The Royal Pavilion has a new reason to draw you inside this spring — and it comes with a glass of Champagne.
Running from 27 April to 27 July 2026, the Royal Dragons Experience Brighton 2026 is a collaboration between Brighton & Hove Museums and The Ivy Asia Brighton that bridges exhibition and dining in a way that feels properly composed rather than thrown together for the season. The Royal Pavilion and The Ivy Asia have partnered over a shared affinity for dragons, and the result is a package that runs all the way through summer, with proceeds supporting the historic palace.
From Monday until 27 July the offer includes entry to the Pavilion and its Royal Dragons exhibition alongside a two-course meal accompanied by a glass of bubbles at the Ivy Asia.
Dragons exhibition
At the Royal Pavilion, the Dragons exhibition is quietly immersive rather than overwhelming. The interiors already carry a sense of theatre — and the dragon theme sits naturally within that space rather than being imposed on it. There’s a moment, moving through the rooms, where the exhibition shifts from something you look at to something you begin to feel. Light, detail, symbolism — it builds gradually.
The transition to The Ivy Asia Brighton is equally considered. A short walk, a change of atmosphere — heritage giving way to high-gloss — but the narrative holds. Inside, the experience becomes more sensory. Lighting, music, presentation: everything leans into spectacle, but remains controlled. Nothing feels accidental.
It isn’t just dinner after an exhibition. It feels like a second act.
What Is the Royal Dragons Experience?
The Royal Dragons Experience Brighton begins at the Royal Pavilion, where visitors explore the Dragons exhibition — a celebration of mythology, symbolism and cultural storytelling.
The Pavilion’s Chinese-inspired interiors make it one of the most visually distinctive buildings in the UK — and the exhibition builds on that legacy, rather than competing with it. From fearsome beasts to dragons glimmering in gold, each piece reveals a story of artistry and the enduring human fascination with the extraordinary.
The experience then continues at The Ivy Asia Brighton, where guests enjoy a two-course set menu with Champagne — extending the theme into a more contemporary, theatrical setting.
The Menu
The menu reflects the fire and intensity of the dragon — bold, imaginative flavours designed to continue the journey from the Pavilion to the plate:
• Pork and kimchi gyoza
• Gochujang-glazed chicken
• Keralan chickpea and aubergine curry
A Cultural Partnership with Purpose
At the centre of the experience is a meaningful contribution. For every ticket sold, The Ivy Asia Brighton donates directly to Brighton & Hove Museums — supporting the preservation of the city’s cultural heritage for future generations.
• £10 per adult ticket
• £5 per child ticket
In a city built on culture, this adds real weight to the experience — positioning it not just as entertainment, but as support for Brighton’s cultural future.
Why It Works
Brighton does this kind of collaboration well.
Culture and hospitality are not separated here — they overlap.
The Royal Pavilion represents history, identity, architecture. The Ivy Asia represents performance, atmosphere, contemporary design. Together, they create something that feels complete.
Not just exhibition. Not just dining. But something carefully in between.
Tickets and What’s Included
£58 per adult (usually £78.50)
£36.50 per child (usually £40.40)
Each ticket includes:
• Annual pass to the Royal Pavilion
• Admission to the Dragons exhibition
• Two-course Royal Dragons set menu at The Ivy Asia Brighton
• A glass of Champagne (or children’s menu)
How to Book
→ brightonmuseums.org.uk/dragons-at-the-royal-pavilion/royal-dragons-experience/
Practical Information
Royal Pavilion
📍 4/5 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton BN1 1EE
The Ivy Asia Brighton
📍 Ship Street, Brighton
📅 27 April — 27 July 2026
