Seven friends meet regularly to catch up. We arranged afternoon tea. Good value for money and lovely food. Service was great and staff were attentive to top up tea and coffee. I can’t have raisins or sultanas and there was no option to have scones without those in them unless I had a gluten free scone. However, they happily changed the scone and this was not too bad - maybe think about having an alternative option?
Very clean, restaurant and toilets. Relaxed lovely afternoon and would definitely recommend and return.

We were pleasantly surprised to be told we'd been upgraded at check-in.

Had Suite 110. Well laid-out, appointed room. Plenty of storage. Windows that opened fully plus catches for ventilation.

Fan provided too. Proved very useful as it was very warm for our stay yet windy which meant we shut them overnight to stop them and the interior doors banging shut on 2 nights.

Breakfasts were scrummy and staff polite and efficient although my seat on 1 morning did have crumbs on it which I brushed off.

Fridge most welcome with the heat. Liked the coffee machine. Decaff pods would be welcomed.

Observation - assistance handle in bath is too far forward and when using it, I knocked the shower screen against the sink.

Unfortunately you can't control people thoughtlessly being heavy-footed; only on the Sunday night thankfully.

We enjoyed our stay. It is a great location with parking.

We had a suite (room 110) This is a lovely room, but very modern decor which feels odd in such a grand Victorian place. You can hear people next door, and walking around above. There is a fresh coffee machine - but no decaf pods for it which was disappointing. We had our windows open at all times, and there was loud noise from people on the terraces below. So not a peaceful room! Later, there was much cawing of seagulls all night, which was cute at first, and a bit annoying too! The gardener began strumming and mowing at 7.30am which was really crazy and very annoying indeed. Not a great nights sleep unfortunately.
The food here at Breakfast and at Dinner is amazing. Beautifully presented and piping hot plates. Decent portions of imaginative food on a good menu with many choices, changed daily. The waiters are efficient and so polite. The staff here are a credit - really highly trained and try very hard to please. So nice and friendly. The Reception staff that we dealt with were not so good. The young lady here was grumpy and sullen, and didn’t seem to enjoy her job.
The bedding and towels are superb quality. The rooms are spotlessly clean. The general decor everywhere is good and very clean in all places. The bed was super comfortable, and also the pillows, which we loved.
We did enjoy a swim in the outdoor pool. Being a hot day, it was quite well used and lots of families were there. The water was slightly cloudy which was a concern.
I’m not sure we would stay again. Probably, yes. The food is the best thing! Eastbourne town centre was sadly run down and in desperate need of re-generation. One paved street was entirely filled with charity shops. The large Debenhams store has closed down. The place felt sad.

A couple of weeks ago we stayed at the Hydro Hotel to enable us to celebrate, with relatives living in the area, our own Golden Wedding and the 90th. Birthday of my brother-in-law.
We can only say that the Hydro Hotel did us proud. On arrival we found that our booking had been upgraded to an excellent suite, and reception made us feel really welcome - as did all other staff - throughout our stay.
Our rooms were spotless and well serviced. The restaurant food was excellent, and the staff cheerful and communicative.
This hotel is really worth a stay! We shall, hopefully, be going back again.

From the location, the first class food, to the truly amazing staff, this hotel certainly pulled out all the stops for our wedding. Johnathan and his team ensured our day went smoothly. Every single one of our 70 guests said it was the best ever. Thank you Hydro hotel...you did us proud.

Spent 3 nights half board with a friend and my mother in law. We were in the accessible room as Mam is in a wheelchair. My friend had a lovely single room with a sea view! As we were there last week, it was very warm and, after one trip into town, we decided to stay around the hotel. The veranda gave us a a lovely view over garden and sea, with attentive service for drinks and the most delicious homemade ham and mushroom pizza! We have even come to terms with the quirky lift, which is a challenge for a wheelchair! I really enjoyed the time at the Hydro and have nothing but praise for the courtesy and helpfulness of every staff member. A great place to unwind from the current stresses in our lives.

Considering the surroundings and the three course meal, just over £20 is pretty good value for special lunch. Good for families, celebrations etc.
There are gardens that can be enjoyed on a nice day and a bar serving somewhat pricey drinks.

This was our first stay at the Hydro, although we know Eastbourne well having stayed at various hotels before. The Hydro is set on a cliff within a 10-15 minute walk of the town centre and a similar distance from the pier and it's attractions. There is a car park available although there seems to be plenty of free street parking available close by.

First impressions are good. We stayed on the first floor in a twin room. Room 215 or 218 - I can't recall which. The room was nice, spacious and clean, with a terrific view out to sea. Very informative booklet with a A to Z of likely questions to ask. WiFi was OK.

