A customer since the year 2001, Reg is most certainly a regular to the cafe. Visiting us around two, or three times a day he enjoys sitting outside with a coffee and rock cafe whilst meeting friends, and talking with new people.
Through being a member of 'Brighton Friends', Reg enjoys supporting and attending various concerts in Brighton. With this passion for music, Reg is also a great fan of the Sunday Concerts that take place on the grass outside the Cafe in the summer, as well as the musicians such as Sam the Opera singing lady, and Micheal the guitarist who are also regular performers. When hearing Sam sing 'The Dutch Song' Reg is emotionally transported to a Cafe in Aachen, Germany (Just above the German border) . This Cafe, also situated outside, reminds him very much of the Pavilion Gardens Cafe due to the beautifully kept gardens, and lovely coffees and homemade cakes!
Reg thoroughly enjoys coming to the cafe everyday as he says that it holds a very happy atmosphere, with some very talented performers. He also described the Cafe as an 'Oasis', and without it the Pavilion gardens would be lost.
Showing posts with label Personal Story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Personal Story. Show all posts
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Royal Stories from Ray
Ray, 81, has been working around the Pavilion area for over 20 years and in this time has witnessed many changes; along with meeting pretty much all of the Royal Family. Having been a 'gate man' for years, Ray was able to recall numerous experiences...
For example when Lord Snowdon, married to Princess Margret at the time, turned up in his Volvo estate ready for a photography exhibition at the Dome. Due to not being previously warned, and the Prince not having not been escorted, Ray, surprised to suddenly be faced with the Lord, and had to soon apologise for refusing his entry through the gates when believing it a joke!
Another scenario revolving around the lack of police escort, was when Prince Edward was joined by John Cleese and other actors for the premiere of 'A Fish Called Wanda' at the old cinema in East Street. With a reception being held at The Pavilion the cars were to be parked in the grounds - warned of this and left alone, told to only open the gates when the police escort arrived, you can image the surprise that Ray had when a horn beeped, and the drivers side window slowly rolled down to reveal Prince Edward, having driven himself, sitting patiently, awaiting the opening of the gates!
Another encounter with the Royal Family was with the recent visit to The Royal Pavilion from the Queen when granting Brighton and Hove city status. Having been left on the door of the drawing room, Ray, having caught the sight of a stunning diamond broach ventured across the room to get a closer look. As he lent in to examine the gorgeous flower shaped broach Ray was taken aback by the large police woman behind him saying 'You can look but you can't touch'. He soon realised that the coat, proudly fashioning the broach, was in fact owned by the Queen herself!
For example when Lord Snowdon, married to Princess Margret at the time, turned up in his Volvo estate ready for a photography exhibition at the Dome. Due to not being previously warned, and the Prince not having not been escorted, Ray, surprised to suddenly be faced with the Lord, and had to soon apologise for refusing his entry through the gates when believing it a joke!
Another scenario revolving around the lack of police escort, was when Prince Edward was joined by John Cleese and other actors for the premiere of 'A Fish Called Wanda' at the old cinema in East Street. With a reception being held at The Pavilion the cars were to be parked in the grounds - warned of this and left alone, told to only open the gates when the police escort arrived, you can image the surprise that Ray had when a horn beeped, and the drivers side window slowly rolled down to reveal Prince Edward, having driven himself, sitting patiently, awaiting the opening of the gates!
Another encounter with the Royal Family was with the recent visit to The Royal Pavilion from the Queen when granting Brighton and Hove city status. Having been left on the door of the drawing room, Ray, having caught the sight of a stunning diamond broach ventured across the room to get a closer look. As he lent in to examine the gorgeous flower shaped broach Ray was taken aback by the large police woman behind him saying 'You can look but you can't touch'. He soon realised that the coat, proudly fashioning the broach, was in fact owned by the Queen herself!
The centre of the world
We have been living in Brighton for going on 8 years and have never found the centre. However the one place that feels like the centre of the world must surely be the Pavilion Gardens Cafe. It is the place to enjoy tea, to meet people, to read, to listen to music which is sometimes good and generally pass a very agreeable few hours. And theres the Pavilion itself to look at when its not covered in scaffolding.
Harvey
Harvey
Abba at the Brighton Dome
I remember Abba arriving for the Eurovision Song Contest in a old van. Following their triumph with Waterloo they left the Dome in a Rolls Royce, headed for London.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Douglas Sewell
The rest, as they say, is history.
Douglas Sewell
Royal Pavilion History
The Royal Pavilion has survived to tell the tale after experiencing many storms, arson, and of course the World War 2 where it became the home of many injured soldiers.
In 1975 The Pavilion became engulfed in flames after several students throwing a fire bomb into the building. After 11 years of restoration the music room became open to the public again in 1986. However only one year on, the great storms of October 1987 caused a stone ball from one of the minarets to dislodge, and fall not only through the newly built ceiling, but onto the newly -laid hand woven carpet also.
from Ray
In 1975 The Pavilion became engulfed in flames after several students throwing a fire bomb into the building. After 11 years of restoration the music room became open to the public again in 1986. However only one year on, the great storms of October 1987 caused a stone ball from one of the minarets to dislodge, and fall not only through the newly built ceiling, but onto the newly -laid hand woven carpet also.
from Ray
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