its the staff that make a hotel excellent ,
i have stayed here many times our the past 3 years and i wont stay anywhere else and i stay in many hotels through my work .

this hotel is a jewel in eastbourne's crown after a hectic day its nice to come back to a gentle atmosphere to relax with friendly staff

the manager and staff must be commended for the charity work they all do outside thier work
back soon to which i cant wait
could do with a tv in bar area for business news aint that correct huwe

excellent allrounder jim guide dogs

We came here for my in laws wedding reception and all I can say is that they were absolutely excellent ! They put out a most amazing buffet and the food was absolutely delicious. We had one member of staff with us and he was the most politest , helpful person we've ever come across! They made my in laws reception perfect and I can't thank them enough.

A touch of gentile atmosphere at this hotel. Well run and peaceful and ideal for just having a quiet break from the pressure of life! Lovely food, clean rooms and lovely staff. Highly recommend that you try this hotel.

We are 'locals' so we do not use the hotel to stay overnight. However, we often frequent the hotel.
We have celebrated various special family occasions with a large group and have always had excellent service and good food.
If you are after a relaxing afternoon in Eastbourne, I can thoroughly recommend 'afternoon tea' these start from around £4 each, but it is worth paying £7 for the full cream tea, complete with cucumber sandwiches, scone, cream, strawberry jam etc. This is available from 3pm in the conservatory which overlooks the sea.
It always feels 'most civilised' once you enter the Hydro. A nice place.

Stayed here for 2 nights during a walking break in the Eastbourne area. Although the exterior looks a bit run-down, first impressions on entering the reception area are very good: a nicely decorated, old-fashioned public area leading-off to other rooms, bar etc, and piano music drifting out. Check-in was straightforward and problem-free.

I'd paid £20 extra for a sea view so my room was at the front of the hotel with a very decent vista over the western promenade. The room was clean and well-decorated but rather let down by the two (yes, two) bathrooms. The first 'en suite' was like a pre-fabricated plastic capsule that had been jammed-in to a corner of the room, encompassing a toilet, washbasin and shower. I'm 5'7" and 9 stone and I do wonder whether anyone much taller would be able to use it. I didn't bother trying the shower as it would clearly have made everything within the capsule wet. Almost as a compensation for this, another bathroom was provided, exclusively for the use of this room, on the opposite side of the corridor. This had a bath and shower and no toilet but the shower was virtually unusable as the water pressure was so feeble.

I decided to 'eat in' on my first night so presented myself at the restaurant entrance. I later found that 'gentlemen' are asked to wear a tie for dinner which may account for the slightly sniffy reception I received from the maitre d' who quickly ushered me off to the deserted conservatory, well away from the main dining area. This would have been a nice enough area but I was the only person there, there was no music and the room had all the atmosphere of a disused library. The waiting staff, although initially attentive, later seemed to forget that I was there and I had to go and request a dessert menu. This said, the food was excellent and the main course reasonably priced - the cheeseboard at £9 was, however, not great value in my opinion.

At breakfast (when a tie is not required) I was able to take a look at the main dining room. A large, nicely decorated area with helpful staff but badly let down by 4 or 5 chests of drawers in the middle of the room, in which cutlery, etc is kept. These are literally falling apart and were broken & dirty - very off putting.

Overall I couldn't fault the staff - although the woman on reception didn't trouble to ask me about my stay when I checked-out - and at £60 per night, the Hydo isn't expensive. As is often the case with such places, however, it could be much better with minimal effort.

We recently chose to host our Golden Wedding celebration at this hotel as it has long been a favourite venue. Most of our guests travelled some distance to join us and some of them also booked two nights at the hotel. I am pleased to say that as always the very efficient and helpful staff at The Hydro did not let us down. The whole weekend was memorable for all 44 of us! The rooms were spotless, comfortable and well appointed. The lounge areas are well furnished and have plenty of discrete corners for a quiet drink. The views from the conservatory restaurant are wonderful. The main restaurant is as elegant as the rest of the hotel and the food is delicious and varied. Breakfast is served in the main restaurant. There is ample car parking which is a bonus for a hotel in Eastbourne. I feel that we could not have chosen a better hotel for celebrating a special day.

This is a very old style hotel with old fashion standards that cannot be faulted. The staff are very helpful and the breakfast is excellent. This hotel is very good value. The room we were in 202 had great views and was very clean and comfortable. Do not be put off by the elderly client that seem to frequent this establishment, they do so for a reason. This is a great hotel for any age. I would certainly return and recommend it to anyone.

We have just had Sunday lunch with friends at the Hydro, and what a great meal we had. The food was very well prepared and presented and the service was slick and professional. We initially sat with drinks in the large lounge area (lots of comfortable seating), which may seem a little "old school" but was peasant, with no one bothering you if you just wanted to sit and relax.
Between us we chose starters of Mackerel salad, Vegetable Risotto and Wild Boar terrine, with two of us also having the soup course. Mains of Roast Pork, Beef and Salmon, followed by deserts of Lemon Possett, Bakewell Tart with Ice Cream, Raspberry Mousse and cream, made for a lovely meal. With three courses at less than £18 and four courses at less than £20, good value. Our bill for two at four course and two at three courses, with a bottle of house Merlot came out at £91. All in all a very satisfied group of friends, which is one reason we will be back.

