Castle, Palace and Fort · Brighton, East Sussex
Royal Pavilion Brighton
Regency palace in central Brighton with two licensed ceremony rooms, historic reception spaces and gardens.
The Royal Pavilion is the former seaside palace of George IV, built in the early 1800s in the middle of Brighton. It hosts civil wedding ceremonies and receptions in historic rooms, with gardens on its doorstep.
Why it suits LGBTQ+ couples
GLW recommends the Pavilion for couples who want a ceremony with real history behind it. Brighton has long been a centre of LGBTQ+ life in the UK, and the palace Music Room has hosted one of the first same-sex weddings in the country. You can marry in a room that is quite unlike a standard register office.
Ceremonies
Two rooms are licensed for civil ceremonies. The Red Drawing Room is on the ground floor, seats up to 44 including the couple and has a private entrance from the Regency Garden. It is available by day and evening. The Music Room seats up to 90 including the couple, is lit by nine lotus-shaped chandeliers and is used in the evening after the palace closes to the public. Brighton and Hove Registrars conduct all ceremonies, and their fee is paid to them separately.
Receptions and food
The William IV Room seats up to 60 for a wedding breakfast and has a private entrance from the garden. The Banqueting Room seats up to 90 in the evening. Standing drinks receptions can use the King Lawn and the Adelaide Suite terrace. Catering comes from the approved caterers, and you cannot bring your own. The palace is not suitable for parties, so live bands, DJs and dancing are not permitted there. Brighton Museum has a central gallery that does allow them.
Getting there and the area
The Pavilion sits next to the Lanes and the Dome concert hall, a short walk from Brighton station and the seafront. The gardens, with the east lawn and the private King Lawn, have covered terraces for group photographs if it rains. Guest parking is not available on the estate. The nearest car parks are Church Street and The Lanes, and one car can park for the ceremony.
Good to know
- Confetti of any kind is not permitted.
- Alcohol cannot be drunk in the gardens.
- A ceremony lasts about 20 to 30 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
How many guests fit in the ceremony rooms?
The Red Drawing Room seats up to 44 including the couple, and the Music Room seats up to 90.
Can we dance at the Royal Pavilion?
No. Live bands, DJs and dancing are not permitted in the palace, though they are allowed in the central gallery at Brighton Museum.
Can we bring our own caterer?
No. You choose from the venue preferred local suppliers.
See Royal Pavilion Brighton for yourselves
Ask about dates, a show-round or the rooms. Your message goes straight to the venue.