Latest news with #RoyalPavilion
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
British beach with 'legendary' seaside charm is 'one of world's best'
Brighton Beach has been a firm favourite with Brits looking for classic sea, sun and sand, thanks to its bustling pier, long promenade and easy access to restaurants, bars and shops The UK is brimming with stunning beaches that could give the Caribbean a run for its money, but one seaside gem stands out not only for its natural beauty but also for its wealth of attractions and cultural offerings, making it an ideal spot for Brits planning a staycation. Brighton Beach has long been a favourite among Brits seeking the classic combination of sea, sun and sand, thanks to its lively pier, extensive promenade, ample beach space and the convenience of having restaurants, bars and shops just a stone's throw away. The city itself boasts a plethora of must-visit spots including the magnificent Royal Pavilion, the Lanes where you'll discover unique boutiques and bars, and family-friendly locations like SEA Life Brighton. The beach is popular with both locals and tourists, lined with cafes, fish and chip shops and ice cream parlours. Plus, you can hire loungers to bask in the sunshine or take a dip in the swim-friendly waters. It's so picturesque that it's been bestowed with a 'Golden Beach Award' by the folks at BeachAtlas, although it's worth mentioning that the main beach is pebbled, not sandy. The team's rankings are based not just on a beach's beauty but a number of factors including the local community, lifestyle offerings and cultural significance. The team shared: "Brighton Beach, a picturesque five-kilometre stretch along England's southern coast, offers breathtaking views of the English Channel and is a cultural symbol of the UK. Nestled on Brighton's lively seafront, this beach is a famed retreat for Londoners in search of a seaside break. Furthermore, Brighton is renowned for its inclusive and diverse community, notably housing one of the largest LGBT communities in the UK. Frequently dubbed as the "gay capital" of the country, Brighton's rich LGBT history dates back to the early 19th century, contributing to the city's reputation as a welcoming and progressive seaside resort." On Tripadvisor, some visitors have cautioned that due to the beach's popularity, it can become quite packed on sunny days, and seaweed can be a problem in the waters during spring. However, generally, holidaymakers have been left awestruck by the iconic coastal spot. One satisfied holidaymaker wrote: "Lovely walk along the beach. There are pebbles and stones, no sand. Nice and clean. Some shops along the actual seafront too which is nice. One of my favourite UK beaches." Another person commented: "It's a lovely walk along the beach and the board walk. However, the fantastic Victorian benches, shelters and the mid level walk all look very run down and decrepit - which is a shame. "It's fun to walk to black rock and the marina and then walk back on the top road and admire the magnificent houses. You can do all of this with a dog but please note the pier does not allow dogs.."
Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
UK seaside city with huge 1.3-mile pier ranked the best in the entire country
Southend boasts the longest pleasure pier on the planet, which also holds the world record for having the longest railway on a public pier, according to the Guinness Book of Records Southend-on-Sea is a vibrant waterfront destination on the Essex coast boasting a world-famous pier that was recently voted the best in Britain in a study carried out by the Telegraph. Located in the gaping mouth of the Thames Estuary, Southend isn't technically a seaside destination, but undoubtedly offers the full British seafront experience and atmosphere, complete with a bustling promenade, Blue Flag Award -winning beach — guaranteeing clean, safe and beautiful surroundings — and a lively city centre. Its easy access from London makes it a popular getaway for families, couples and day-trippers alike. Beyond the beach, Southend boasts a variety of attractions, from amusement arcades and adventure parks to historic hotels and cultural venues. But above all, it is the pier that defines Southend's identity and draws visitors from around the globe. Opened in 1830 and rebuilt in iron in 1889, Southend Pier is not just the longest pier in the UK, it's the longest pleasure pier in the world, stretching an astonishing 1.33 miles (2.14 km) into the Thames Estuary. As poet Sir John Betjeman famously put it: 'The Pier is Southend; Southend is the Pier.' The pier is so long that it has its own railway — the first built on a pier in the UK — offering a charming and practical way to reach its head. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it holds the world record for the longest railway on a public pier. At the pier's end, the striking Royal Pavilion hosts live performances, exhibitions and community events. Visitors can enjoy refreshments in quirky beach huts or at the café, all the while taking in panoramic estuary views. For those interested in history, the Pier Museum offers fascinating exhibits on its construction, railway and role in local life. There's a fairground featuring a ferris wheel, wacky walk of mirrors and crazy golf course, meaning there's a wide range of entertainment for people of all ages. Anglers will find the pier a hotspot for fishing, with flounder, bass and mackerel among the common catches. Southend Pier has twice been named Pier of the Year by the National Piers Society, first in 2007 and then in 2023. Recent investments include new eco-friendly trains, upgraded facilities and creative use of historic train carriages as seating, all contributing to record visitor numbers and glowing reviews. In short, Southend Pier offers an experience you simply cannot find anywhere else in the world, never mind the country. Whether you're walking further out into the water than you can anyplace else on the planet, riding on the iconic train, enjoying a show at the Royal Pavilion, or just soaking up the sea air, Southend Pier is without doubt the definitive British pier.
