In the mid 18th century the Brighton hotel industry rapidly expanded as the magical charm grew around the supposed therapeutic properties of the sea. Sussex doctors recommended the seawater not only for bathing, but also for drinking. It was held  that the local seawater was especially beneficial in the treatment of glandular diseases.

It was the advent of Royal Patronage that gave status to the City and fostered the growing popularity of the area as a resort. A young Prince Regent, later to become King George IV, kept a holiday home at Brighton in the late 18th century. His affection for, and enjoyment of, Brighton extended over some forty years. It was also at this time that the stylish Regency Terraces were being built. Regency Square and the Kemp Town have fine examples of this style of architecture which are well preserved. The standing of Brighton had become established as a premier seaside resort which was frequented by the gentry and high society.

Today the generous architectural heritage, combined with modern attractions and facilities, make Brighton a popular seaside destination. The most noted legacy of the forty-year afffiliation between King George IV and the town is the the splendid Royal Pavilion. This transformational period also saw a marked change of name with the disappearance of the long-serving  ‘ Brighthelmstone’ and the evolution of the name with which we are now familiar, ‘ Brighton’.