This is my second stay at this hotel and they cannot do enough for you. The welcome at reception was warm and professional as usual. Last time I had a room at the side of the hotel overlooking the car park and the town of Eastbourne and this time I had a better room with a lovely side view of the sea, which was outstanding. The rooms, although dated are clean and the bed was very comfy. I love the fact that they still do biscuits in the room, which some hotels no longer do. The other touch I love is a tea pot for making the tea in the morning as it really does make a difference. it is the little things that make your stay a little more home from home. There is a car park to the side of the hotel but also plenty of free roadside parking. The breakfast in the morning was excellent and cooked to order. On the negative side of that, they could do with a little more buffet food which should include breads so that you can serve yourself. As a single woman traveller, I often order room service or get food from the bar and take it to my room, this is something that the hotel could do with sorting out. The room and bar menu is sadly lacking on choice and can do with more selection. The restaurant does look nice but the food is a little expensive especially when you are on a budget from your company. The views are stunning but if you are on your own it is just a little bit out of the main center of town and there is no indoor swimming pool or gym. I would return as the staff are some of the best in the business and the breakfast was the best I have ever had in a hotel and I have stayed at some very good ones.

We went to this hotel in December for a Murder Mystery and we had the most wonderful time. From the moment we saw the impressive building and walked through its grand marble reception we knew that we were going to have an amazing time.

The staff were wonderful, welcoming and nothing was too much trouble. The room was large and beautifully furnished with amazing sea views and very clean.

The party itself was such great fun. It was done like a pantomime with Snow White and Cinderella along with all the other well known favorites. We had the most delicious meal while trying to solve the death of Medusa and were well attended by the lovely staff.

Breakfast in the gorgeous Crystal dining room (I think it must have been named because of all the lovely crystal chandeliers which adorned its high ceilings) was lovely and again nothing was too much trouble.

We plan to visit again the next time and hopefully stay for longer.

Thank you everyone.

My wife and I are senior citizens and decided to have a 5 day break and see the new year in at the Hydro Hotel in Eastbourne, even though we actually live in Eastbourne. We cannot express how much we enjoyed our stay there, over the 5 days. The hotel staff were very friendly towards us at all times, and really took trouble to make our stay one to remember. The place was always kept very clean and tidy and also our room. The beds were very comfortable and we always had a good nights rest.The food ,we thought was outstanding in quality, with always a good selection. There was a wide selection at breakfast, from cerals and fresh fruit to a full english fried breakfast. We mainly had sandwiches at lunch time which were also very nicely prepaired.The evening dinner was always superb, both in choice and quallity and can only conclude that a top class chef is employed here. Although the Hydro Hotel is only listed as a three star hotel, we think that this under rates it, and it is really a four star quality . We will certainly be returning again sometime in 2014. We never tried the fitness centre or the spa, so cannot coment on them,

We attended a wedding at The Hydro and had a fantastic time. Although we didn't stay the night our experience of the wedding and reception was very very good. The staff were friendly, helpful and worked their socks off to make sure everyone had a good time. The food was superb and plentiful. Actually, we wished we'd stayed the night after all!

The Hydro might appear at first glance to be living in a time warp, but how many other hotels boast as much comfortable lounge space, a wonderful conservatory overlooking the gardens, plenty of free parking and all overlooking the sea? Today there is nothing 'faded' about the Hydro just 'traditional'. This includes the service, both in the lounge, the bar and restaurant. A table of 16 in the restaurant proved no problem with everyone having a free choice from the daily menu. followed by coffee in the lounge. The place to go in Eastbourne for such celebrations.

Hotel is well situated in a quiet, residential area of town. Short but Hilly walk down to the sea. Staff were very pleasant and helpful, however,Reception were not very informative on arrival and could have been better. Gets very crowded and in December no informal food is served downstairs on a Friday or Saturday eve because of large parties and Dinner has to be booked in advance. There was no advance warning about this. It made a great difference to our first night but the Hotel rectified the situation the next day and we really enjoyed a lovely 2nd day. The room was particularly small but the sea view more than made up for that. A comfortable armchair or two would have been nice instead of the dining room style carver chairs but there would not have been room for them. The room and furniture werw pristine. It is listed as a 3 star Hotel but the Service is much better than that and comparing it to some local 5 star Hotels, the Hydro comes out on top!
Maybe a little too quiet for children in the Winter time but in Summer there is an outside pool, and activities I am told. A lot of the Clientele appeared to be local regulars. We went for a rest and some peace and certainly we found it on Sunday. Easy parking. I would definitely stay there again. Look out for their special offers - they are good value for money.

