Welcoming, excellent food and service

Very pleasant and grand

A marvelous place!

We bid for a night with dinner at the Grand Hotel at a charity auction. We probably paid more than the rack rate but it didn't matter. The experience was super! Sadly it was pouring with rain but the greeting by the concierge with an umbrella and a parking space just for us, set the tone for the visit. The reception staff were warm and welcoming, the ambiance tangible, the dining room gloriously outdated with charm, the food and service taking us back in time to a very pleasant place indeed. The room faced the sea, terribly florally decorated, with old fashioned faded furniture and tired porcelain in the bathroom. none of that mattered. The service and charm of the place is cherished by many repeat customers who long to return for that 'oasis' of something long forgotten and loved. don't ever change (except perhaps the dodgy plumbing).

My family and I have been regular visitors to The Grand and have just returned on 29th December after a two night stay which cost just under £1000 bed and breakfast in rooms 323 and 325. In our opinion the attention detail seems to have slipped.
The first thing we noticed on checking in is that we were required to pay for the whole bill upfront.
We booked with the hotel directly two interconnecting rooms one for us and one for our two children, Upon arrival we were informed that no notes were made requesting an interconnecting room and we had been allocated rooms next to each other. We accepted this, which was lucky as no interconnecting rooms were available.
There are were no slippers in the room (which used to be there). One of the dressing gowns was dirty around the neck. The tea cups on the tea tray had not been cleaned. The water pressure in the sink in the bathroom was really low, the water in the shower seemed to only be either scalding hot or cold which resulted in my husband and I and the children showering in the health club.
I had the worst night sleep ever due to the bed being so soft (in my opinion old and well used).
Upon departing we were due to pay £20 extra for two children meals but it seemed that lots of other food and drinks had been charged to our account from the bar and our £20 charge which we actual had was not on the bill. We asked to see the signed docket but it could not be found.
The receptionist agreed to wipe the charges off. I was going to feedback upon departure upon leaving but the lady next to me was also complaining and waiting to speak to the manager.
Its a shame really as we just to enjoy the hotel and have stayed many times over the years and felt it was worth the money but sadly not now.

This hotel is very grand and very luxurious. However, I requested in advance one of the more modern rooms and one of the less floral room and ended up with a very floral old fashioned room! However, you absolutely can't fault the service and level of care when you are there. We were very well looked after.

We were given a gift of afternoon tea at the Grand. We had heard good reviews from friends and colleagues so decided to use the gift to round off Christmas.
I recommend it for the experience and the suburb staff. The tea itself was disappointing, the sandwiches were very basic, the Turkey and egg combo was a little strange! No finger rolls! The cakes were very average and the tart cases were probably bought in. But the Scones were excellent, fresh and warm.
I don't think the food was worth the £25 per head but the overall experience definitely was.

It's hard to convey the qualities and atmosphere of this hotel. It is "old fashioned" in such a good way, with terrific charm. I'd been having a rough few months health-wise but all the same, wanted to take my son away for a special birthday treat. I chose The Grand. My son's little face lit up with excitement as we walked inside the entrance - the decor and scale of the hotel is so impressive - and yet it is homely and inviting too. On booking the hotel, I had vaguely mentioned that it was my son's birthday. To my surprise, the staff made such a fuss of him - without any prompting from me. As a surprise, they brought up to our room a little teddy bear, and even a slice of birthday cake with a candle in. The warmth from the staff, and the attention to detail, made it a very happy memory for me my little boy. The breakfast is also sublime - the beautiful dining room itself, and all the delicious options. ...Keep up the great work!

A classic hotel. The service is second to none - and that entrance is simply stunning. The staff are superb and the facilities are second to none - a wonderful night's sleep too! We had dinner there - not cheap, but excellent - and breakfast was of a standard you would expect of a 5* hotel.

