Work to restore the historic garden due to start on site in November
Brighton & Hove Museums & Brighton & Hove City Council have secured more than £1.4 million in additional funding for the Royal Pavilion Garden Restoration Project, A Garden Fit for a King, with £976,231 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and £500,000 from Historic England, announced today.
The additional funding will help Brighton & Hove Museums and Brighton & Hove City Council deliver the project as originally planned, following significant increases in the cost of construction, materials and labour since the original National Lottery Heritage Fund award was made in January 2024.
The overall value of the project is more than £8 million, with significant investment supporting local community engagement, public events and improved interpretation for visitors, alongside the capital works to restore and enhance the garden.
The final plans and budget will be discussed by Brighton & Hove City Council’s Cabinet next week. Subject to approval, the main capital works are expected to begin in November 2026, marking the next major stage in the transformation and long-term protection of the Grade II listed garden.
The capital works will include restoring the garden’s historic Regency layout and planting, improving paths and entrances, introducing new interpretation, enhancing biodiversity and upgrading lighting and security. The project will also improve accessibility and create a safer, more welcoming environment for everyone using the garden.
The Royal Pavilion Garden restoration formally commenced in early 2025, with a programme of community engagement and activities in the historic grounds, the establishment of a dedicated project team, key fundraising initiatives and vital research into the estate.
Hedley Swain, Chief Executive of Brighton & Hove Museums, said:
“We are delighted to have secured this additional investment from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England for the Royal Pavilion Garden restoration.
“This is a hugely important project for Brighton & Hove, and this investment gives us the confidence to move forward with the full ambition of the scheme and ensure that this nationally significant garden is properly protected for future generations.
“Like many major capital projects, the costs of construction, materials and labour have increased significantly since the original funding was awarded in 2024. This additional investment recognises those pressures and means we can continue with the project as planned, delivering the quality and ambition that this extraordinary garden deserves.
“We have already made great progress, working with communities and partners to develop the project, and we are now looking forward to seeing the capital works get underway. We are hugely grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, Brighton & Hove Council and everyone who has supported the project so far. This is a really exciting moment for the Royal Pavilion Garden and for the city.”
Councillor David McGregor, Cabinet member for Economy, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, said:
“Only a handful of cities can claim a royal palace, and Brighton & Hove is fortunate to have the Royal Pavilion and its beautiful garden right in the centre of our city.
“This significant extra funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside the continued support of Historic England, is fantastic news and brings us closer to securing the long-term future of one of the country’s most important heritage sites.
“The project will restore the gardens to their royal standard, and create a safer, more accessible and welcoming space, truly fit for every resident in our city.”
The Royal Pavilion Garden was added to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register in 2017. The groundbreaking project will restore the historic landscape, improve accessibility, protect and enhance biodiversity and create new opportunities for learning, interpretation and community engagement. The long-term ambition is to remove the garden from the Heritage at Risk Register and ensure it continues to thrive as a much-loved green space at the heart of Brighton.
The A Garden Fit for a King project is being led by Brighton & Hove Museums, with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, Brighton & Hove City Council, the Wolfson Foundation and other charitable trusts, foundations, local donors and community supporters. The overall value of the project is more than £8 million.
In addition to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England and Brighton & Hove City Council, the project has also been generously funded by Garfield Weston Foundation, Wolfson Foundation and a collection of other supporters. The remaining funding will be raised over the next year.