Forbes
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
A Kaleidoscope At The Royal Pavilion: Colours Exhibition Dazzles Brighton
'Colour' Exhibition at Royal Pavilion Brighton. Image Courtesy of Royal Pavilion Brighton. COLOUR: A Chromatic Promenade through the Royal Pavilion is a thoughtfully curated exhibition that subtly weaves contemporary art, installation and items of historical interest relating to colour theory into the interior design of Brighton's iconic early 19th Century Royal Pavilion. The unique exhibition curated by the Royal Pavilion's curator– Colour historian Alexandra Loske–responds to the bold interiors decorated in a rainbow of colours which fill the former Brighton palace of King George IV. The Royal Pavilion was designed by architect John Nash for King George IV in the early 1800s. Nash fused elements of Indian and Chinese architecture with lavish interiors in response to the flamboyant King's love of opulence. This unique exhibition is curated by Dr Alexandra Loske–Curator of the Royal Pavilion and an art historian specialising in the history of colour in Western art, print and architecture. Dr Alexandra Loske–Curator of the Royal Pavilion and an art historian. Image Courtesy of Royal Pavilion Brighton During the era of the former Prince Regent, colour was used as a status symbol and the decadent colour scheme employed by his interior designers– from opulent gold and aristocratic purple–was a status symbol used by the aristocracy to signify wealth and good taste. Colour was also used in the Royal Pavilion's interiors to elevate or quieten the mood, for example bright canary yellow in the drawing room or calming sage green in the king's bedroom. Curator Alexandra Locke told me: 'The building speaks for itself and is full of colour. So we just want people to slowly get a sense of what colour meant (at the time) and how hard it was to make it, to source it and how expensive it was. Most people couldn't afford these colours or afford to paint a wall deep blue or deep red, but George did. Most people had common colours in their rooms. Common colours were predominantly chalk based or ochre earth pigments, which were relatively cheap. Whereas If you wanted a really strong yellow or red, you had to have the money to buy the pure pigment, which is called 'higher saturation'. And that's what it says in the (Royal Pavilion) account books: 'Chinese Vermillion, chrome yellows and other expensive colours'.' 'Colour' Exhibition at Royal Pavilion Brighton. Image Courtesy of Royal Pavilion Brighton During the Regency period–as far as monied Royalty and aristocracy were concerned–colour wasn't just seen, it was felt–and this feeling of sensory immersion is achieved in the Colour exhibition which incorporates installations, neon art, costume, sound and light. Fittingly, the exhibition opened on International Colour Day–21st March–and Loske's curation reflects her extensive knowledge of colour and how its application to interiors impacts on the senses. With COLOUR: A Chromatic Promenade, Loske has conceived a multi-sensory exploration of how colour shaped the aesthetics and interiors of the Regency era. Loske's curatorial vision is deeply rooted in scholarship, and she completed a PhD at the University of Sussex, which involved a deep dive into the Royal Pavilion's use of bold, saturated colours—such as the peach blossom hues of the Long Gallery and the rich blues and reds of the Music and Banqueting Rooms. King George IV's bold use of colour when the Royal Pavilion was constructed in the 1820s, was a radical departure from the restrained palettes of contemporary neoclassical architecture. Loske gave me a personal tour of the COLOUR exhibition, providing insights into the curation and juxtaposition of contemporary art with historical pieces. She explained to me how the curated spaces invite visitors to reflection on the use of colour to elicit an emotional response and create a captivating atmosphere. Her curation offers both a scholarly and an accessible take on colour and its impact on the Royal Pavilion and on our mood. A Sensory Journey Through Colour Visitors to Colours can embark on a sensory journey through rooms saturated with by all shades of the rainbow. Various interventions are stage throughout the exhibition, with