| The Fitz Regent | |
|---|---|
| Royal Pavilion Tavern | |
_(September_2018).jpg) The building from the north-northeast in September 2018, prior to its renaming | |
| Location | 7–8 Castle Square,Brighton,Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 50°49′17″N0°08′18″W / 50.8214°N 0.1383°W /50.8214; -0.1383 |
| Built | Early 19th century |
| Restored | 1820 or 1826 |
| Restored by | Amon Henry Wilds |
| Architectural style | Regency |
| Owner | Mitchells & Butlers |
| Website | thefitzregentbrighton |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Royal Pavilion Tavern and railings |
| Designated | 13 October 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1380055 |
  Location within centralBrighton | |
TheRoyal Pavilion Tavern, commonly known as thePavilion Tavern orPav Tav[1][2] and since February 2022 asThe Fitz Regent, is apub in the centre ofBrighton, part of the English coastal city ofBrighton and Hove. Converted from a house into theRoyal Pavilion Hotel in the early 19th century, its original role soon changed from a hotel to a pub, in which guise it remained until its closure in September 2019. It reopened under its new name, but still in the ownership of theMitchells & Butlers chain, on 13 February 2022. The building was also used as a court for several years early in its history, and prominent local architectAmon Henry Wilds was responsible for its redesign as a hotel and inn.English Heritage haslisted the building at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance, and it stands within a conservation area.
The fishing and agricultural village of Brighthelmstone, on the Sussex coast in southeast England, grew into the fashionable resort of Brighton from the mid-18th century. Inward investment, good transport links and the popularity of sea-bathing helped it develop "all of the facilities that would have been expected" of an 18th-century leisure destination.[3] One of the most important was the Castle Inn, converted from a house in 1752 by businessman Samuel Shergold. He recognised that the town's wealthy visitors wanted a focal point near theOld Steine—at that time the centre of Brighton's fashionable life—to meet, socialise and stay. It became the nascent resort's most important social venue, especially after an assembly room and ballroom were added.[4][5][6] Within 50 years, though, it had declined, and it was demolished in 1823. This allowed the junction of North Street and Old Steine to be widened, and it took the name Castle Square.[7][8]
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By 1780, North Street was "the principal commercial street in the town", and Castle Square itself became a hub of commercial activity.[9] Despite the decline of the Castle Inn, the area retained its fashionable air,[10] and by the early 19th century a mixed series of buildings had been built on the southern side; despite some later alterations, their layout and essential character remains.[11] One such building was the tall terraced house at number 8. Dating from early in the 19th century,[12] it soon took on a second role. In 1808, the Court of Whalesbone, aHundred Court (an early form ofmagistrates' court) moved from thecounty town ofLewes to the building. Sessions were held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. After short interludes at the Old Ship Hotel and Brighton's original Town Hall, the court sessions returned between 1823 and 1832.[13]
By this time, the building had been converted into the Royal Pavilion Hotel. Described as a "family and commercial hotel", it aimed for middle-class customers who would previously have considered the Castle Inn.[14] It may have been established as early as 1816,[8][15] and certainly by 1820.[14] In that year[8][15] or in 1826, famous local architectAmon Henry Wilds was commissioned to redesign the building. His partnerCharles Busby, who worked with him on many buildings in Brighton in the early 19th century, may have assisted him;[14] the pair also worked on 1a Castle Square around the same time.[8] Wilds gave the hotel a typicalRegencystuccoed bow front and an intricate balcony featuring the interlinked dolphins which featured on Brighton'scoat of arms.[15][14]
The building later changed from a hotel to a conventional inn called the Royal Pavilion Tavern. An early proprietor offendedMaria Fitzherbert, thePrince Regent's mistress who lived atSteine House (which backed on to the inn), by putting up a sign on the rear wall which read "Gin Palace". After she complained, he altered it to "Shades"—a local term with a similar meaning.[8] That name was recalled in 1991 when the building was substantially refurbished; part of it was converted into a café-bar and restaurant calledShades. A World War II-era bar counter was retrieved from a pub atLondon Victoria railway station and installed during this refit.[16] The pub was latterly owned and operated by theMitchells & Butlers chain.[17] On 24 September 2019 the company announced that the pub would close permanently two days later.[2] The building was to be converted for residential use.[18] In August 2021, however, Mitchells & Butlers submitted a planning application toBrighton and Hove City Council proposing alterations and remedial works to the pub.[19] It reopened on 13 February 2022 under its new name, the Fitz Regent, with updated decor in anArt Deco style.[20] Around this time, the owners applied forplanning permission to make changes to the interior.[21]
The Royal Pavilion Tavern and the iron railings outside it werelisted at Grade II byEnglish Heritage on 13 October 1952.[12] This defines it as a "nationally important" building of "special interest".[22] As of February 2001, it was one of 1,124 Grade II-listed buildings and structures, and 1,218 listed buildings of all grades, in the city ofBrighton and Hove.[23] It is also within the Valley Gardens Conservation Area,[24] one of34 conservation areas in the city of Brighton and Hove.[25] This was designated by Brighton Council in 1973 and covers 92.84 acres (37.57 ha).[26]
The buildings on the south side of Castle Square are all of a similar age but show a great variety of sizes and styles. The Royal Pavilion Tavern is one of the taller buildings[15] at four storeys in height. The slate-tiledgambrel roof hasdormer windows and is partly hidden behind abalustrade which sits on top of aparapet andcornice. The façade is stuccoed and projects as a segmental-arched bow front. The stucco isrusticated at ground-floor level. The entrance is in the rightmost of the threebays and is flanked bygranitepilasters topped bybrackets with foliage decoration. Above this, an iron balcony runs across the full width of the building at first-floor level; this dates from the late 19th century[12] and hasfinials in the form of interlinked dolphins and crowns, recalling the Borough of Brighton's emblem.[15][14] Each storey has three windows, but they are treated in various ways; those at first-floor level havearchitraves, the second-storey windows have a small individual iron balcony withanthemion decoration; and those on the top floor have prominent sills.[12]
Media related toRoyal Pavilion Tavern, Brighton at Wikimedia Commons
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