I stayed here one one night as my company had their Christmas party at the hotel. For £40 I had a reasonably large twin room to myself. The bed was very comfortable with good quality bedding and I slept very well. There was tea and coffee making facilities in my room, a tv and a private bath/shower. The decor was a little dated and the other guests were fairly old but for the price I paid it was good value for money. Breakfast was served from 07.30-10.30 and there was a wide range of hot and/or cold food to choose from. The hotel is also a little difficult to find and not that close to the town center but a short taxi ride will get you to where ever you want to go in Eastbourne.

We Booked this Hotel for our Christmas Party on the 14/12/2013
When we Arrived I felt it needed an update Decor wise. The Room was Cozy
And Warm. The Crystal Resturant where Party was held was very Traditional
The Service from a Non pre-ordered Menu was Amazing, Staff very Friendly
Food was Fantastic and (Hot) the Beef was Delicious I was told by work
Colleges,even though my Turkey was Tasty. It was Definatly Worth every
Penny. So Thanks to All at The Hydro Hotel We all had a Great Party.

This hotel is quite dated but the room was comfortable and we had a good, undisturbed night's sleep. We were disappointed that we could not eat at the hotel as we had not booked and there were 3 Christmas parties going on. We didn't sample the breakfast as we didn't get up in time so cannot comment on the food. Would stay here again when in the area.

Many friends and acquaintances had spoken highly of this hotel, and we weren't disappointed on our first and certainly not the last visit!.
Yes it is a little staid, but what's wrong with an long established hotel that has identified its market and aims to meet and exceed those expectations.
The bedroom was of a good size, very clean, with super comfortable beds and the 'private facilities' were excellent with generous toiletries supplied.
The public rooms are very spacious, with plenty of comfortable seating and the dining rooms provide good sized and spaciously placed circular tables. Food for all meals was well presented, and well cooked. A small, almost insignificant comment would be that the table knives we had were a little on the blunt side when cutting even tender meat.
All the staff were well trained, polite and efficient without ever being obvious. Their attention to detail and requirements at table was first class

A good old fashioned traditional hotel. Excellent standards of cleanliness & service .Room (superior sea view) was clean & roomy with panoramic view of sea.
Food was wholesome & tasty with plenty of choice. Genteel atmosphere , tasteful décor.
We visited ten years ago & standards had not dropped at all.
Only thing I would point out is the overhead lighting in public areas & also the bedroom is a little stark & the ambience therefore could be a little cosier. Also no waiter service pre dinner.
However overall enjoyed our stay thoroughly & will stay again when in the area.
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Nice clean hotel but definitely aimed at the older generation. Room was fine, no complaints at all, breakfast was pretty shoddy - full English had obviously been plated up and kept warm a fair while. We didn't have dinner as husband unwilling to wear the tie required. Definitely stuck in an earlier era, quite quaint really if you like that sort of thing and the clientele are, almost exclusively, very elderly.

Just had two nights at the Hydro in a party of 10 while attending the Rotary District 1120 Conference. All 10 agreed that dinner at the Hydro both nights was great food, and the service all weekend was quick, professional and friendly. Not a modern building, the floors do creak, but my only real complaint was the power saving lighting which was not sufficient to read at night. Large lounge area, all well furnished. Clean and well maintained. Small car park, but plenty of unrestricted on-street parking.

We have stayed at the Hydro several times, and always recommend that we return to the Hydro, never been disappointed yet.

Not a cheap hotel, but we will be back again.

A well run hotel with pleasant rooms and excellent restaurant service
You may be put off by the location on a hill but the hotel is the best value for money of all the hotels I have stayed at in Eastbourne over the last 6 months

The food in the restaurant which ever meal is excellent as is the attentive and personal service from the waiting staff

Meals are cooked fresh and brought to your table

I would recommend the hotel for the food alone
Its very good

I recently spent three days two nights at the hydro hotel Eastbourne. I found the hotel reception area very comfortable clean and uncluttered, The staff were on hand to help and my case was taken to my room straight away. Parking was easy with problem and a short walk to the hotel. The evening meal was excellent with a good choice of starters, main course and sweet. The room was spacious with a comfortable bed and good bathroom and shower.
breakfast was buffet service for cereal fruit, etc. The cooked breakfast , of which the choice was wonderful was served at the table as was tea and coffee.
All in all a great stay

There is a wonderfully old fashioned style about this hotel, with the staff being more than efficient and polite.
We were a party of twenty, holding a yearly re-union and the management even provided a separate dining room for our dinner on Saturday evening. The food and wine were excellent and the service was 'second to none'.
The bedroom my wife and I shared had a sea view and overlooked the Croquet Lawn. We had a huge 'king size' bed that was most comfortable.
The weather on Saturday afternoon was warm enough for us to swim in the heated outdoor pool, excellent!
We hope to have the opportunity to return at a future date

We attended a fund raising event here. The staff were friendly but stressed as there was only one poor girl stuck on reception and cloakroom. The bar staff were professional. The whole ambience, décor and lay out was lovely. Quite old fashioned but that was it's character.
we didn't stay overnight here but did have a meal. It was average for mass catering. However we were not paying a lot.
I would go back and would recommend it to people looking for somewhere to stay. Well located for the theatre users.