Really enjoyed ourselves. You will not go to a similar size hotel and find nicer or better staff anywhere in the UK.
We were welcomed with smiling faces and ' good afternoon and welcome' four times before we got to the reception!
We had a lovely suite of rooms on the first floor - the furnishing is not old but, in our opinion, old fashioned.
We had the biggest bed we have ever had.
The hotel has two restaurants which are both pretty good - a bit limited on the menu but good quality food in nice surroundings and excellent service.
what really stood out above all was the smiling, helpful staff - and lots of them - wherever you went.
Only minor complaint is that when we arrived there was a large function in the main dining room and the bar was empty with almost every table 'reserved' ( for the guests of the large function. They had a lovely fire with a christmas tree each side but from midday onwards every table had reserved for 'afternoon teas' - all booked. So, if you are a guest at the hotel you will find times when there is really no where to sit and relax.
But would we go again? YES of course - we loved it.
If you go out the back entrance of the hotel there are some lovely shops in which we found many gifts for Christmas.

I am not usually one to leave reviews for hotels that i stay in and the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne has left me totally stunned. The hotel itself is simply stunning and not what I imagined it to be but truly beautiful. The attention to detail is flawless but what makes this hotel function and shine is the staff. They are a true credit to the hotel and I can honestly say that in all the hotels that I have stayed in and I have stayed in some of the best hotels in the world the service is probably the best that I have ever received. On arrival the concierge was informative and so professional I was left with a warm feeling of being totally relaxed I don't know his name but i will update with all the members of staff that carry out their duties with such ease and elegance that nothing you ask of them is an issue or a chore. I went out to my car this morning to find a puncture in my car which turned out to be a cracked alloy wheel and the concierge took my keys from me and dealt with the entire repair process. Following the discovery of the broken wheel I went for breakfast and again the food was amazing and the tables beautifully laid. After a hearty breakfast I made my way to the spa to burn off some calories. On arrival there was no snobby beauty therapist looking down her nose at you as get in many other establishments but a warm welcome from staff who showed us around the spa and what the format was leaving me felling totally relaxed. We had guests joining us for lunch at 12.30 and informed the restaurant manager we needed to be finished by 1.30 as we had a meeting at 2pm. The food came promptly again with such ease and elegance there was absolutely no fault. The food in the garden restaurant was exceptional good value and of the finest of quality. After our meeting we returned the bar of the hotel with our guest and ordered some cocktails, the two guys behind the bar informed us the were apprentices and this certainly didn't reflect in the drinks. Perfectly mixed and again served in the most professional of manners. I think it's time to stop raving about this hotel as I am sure that you now get the total picture. I would like to thank everyone front of house and behind the scenes that has made this visit one we will never forget. Thank you from the guests of room 323 and look forward to returning

Very good service, lovely food, well presented but not my cup of tea.

Parking service is brilliant but once again I'd rather do it myself.

We had a trio of salmon, lamb and Mash main and a desert of pear? It was very nice, here you pay for quality rather than quantity.

A lovely hotel. We are regulars here. The staff especially the concierge are very accommodating and helpful. Old fashioned elegance. Our next visit is already booked for January. Excellent location and facilities.

We arrived tired after a hectic few weeks. From the moment we approached the hotel and the liveried doorman scooped our cases up and carried them in for us, it was wall to wall luxury and service. Nothing was too much trouble and the overall ambience was warmth and friendliness. We felt cocooned. During our stay we had room service for one evening meal,which was delightfully served, prompt and delicious. The second night we ate in the Garden Restaurant and the meal was superb, as was the service. We must also make a mention of the health club and spa, where the lovely Dawn pampered my sister with an amazing massage and facial, the best she's had for many a long year. The whole hotel was spotless, our room was luxurious and beautifully furnished and there simply were no negatives to report. Thank you Grand Hotel, for getting us back on our feet, we will be returning soon.

Had afternoon tea on 8th December. First disappointment was the hotel was only in the early stages of decorating for Christmas. The lounge we sat in was soulless and the armchairs and sofas way past their best, faded and worn. The Maitre D (if that is the correct term for the chap in charge) was quite brusque and not particularly welcoming. Service was O.K. Now down to the tea - not enough savoury items and far too many cakes, scones etc. Overall slightly disappointing and not worth £25.50 per person. I think the hotel has failed to move into the 21st century and needs a make over if it is going to charge these sort of prices.

