The arrival of the railway in 1841 added to the numbers of visitors arriving in the town. One such individual was Sake Dean Mahomed – an Indian traveller, surgeon and entrepreneur who was one of the most notable early non-European immigrants to the Western World. He opened Vapour Baths on the site where the Queen’s Hotel currently stands.

In the Sake’s time even the more sophisticated homes did not generally contain rooms specifically for washing; as a consequence, the more affluent visitors to Brighton were introduced to the practice of shampooing via the Vapour Baths. The Indian Medicated Vapour Bath, according to Mahomed, was a cure to many diseases and giving full relief when everything fails; particularly rheumatic and paralytic gout, stiff joints, old sprains, lame legs, aches and pains in the joints.

The Vapour Baths became very successful and Sake Dean Mahomed was appointed as a shampooing surgeon to King George IV. George was so convinced by the benefits of bathing that he installed vapour and seawater baths in the Royal Pavilion. Having patronage from the King assisted Sake Dean Mahomed in gaining a reputation in Brighton, attracting an important clientèle that ensured prosperity not only for himself, but also for others involved in the bathing industry.

Continue West along Kings Road to the Old Ship Hotel. Using the pedestrian crossing at the traffic lights, cross over to the promenade and go down the ramp to the lower level. Stop at 191/193 Kings Road Arches (now The Arch night-club).