The breakfast was extensive. Cooked breakfast was hot and very well presented. Service at breakfast was good, although it was sometimes difficult to attract the waiters attention.

The general ambience of the hotel is nice, a little reminiscent of bygone times, but retaining a lot of style.

A fridge in the room was appreciated, especially with the warm weather.

A few niggles...

The booklet asked that guests wear "smart/casual" when dining in the Crystsl Restaurant. The term smart/casual can mean different things to different people - and this was clearly evident from the clothes people chose to wear at breakfast - from shorts and t-shirt through to jacket and tie. It would, in my view, be better if some clarity was given as to what was and wasn't permitted to be worn, rather than leave it to individual interpretation. Or ideally remove the term altogether.

Having the cooked breakfast and drinks served to your table clearly suits some people, although I'd prefer the buffet style available at other hotels. But I accept that this is a personal preference and that others may prefer to be waited on.

The bathroom was very small compared to the room size. An extra 6 to 9 inches in width would have made all the difference and would not have impacted on the spacious main room.

A wedding took place at the hotel and this did impact both in terms of the noise from the evening disco and also the following day when parts of the restaurant were not available to us in the conservatory restaurant.

Mobile phone coverage was patchy - with both 3 and O2. Not sure if was a temporary problem, or a known local issue. Either way, there is not much the hotel can do about that, but it is worth noting in case this is a known issue.

Overall, we were reasonably happy with our experience and would stay there again.

We have returned from taking a group of over 40 dancers on holiday at The Hydro for the 3rd consecutive year. From the manager to the porters, every single member of staff seems pre-programmed towards making your stay as comfortable and memorable as possible. In the modern era where costumer service seems to be missing or on the decline, it's the complete opposite at The Hydro. There are plenty of staff to look after you. We counted 14 at breakfast, which is served beautifully at your table, and all are smart and look happy in their work. And it's a positive sign that we recognised the majority of the staff from our previous visits. In a town like Eastbourne that must have more hotel and leisure jobs than any other, the staff at the Hydro choose to stay with The Hydro.
Evening meals are a delight to behold with quality,thought and passion shinning through on every plate.
Having visited a number of hotels throughout the UK, both for business and pleasure,The Hydro seems to relax you more, goes that extra mile to ensure that your stay is perfect and makes you want to return again and again.
As always, the ground were immaculate, the pool area clean and serviced well by the staff and the interior of the hotel leads it's class.
Jonathan and his team have to be commended on running a very fine establishment and we look forward to returning next year

We stayed a few days at this lovely hotel earlier in the summer. Our room was excellent with magnificent views over the glorious gardens and the coast. Food in the conservatory (including one afternoon tea) was really enjoyable - we didn't feel posh enough to dine in the Crystal Room but we did luxuriate in the fabulous breakfasts served there. Staff throughout the hotel were willing and able to help in any way, and the hotel's level of service was outstanding. Just one minor quibble: as a wheelchair user, it would have been nice to reach the garden independently, rather than rely on the brute strength of a member of staff. That aside, the Hydro offered us a faultless stay - and we're already planning to make a return visit.

Went to hydro from 16th to 20th July for line dancing. The hotel is in a lovely location. It has a lovely pool and gardens. The staff are very friendly and service excellent. Have been here for last couple of years and it never disappoints. Will be going back next year with my line dancing group. What a lovely ballroom and hotel.

Well, what an amazing place to stay. Every area of the hotel received a tick in the “excellent” box when we completed the customer satisfaction questionnaire. Our room (with a beautiful sea view) was exceptionally clean and very comfortable. There was bottled water in the fridge, and plenty of tea, coffee and biscuits for a cuppa in your room (all replaced daily).

The meals in the Crystal restaurant were delicious, as was the food in the lovely Conservatory (should you feel peckish between breakfast and dinner)! Afternoon tea looked amazing too, but we didn’t give in to temptation!

We travelled to The Hydro as part of a fairly large dance club trip, staying for 3 nights. One of the best mini breaks we have had, due to all of the above and the fact that all of the staff were very friendly, polite and helpful.

My hubby (a non-dancer) spent a great deal of time overseas for much of his working life and rates The Hydro in the top 10 hotels he has stayed in.

We will definitely be joining our dance group in 2020 on their annual trip to The Hydro.

My family have been coming to this hotel for years. Another wonderful stay ! The location is perfect together with a beautiful conservatory, fabulous gardens and pool area. All these overlooking the sea. Staff are helpful and polite and above all the hotel is clean, beautifully decorated, fantastic food and service. Thank you to the Manager Jonathan who has always been so helpful and kind to all of my family. My Mum and I look forward to returning again very soon !

