royal Pavilion and improvements to the Royal Pavilion Garden.

Phase three

Phase three includes further development of the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery to create new:

  • learning spaces which will be shared with Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival
  • displays and activities at The Dome to bring its history to a wider audience