BRIGHTON'S Royal Pavilion has opened its doors for the first time this year.
The Royal Pavilion is one of the attractions that has reopened for visitors after further loosening of Covid-19 restrictions and staff are overjoyed.
Michael Bedingfield, chairman of the Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust, said: "It is a pretty big day and we have been waiting for it for a long time.
"What is really important about opening this time is that we are opening during peak season, we are expecting a lot of visitors.
"Walking through the doors will be huge, not only for our members, patrons and visitors but also for the team that are back today."
The Royal Pavilion has only been open for two weeks over the last year. The only way people have been able to enjoy the Pavilion is from home with virtual tours.
Chief executive Hedley Swain said: "It has been an incredibly difficult year financially as an organisation, we know we won't get the numbers from before, so there is a real call to arms to everyone in Sussex who has not been in a while to come and visit.
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"There been very few plus points during the last year, I have found it incredibly miserable, but in a way, it has made us remember how important visitors are. For all of us here, the thing that bring this place to life is having visitors here.
"Especially as it will be the best time to come, everything is in great condition and with the lesser numbers, it will feel like a private tour.
Visitors will be able to view the banquet rooms and royal bedrooms from the reopening, including Queen Victoria's personal toilet.
Cleaning will take place daily to help stop contamination, although as the Pavilion is a royal house the majority of items cannot be touched anyway.
Tickets can be booked online for £16 per adult, although there are still spaces for walk-ins on the day without a booking.
The Pavilion is one of Brighton's most well-known landmarks. It was once home to King George IV and its architecture took inspiration from India and China.
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