BRIGHTON’S most celebrated resident was famed for his luxurious parties, gaining a reputation for excess and lavish spending.

Perhaps unsurprisingly King George IV, or Prinny as he was known to his friends, has been the inspiration for the revamped Regency Room at one of Hove’s most celebrated dining spots.

Graze has revamped their private dining space in his honour, which also provides extra seating in their ever-popular seven-year-old restaurant.

The walls are dominated with a large portrait of the former Prince Regent himself, as well as examples of the sort of chinoiserie he used to decorate his pleasure palace The Royal Pavilion.

The various objects were collected and mounted by joint owner Neil “Manni” Mannifield from antique fairs and eBay over the past few months, putting his fine art degree to good use and creating a decadent atmosphere.

The decor also includes a series of anthropomorphic animals on one wall, which have inspired a brand new signature cocktail menu.

Among the new creations are the Cornelius (after the Planet Of The Apes hero) featuring Tuaca, Angostura, brown sugar, orange zest and champagne, and the Pink Regent, using Sussex-brewed Blackdown gin, cassis, sugar and lime.

“There aren’t that many private dining rooms in Brighton,” says Kate Alleston, who opened Graze with business partner Mannifield back in 2006.

“We can host small parties of up to 24 people and have regular groups like the POETS Club [who aren’t renowned for their verse].”

It is the returning regulars Alleston believes are responsible for Graze’s ongoing success during difficult times across Brighton and Hove.

“We have so many regulars who know that whenever they come they will be able to choose between our à la carte menu and our tasting menu with matched wines,” she says.

“We keep it interesting rather than serving the same old thing all the time. People always have something to talk about.”

Allied to that is the arrival of a new head chef, Adrian Hawkins, who previously worked at Graze as sous chef before travelling around Europe for 18 months.

He is tasked with keeping both menus fresh, with new seasonal dishes.

“He’s the best head chef we’ve ever had,” says Alleston. “He covers all the bases, from being a great chef to the management of the team. I can’t imagine a better guy to work with.

“When he starts on a new dish he will try three or four different suppliers to get the best ingredients.

“We have four really good chefs at the moment who are all young, enthusiastic and creative – just at the right point in their careers.”

The trio of Alleston, Manni and Hawkins have made Graze into a destination restaurant, with the tasting menu proving ever more popular.

“We get lots of special occasions,” says Alleston, who was responsible for matching the wines with Hawkins’s food.

“Lots of people have heard about the tasting menu – last Friday we had ten tables trying it.”

“Our customers have become more educated about food these days,” adds Manni.

“People are going out and trying interesting food. We’ve just had the best six months in the seven years since we opened.”

Alleston puts it down to the rise of popular TV programmes such as Masterchef and the Great British Menu.

“There’s no one we like more than people who like their food,” she says. “We want to keep building on what we are doing.”

There are plans to revamp the main dining room in the New Year following the Regency Room’s refurb.

But before then there’s Christmas and New Year to get out of the way and Graze is offering a series of options for seasonal parties.

There are silver, gold and platinum options for Christmas parties, which start at £30 for a three-course meal to £85 for a seven-course tasting menu with matching wines.

“For New Year’s Eve we are running a decadent tasting menu, with a vegetarian option, and inviting people to spend the full evening with us,” says Alleston.

“Our Christmas Day menu has seven courses at £100 – we started taking bookings in July!”

Graze is open: Monday to Saturday noon to 2pm and 6.30pm to 9.30pm, Sunday 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Visit www.graze-restaurant.co.uk