highlights including a specially commissioned installation–Pathways of Joy by Lois O'Hara–acting as a kind of yellow brick road in a rainbow palette which leads visitors to the entrance. In the lobby visitors are greeted by an Orange painted model of the Royal Pavilion and an Yves Klein blue bust. Flower sculpture by Karen Hsu in 'Colour' at Royal Pavilion Brighton. Courtesy of Royal Pavilion Brighton. Inside the Pavilion unmissable artworks include an iridescent 'Bird of Paradise' sculpture by Zack McLaughlin, a three-dimensional, multi-coloured paper flower sculpture by Karen Hsu and a bespoke golden dragon hat created by celebrated milliner Stephen Jones in response to the opulent gold and red interiors of the Red Drawing room. Stephen Jones Sculpture in 'Colour' Exhibition at Royal Pavilion Brighton. Image Courtesy of Royal Pavilion Brighton Loske talks about King George IV's love of gold: '(King) George loved gilding things. We have a complete set of the Coronation medals including the gold one. And here is an example of a piece of ornament from the banqueting room where you have a carmine beetle red.' Colour exhibition at Royal Pavilion Brighton. Image Couresty of Royal Pavilion Brighton. The exhibition's piece de resistance dominates the exquisite Banqueting Room, transformed into a Feast of Colour with a multi-coloured fantasy State banquet comprising jars of colour pigment juxtaposed with towering trifles, joyful jellies and specially designed plates based on historic colour theory books. Overall the effect is of a Regency-style Mad Hatter's tea party. Some of the paint pigments–such as Lapuz Lazuli–are as valuable as gold and are on loan from the curator's personal collection. Colour exhibition at Royal Pavilion Brighton. Courtesy of Royal Pavilion Brighton. A display case in the exhibition is dedicated to original late 18th to mid-19th Century hand-coloured Treatise on colour by George Field–whose pigments and book 'Chromatography for Artists' were popular with the Pre-Raphaelite painters–and Mary Gartside, the first woman to publish a book on colour theory. Loske explains that the Gartside book is one of the most important historical objects in the exhibition: 'Gartside's books were in the library of George IV's sisters and mother, so we know she was read by the Royal Family. She was a flower painter and in 1805 she came up with this book on colour, and in the second edition she called it a Colour Theory. It's one of the rarest books on colour in book history.' Another historically important object in the exhibition is a priceless yellow Chinese porcelain vase from the Royal Pavilion's own collection, which is displayed in a room dedicated to the vivid yellows featured in the Pavilion's interiors. Loske says: ''I think people interested in ceramics will absolutely love this. It's so very special.' The Pavilion's collection includes rare Chinese porcelain pagodas–made circa 1800 in Jingdezhen, China during the Qing dynasty. 'Colour' Exhibition at Royal Pavilion Brighton. Courtesy of Royal Pavilion Brighton. Interactive Experiences and Events COLOUR offers a range of interactive experiences for visitors of all ages. The Great Kitchen has been transformed into an engaging space where children can explore colour through playful activities. Additionally, the exhibition features a dynamic programme of events, including guided colour tours, hands-on workshops and interactive experiences. Brighton & Hove Museums have programmed an eclectic series of educational and recreational events including an interactive play area for children in the Great Kitchen and concerts inspired by synaesthesia in the Music Room, which features a specially commissioned soundscape. Loske gives a bit of insight into what to expect from the concert series: 'We're going to bring the King's piano back in here and put on concerts where we play music of the period and also talk about synaesthesia. There's been a long tradition of somehow seeing a correlation between music and colour. Artists like Whistler called all their paintings 'Symphonies' or 'Harmonies' of colour.' A symphony of colour is a great way to describe this unmissable, uplifting exhibition. COLOUR: A Chromatic Promenade through the Royal Pavilion is at Brighton Royal Pavilion until 19th October, 2025.
