Really impressed with this hotel. Clean, spacious and classic decor make it very pleasant.Have stayed in Eastbourne a few times, normally at The Grand., and didn't know about The Hydro. Set above the sea front, with great views. You have to walk down a small hill to get to sea front, so may not suit people with walking problems. Very nice outdoor pool, plenty of seating areas inside and out. Thank you and well done, keep up the good work.

There are so many good things about this hotel it could easily be a 5 but for me there were a few things missing... I fully accept others may disagree with me but it's often the little things....
The strengths: every single member of staff was really friendly; the rooms were clean; the beds were comfy; the facilities are great eg. croquet/putting lawn, outdoor heated pool, comfy mattresses; the well-kept grounds have a great sea view; afternoon tea looked fab (but I didn't eat this so can't really comment)
The possible improvements: public area decor - a little tired/damaged in places; pillows were hard; if you're over 5'10 then make sure you ask for a double room made up of twin beds as the standard double is 6'x4'; 'industrial' bacon at breakfast; people's leftover drinks/plates left around for a while in outside areas.

10 minute walk into town makes it well-located - close enough to be accessible but far enough out to avoid the nose and congestion of the town centre.

Overall, really glad to have stayed here! Thank you.

Excellent reception staff checking us in. Our sea view room was spectacular with comfortable beds; fluffy towels and the added bonus of coffee and tea facilities; safe and a small fridge. The only shame was we could hear next door and above chatting. The staff in the restaurant especially Rebecca was exceptional. The breakfast was tasty with cereals; juices; croissants; cold meats and cooked full english too. Definitely worth a visit. Many thanks for a lovely stay .

My husband and I stayed at this lovely hotel recently from 11 to 15 October (4 nights). We had previously eaten Sunday lunch here on a number of occasions and my in-laws who live locally, celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary here too a few years back. When we started looking for a hotel to enjoy a nice mini break on the south coast, we decided we will book the Hydro. Well, we are so glad we did!

The weather was absolutely beautiful during our stay and the sea views from our room were amazing. We love the interior design of the hotel: like walking into an Agatha Christie novel. The hotel dates back to 1895 and the interior design and decor in the reception area reflects this. The ladies on reception do a marvelous job, so welcoming and efficient when checking in and out. When I mentioned that my in-laws were joining us for Sunday lunch and we suddenly realized that the lunch area was booked out due to a wedding taking place that day, I was advised by the receptionist that if I spoke to a gentleman called 'Noel', he would try and accommodate us in the dining area, which he did, and for this we were SO grateful.

The gardens at the back of the hotel are immaculate and worthy of their award winning status and there is a small discreetly positioned pool behind the garden area with some sunbeds and a changing area. The hotel is about a 10 minute walk to Eastbourne Pier and there is no need to take the car if you do not have any mobility issues.

Breakfast is served in the main formal dining area which is a gorgeous room with lots of chandeliers - breakfast is partly buffet style while the tea, toast and cooked breakfast is brought to the table. There is also a less formal dining area in the Conservatory overlooking the gardens which served very nice food too. We enjoyed chatting to 'Dave' who normally works in the bar area: great company and great sense of humour too.

Our choice of room was perfect overlooking the gardens and looking out to sea in the distance. The only thing we struggled with with was how stuffy it was in the room even with the window open. However, a fan was provided immediately when I mentioned this to reception. Though it was a bit uncomfortable at times I doubt it would put us off booking here again as we really love the hotel.

Without hesitation we will come here again when we are next in need of some rest and relaxation.

Having previously only visited for lunch we decided to stay for our wedding anniversary and were not disappointed.

The room with a side sea view was very good and the food was as we expected. The only blemish was the service at breakfast on our second morning when we, and a number of other guests, waited a considerable time. We think some of the staff had only just commenced employment at the hotel.

A lovely relaxing visit as always, we were lucky that the sun was shining and my husband was able to have a swim on two occasions. The restaurant as always was friendly with an excellent menu and exceptional service.