The Hydro is a wonderful hotel. Oozing old fashioned charm.
It's worth a stay for the breakfast alone. I opt for full English which comes with fried bread! Heaven.
The rooms are well laid out and a good size. The beds are very comfortable and so are the pillows, so often neglected in hotels (Pillows).
The staff were exceptionally helpful and very friendly.
It was great being in the pool after a day at Hollywell, enjoying G&T by the pool.
Can't recoment it enough

Excellent service from very pleasant staff. Lovely location set in beautiful gardens with views to the Downs and sea.
Comfortable bed in scrupulously clean room. Good towels in bathroom. Water in fridge appreciated.
Dinner and breakfast in the restaurent were of high quality with attentive service.
There is a great ambience to the hotel,which is very relaxing.
We would have no hesitation in highly recommending this hotel Eileen K.

We were greeted by friendly and helpful reception staff. We managed to obtain a room upgrade and our very heavy luggage was carried by a polite and helpful porter.

The new room was magical and had wonderful sea views. We loved the room so much that we had a room service meal, which was excellent. The facilities provided by the hotel are very good and all the staff are friendly and helpful. We will certainly be returning in the not too distant future.

The service for a 90th Birthday Celebration cream tea was excellent and all different diets catered for.Very friendly staff and delicious tea.We had a lovely sea facing room which was very comfortable and a very good breakfast.

I often dread single rooms as they can be cramped and feel a bit sad but this one was absolutely lovely with an amazing view over the channel and the gardens below. Modern decor, very comfy bed and a chair and table by the window and the quiet was absolutely wonderful throughout my stay. An easy walk along the sea front to the pier and back whetted appetite and I enjoyed a chilled sauvignon on the terrace and the margerita pizza hit the spot. It felt like a real treat to be served at breakfast and the fact that it was included in a very reasonable price was an absolute bonus. Friendly staff, great ambience, love the place and will be back!

Brilliant service by all staff bedrooms well cared for and maid service every day food is excellent and very well serviced gardens are well kept and parking is free a little bit of a walk to the hotel but straight forward

Having read the reviews I was a little disappointed.
The room looked nice - modern, the bed was comfortable. View from the window was dull.
Bathroom was ok, pity the towel rail won’t turn off, didn’t really need a sauna....
Breakfast was fine, service not the best.
Overall it’s wasn’t good value for money.

We have just returned from our first stay at the Hydro Hotel in Eastbourne and we were very impressed. In fact, so much so, that we are planning to return in August and bringing family with us!
All hotel staff were friendly and helpful. The restaurant ran smoothly, with quick service and attentive staff. The fact that they’re were plenty of waiting staff meant everyone got served quickly despite the restaurant being full! The pianist playing during evening meal was a delight!
Our room was perfectly clean and comfortable, and if we asked for anything, it was brought immediately. There was a fan in our room which was greatly appreciated!
All of the public areas were immaculately clean and so relaxing! The garden was beautiful ~ we enjoyed playing croquet and putting! Although we didn’t use it on this occasion, the swimming pool looked well kept and secluded.
Can’t wait to come back!

We're currently renovating our property and only have showering facilities which is fine but I love my baths (I can get quite grumpy without them😊) so my partner booked a room at the Hydro for the night as a treat for me.

The reception staff were very friendly and efficient despite it being a very busy Friday night at the end of Tennis week.

Room 1 was clean, tidy and well furnished with a lovely comfortable bed complete with adequate linen.

As for the bath? All I can say is that it was absolute bliss to have an endless supply of hot water and a bath deep enough to relax into.

We will be back!

We held the reception in celebration my grandmother’s life in the Wedgwood Room at the Hydro, so it was important to us that everything went right. The Hydro readily accommodated all our requirements, and everything ran perfectly on the day, with no detail overlooked, and with the excellent staff always on-hand, and attentive to our every need. The room was a marvellous venue, opening on to a glorious sun-terrace.

We had a very enjoyable stay at the Hydro. Our room had a sea-view and was comfortable, clean and spacious. All staff at the hotel were attentive, friendly and always professional.
The gardens are beautiful with many places to relax and enjoy the sunshine. We ate breakfast and dinner in the Crystal dining room where the food was wonderful and the service good.
We were very impressed and hope to return soon.

Location great, food tasty and plentiful, rooms comfortable and clean, staff very helpful, will be returning ASAP If you can stay in a sea view room worth the extra, After 5 visits cannot think of anything derogatory to report