BBC News
18-04-2025
- Science
- BBC News
The Cambridgeshire Fens and the flat Earth conspiracy
Conspiracy theories might feel like a modern phenomenon, but one has its roots in the flat landscape of the Cambridgeshire Fens and dates back nearly 200 years. Camay Chapman-Cameron, who lives in March, has been exploring how Fenland was for many years the centre of a series of experiments to prove the Earth was local historian came across the story of Samuel Rowbotham, a 'flat-earther' who was desperate to disprove the ancient knowledge our planet is a globe. "He was what we would call today a conspiracy theorist," says Ms Chapman-Cameron, a volunteer at March and District Museum. The rise of flat Earth belief began with American author Washington Irving in his 1828 biography of Christopher Columbus."In it he declared that, as a man of his time, Christopher Columbus and his contemporaries believed the Earth was flat, which led to his navigation errors, and the fear of his crew that they would sail off the edge," said Ms Chapman-Cameron."This is completely false. Columbus's errors were to do with miscalculating distances, and no one knew better than a sailor the Earth was a globe."While there had been belief in the flat Earth among the peoples of ancient India, China and Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq), this had largely been overturned from 5th Century BC. More recently, physicist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) was the first to suggest it was not perfectly round but an oblate Mr Rowbotham was attempting to do was overturn at least 2,500 years of acceptance the world we inhabit is a globe. The Manchester-born man had studied the Bible intensely as a child and was part of a devout movement of people who shared the view "any interaction between religion and science will lead to hostilities", said Ms Chapman-Cameron, who previously worked at Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum, Brighton's Royal Pavilion and Bath's Roman Baths."Rowbotham hated the discoveries of Newton and wanted to destroy his legacy, so he thought the way to do this was to come to the Old Bedford River - a six-mile stretch of completely straight, flat water in the Fens and conduct an experiment," she enable this, he joined a socialist farming collective called the Manea Colony, near Ely. "Rowbotham sent a boat along the length of the river with a flag on a mast and assumed that if he could see it through his telescope along its entire journey to Welney in Norfolk, it would prove the world was flat," she said. He declared he was able to see it all the way to Welney Bridge, six miles away (9.7km), and to him this proved his theory. Mr Rowbotham repeated the attempt five times in the next 30 years, at the same spot, with the same method and getting the same result, according to Ms Chapman-Cameron's research into the Bedford Level Experiments. He was also a brilliant orator and toured the country giving lectures on his findings, even publishing a book 'Earth not a Globe' in 1865."In 1861, Samuel married a 15-year-old and had 15 children with her, so his flat Earth work took a back seat," she Hampden (1819-1891) took up the baton, having Rowbotham's was "captivated, convinced, and rushed headlong into the flat Earth fray," said Ms Chapman-Cameron. The son of a clergyman, Mr Hampden "was very much engaged with what he considered to be attacks on God by the scientific community", she said."Hampden realised that Rowbotham's 'proof' had been completely ignored by the scientific community, and was sinking into obscurity."As a result, he offered £500 to anyone who could prove Mr Rowbotham's flat Earth theory advertisement was spotted by the eminent naturalist and geographer Alfred Russel Wallace (1823 to 1913) and on 5 March 1870, the pair met at the Old Bedford River. With them were two referees and "a circus of the curious and the credulous". Mr Wallace, using the laws of refraction, was able to prove the Earth did have a curvature. Mr Hampden rejected this and refused to pay libel cases, periods in prison and death threats followed."In the end, Wallace never received a penny of the wager money, but was hounded by Hampden until the latter died in 1891," said Ms Lady Blount (1850 to 1835), was the next to energetically support the flat Earth theory, although she was mostly met by has since found some traction in the United States, where proponents use an ancient Jewish text, the Book of Enoch, to justify their belief. "They seem to me to share the same towering self-righteous rage as Samuel Rowbotham and John Hampden," she said. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