We returned to the hotel after a visit earlier in the year. We booked with Booking.com and decided this time to opt for a non sea view room as we were staying only a couple of nights. The room itself, though small, still had the same standard of cleanliness. Tthe bed linen was immaculate and I haven't seen such white, fluffy towels for a long time. The downside was that the room was very hot and obviously needed some renovation, which I have now been informed will take place next year.
The staff, particularly in the dining room, were helpful and friendly.
I rated the breakfast as 'good' as we were a little disappointed with the hot meal we had on our first morning, the fried egg was hard and my scrambled egg did not look appetising, it had a strange texture and was a grey colour. On the second morning breakfast was better, for what reason we don't know.
We will return to the Hydro Hotel as we did feel like valued guests but we would try and stay in a sea view room as we did earlier in the year.

We stayed for one night to watch the air show on two days. The parking was fine, the room was lovely with a very comfortable bed and sea view. Conservatory, patio seating and crystal dining room were all excellent. Staff were courteous and helpful all over the hotel. Despite it being very busy they were still able to provide the service you would expect of a top quality hotel. We hope to return next year.

This was our second visit, and we were just as happy with our choice this time. Our room was comfortable, spotlessly clean and great views. The conservatory, lounges, and gardens are all first class. The breakfast was excellent and service attentive. Lovely to see all the staff smart in uniforms. Definitely be back.

Had a lovely afternoon with my husband and a friend. The afternoon tea was lovely, we sat in the conservatory and overlooked the garden which now has a new
covered area for sitting or it can be used for an outside wedding. The staff are always very pleasant and attentive. After our tea we sat in the garden overlooking the sea.

This is a lovely classic hotel. No piped music, friendly staff and pleasant fellow guests. No this is not the hotel for stag and hen parties, but if you value a gentler way of life this is for you.
We stopped 16th and 17th August and could not fault the staff at all. Service was far better than at other Eastbourne hotels we have stayed at. Breakfast was efficient with you feeling rushed out. Air show was a bonus and sitting outside was very relaxing. Room was large, though bathroom was narrow I like a bath option. We will definitely return.

I knew about some changes that have been made since my visit last summer and to be fair some of them are very good; the décor and lighting in the drawing room is excellent, the swimming pool refurbishment is great and the breakfast buffet now includes some tasty home made produce like chutney and fruit compotes.
The cooked breakfast choice is the same as before, but hash browns would be a welcome change from fried bread and the scrambled egg was very disappointing - hard and with peculiar grey lumps. I wasn't the only guest to comment on this. Hydro scrambled egg used to be terrific.
When I arrived the receptionist on duty was very off hand - not looking up when she must have known I was waiting, not much of a welcome, let alone a smile. There also seemed to be a lack of porters to deal with luggage. In the end the said receptionist accompanied me to my room with it.
I cannot fault the bedrooms and bathrooms; they are well equipped and kept immaculately clean and the youngish staff are polite and work hard.
One of the reasons I have enjoyed staying at this hotel each summer for many years has been relaxing on the lawn in a deckchair. Now the garden still looks very well cared for, in fact better than I have seen it sometimes, BUT there are no deckchairs and the hedge which provided shelter from the prevailing wind has been cut down and the shed removed so the wind really whips through. The new coastal terrace and wedding gazebo do look smart but I wonder how practical it is with the wind problem and the gulls who are after any food, even milk jugs, taken outside. I get the impression it was made to look good rather than for guests to sit out and relax in what used to be a lovely, sunny sheltered spot where you could have your feet on the soft green grass.
Also outside, the box for the putting and croquet equipment has gone and what remains of the equipment is in a plastic crate - the golf balls keep rolling out! Surely a better container could be found and also can we please have a full set of croquet balls? There is not a full size blue one. If the hotel is concerned about misappropriation then guests could ask for equipment, say at the porters desk, as happens in other establishments.
Finally, regarding the evening dinner menu; soups still good, deserts excellent but as for the mains I think the chef must have an aversion to vegetables - what a pathetic accompaniment, literally a teaspoon sized portion of 3 things plus 2 marble sized potatoes. Come on Hydro you can do better than this!

Can't fault the food or the service, parking can be tricky at times but well worth the walk or the extra drive round. Try and book a table in the conservatory, it's lovely and bright with great views.

My boyfriend and I have just returned from a wonderful 2 night stay at the Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne. The hotel is set just outside the main town but still within a 15 minute stroll of the centre. The benefits of this were: free on and off street parking; beautiful grounds, including a croquet lawn and putting green; a small pool (heated during the summer months); and glorious views from the gardens and conservatory restaurant up to the coastal cliff walks. The most recent addition to the gardens is a wedding pavilion for civil marriages, which was all set up for its first marriage as we were leaving. The hotel had an elegant charm about it and it was like stepping back to a bygone era. Lunches, afternoon tea and dinner could be taken in the conservatory. Alternatively you could dine in the Crystal Restaurant. This was also where breakfast was served. Breakfast was excellent with a buffet table with cereals, fruit, yoghurt and croissants, from which to help yourself and, unusually in my experience these days, a hot breakfast cooked to order. I can't speak highly enough of the staff. Everyone we came into contact with was extremely friendly and helpful and, even during the busy breakfast period, everything ran like a well oiled machine. Many of the staff were youngsters but all were focused on delivering a high level of service to the guests and nothing was too much trouble. Our room was clean, spacious and had a view over the gardens and out to the sea and the cliffs towards Beachey Head. The bathroom was super clean and modern, with a shower rather than a bath. I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone considering a visit to Eastbourne and I hope to find another opportunity to stay there again in the not too distant future.

Having visited many years ago, was nicely surprised to find the rooms have now been smartly renovated. Sea-view rooms recommended (a pity few only have walk-in shower)- Staff are most courteous and attentive and our experience with room service was ultra swift. Had a small problem with a leaky iron but this was literally "ironed" out in less than five minutes with a new one being delivered. Breakfast is generously service. A classic but good four-star hotel. Did not get round to trying out any of the spa treatments or the in-house hairdresser but it is good to have such services under the same room.

Just had an overnight stay at the Hydro Hotel, a really lovely hotel from an age gone past. Built in 1895, and despite being kept up to date, the hotel maintains the Victorian/Edwardian charm typical of popular seaside towns of that era. Our room (room 2) was of a decent size, very high ceilings and so nice and bright and airy. Comfortable, with all that you needed included good beds and lovely big white towels.
Lots of lounge areas to relax in and lovely outside space too. restaurant. Afternoon tea was very popular, not over busy when we were there, but the service was slow and the staff, despite being quite a few of them, not so quick at seating you, taking your order etc., and the wait for the cream tea to arrive was quite long! The Crystal Restaurant is large and served quite nice food though not a huge selection and at £19 for a single course, fairly expensive. Very good service. If you wanted a non table d'hôte meal these could be taken in the conservatory.
Breakfast, served in the Crystal Restaurant was exactly as you would expect, various cold items on offer plus a choice of the usual English hot items. Okay, but whoever cooked my scrambled eggs doesn't know how to do them! Good service with plenty of staff for this meal.Great location, but could be difficult if you are unable to walk great distances. I would be happy to have stayed a couple of days here and would go back for a return visit and also recommend to friends.

We needed somewhere to stay in Eastbourne to visit a friend in hospital and picked the Hydro mainly because there didn't seem to be any problem with car parking. We couldn't really have made a better choice, because yes you can park, but the rest of the hotel is excellent. Our room was spacious, spotless, and with a stunning view of the Channel. Breakfast was well up to the standard you would expect from a good English hotel, but the two things we will remember most were firstly the friendly and efficient staff, mostly East Europeans of course- what will we do if they all decide to go home? Secondly, the outdoor swimming pool, which was the warmest I have found in England. We knew there was a pool when we booked but I hadn't bothered to pack anything because of the reason for the trip. Having visited the pool out of curiosity I immediately went out and bought swimming trunks! The Hydro Hotel turned our hospital visiting into a holiday, and our friend recovered was discharged home.

Could not fault the Hotel, from the staff to the facilites and food, all was of great quality and all together created a friendly atmosphere.
The rooms were a nice size and well furnished, the staff were so friendly, the waiters and waitresses at dinner and breakfast were attentive and efficient. The receptionists had a great sense of humour and gave such a warm welcome and great first impresssion to us an arrival. Also sold me very competitively priced (state of the art) toothbrush!!

I was part of a group of line dancers who visited this hotel in July for a 3 night break. This is the best hotel I have had on a break like this. The staff were all very smart in their individual uniforms and this showcased the attention to detail of the whole hotel and service, The food we received was very good, and individual requests were delivered promptly and with a smile. The grounds of the hotel were immaculate, and very pleasant to use and enjoy. The position of the hotel means there are lovely walks close by, and also adequate car parking. yet we were only a 15 minute walk into the town down hill. If you did not want to walk back up the hill then the local taxis are numerous and inexpensive. I look forward to going here again.

The Hydro Hotel very kindly supported us with a summer party for our East Sussex families.
Everyone had an amazing time, the staff were very welcoming and helpful during the planning and the event.
The food was lovely, nothing was too much trouble.
We even had some line dancers on holiday there come and do some dancing with us!
We were lucky with the weather and held most of the party in the beautiful garden.
Thank you to Jonathan and all his staff for welcoming us and looking after us so well.

Visited the Hydro Hotel for dinner, bed and breakfast on 5th August to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Apart from a problem with reception staff prior to our visit we had a very enjoyable visit.

The outdoor swimming pool was lovely and warm and the other outside facilities very good.

Dinner was quite acceptable but we were not told that it was better to book a table when you arrive as only a limited number of guests were let into the restaurant at a time. This didn't spoil the evening just mentioning it for information. Breakfast was very good with a wide choice of food.

Our room was not large but had a side sea view and of course we were only there for 1 night. Everything very clean and fresh.
The hotel was full. We were told we had the last room when we booked. There were people of all ages plus families with young children giving the hotel a really lovely atmosphere.

Would return to the hotel again.

I stayed at the Hydro Hotel last week for a 3 day line dancing holiday. This was the first time we had stayed at the Hydro which had been recommended by a fellow dancer. We were not disappointed. The ballroom took all 50 of us comfortably and the dance floor was a delight to dance on. We were on a limited budget which can sometimes limit our choices at meal times. There were 4/5 choices of starters and mains and the desserts were wonderful. So beautifully presented it seemed wrong to eat them! Bar food was equally good. Good value and quick to arrive, even when the hotel was busy due to bad weather. The staff are friendly, efficient and accommodating. You feel that if a problem arose it would be dealt with immediately. Needless to say, the location is great, with steps/sloped paths down to the beach. I feel confident in recommending this hotel for a short break.

Very nice well established hotel. Very pleasant, efficient staff and faces that have been there for a while. Breakfast really efficiently waited. Good choice and excellent quality food.
Croquet lawn and outdoor pool........cliff top views.......great
Room was pleasantly decorated and comfy.
My third visit and it doesn't disappoint.

This was a surprise wedding anniversary treat for us booked by our daughters. The hotel is classic and would certainly stay there again. The restaurant must be experienced. The team were very helpful and friendly. Dinner with live piano music was great. The chef accommodated our dietary requirements by amending his recipe! The manicured croquet lawn and nine hole putting green are a delight. The double room allocated to us on the third floor in top corner with a sea view was adequate. Not exceptional as it was in effect in the attic. It was a blessing as on the last night the music from a party would have made sleep difficult if we were closer to the middle of the hotel.We do not know how the hotel maintains what to us was a perfect ambient temperature!!
The booking included a cream tea. This was tasty. The downer was the table cloth was stained. We ordered a sandwich and the crisps were quite clearly stale.The staff were in a muddle as to our hot chocolate and earl grey tea order! The waiter apologised and we enjoyed the conservatory..
The one area that we felt required improvement was the front desk. The check in was not very helpful. The staff offhand. There was an assumption that one knew exactly where everything was e.g. lifts etc.No clear or helpful advice as to where we were to go for our cream tea. There is no clear towel changing policy and the response to this point was abrupt. The staff were not helpful when we asked about the area and its highlights. Fortuitously we found the leaflet about the area and places of interest in the foyer which had a map and were able to explore. There is an outdoor heated swimming pool which had we been told about we may have used! BTW there is a car park attached which is useful.

The atmosphere is nice and the hotel is quiet and relaxing. The double room was quite small as was the bathroom -the shower pressure was very low. The room was very warm even with the window open making it very difficult to sleep. There did not appear to be a system for ordering breakfast as no-one got what they asked for, we were not the only table.