A lovely hotel.I stayed one with as friend who wanted to stay. We had cocktails in the lounge before going out for dinner. Everything was very nice. Would recommend. Food was lovely. Nice location on the seafront near Meads.

This is a thoroughly professional, immaculate and well-run hotel in Eastbourne. We stayed over following a family wedding - itself without fault throughout. The staff are so well trained, everything runs like clockwork yet with a calm and friendly demeanour. Our first floor room was beautifully furnished, spotless and very comfortable. Breakfast was excellent. We will certainly use his hotel again when in the area.

I went here with my fiance for a one night spa break. We used the spa facilities and the following day had the express treatment. The hotel interior is very Victorian which was a delight and something different to what we are used to normally. Everything was to a very high standard - the breakfast, the service etc. I would highly recommend this hotel if you are looking for a spa break in the area. Definitively worth the money and would advise to try out the GRAND HOTEL!

My wife and I came to stay for a night for our wedding anniversary and had a fantastic time (by and large). Very attentive staff who couldn't have been more helpful and an enormous standard room. The hotel is beautifully appointed and feels very special; it has avoided going down the naff, boutiquey route and is all the better for it. Good cocktails in the bar, a huge and comfortable lounge area, decent health suite and all in all a great stay.

Why only 4 out of 5? There were a few areas where things just didn't quite hit the mark. Not enough staff doing the breakfasts, so food was turning up late. One of the lifts got briefly (60 seconds) stuck with us inside it. Nobody likes a hard bed, but ours was ridiculously soft to the point of discomfort through a lack of support. Nothing dreadful or that spoiled our trip, but they weren't quite up to a five star standard.

What a fabulous afternoon with my friend this afternoon, excellent service, beautiful cakes, scones and sandwiches topped off with a glass of champagne, not rushed and extra sandwiches and tea were provided when asked for. Lovely. Would highly recommend as a special treat.

I live in Eastbourne for 3years 15years ago and always wanted to stay here and finally did. The hotel is grand!! The rooms are a little dated but very spacious. Staff are friendly and welcoming. We had a drink in the bar before and after dinner which was lovely. The restaurant had excellent service and the food was fabulous. I am gluten free and they were more than capable of catering for my needs.

From reservations, to check-in, to Spa and leaving - the Grand Hotel didn't let us down. Joanna in reservations was extremely helpful in arranging the accommodation, the receptionist at check-in was professional and kind enough to upgrade us to their sea view executive room (my girlfriend loved the room and decor).

We both had their express spa treatment and both ladies who gave the treatment were also friendly, as was the male Manager who showed us to the pool area afterwards.

I would like to commend the mature porter/doorman who greeted us and took our baggage (sorry forgot the name), he explained every detail and service the hotel had to offer and was most sincere and courteous throughout the stay...true 5* standard of service.

We wont hesitate to stay here again should we return to the coast for a spa break in future.

Well done Management and thank you to all the staff.

S Kumar

We stayed here at the end of August for a long weekend in the Debussy suite. We didn't go in to the town at all: we had come for the hotel. The large car park was very useful and someone came out to greet us and see if we needed help with our luggage. We were welcomed by the lovely people on reception and given some information about the hotel before we were shown to our room. It was absolutely beautiful. If you want a modern style and sleek furniture, this is not for you. If, like us, you want to be comfortable, with a big balcony and a really homely feel then you would really like it here. There are coffee making facilities in the suite, and even a small bottle of sherry for after dinner. The balcony was one of the reasons we chose the hotel. We sat out there for hours wrapped in our bathrobes watching the sea and the light on the water. The room had a DVD player so we took some with us to watch in the evening.
The public rooms are truly grand - large open spaces, high ceilings and period features. The delicious breakfast is served in a huge dining room which would make a fantastic venue for a wedding, as I'm sure it does. Afternoon tea attracts locals and guests alike, and the scones are really quite something. All the hotel staff are really friendly and helpful and we will certainly be going back next year once the weather is good enough to make use of the balcony.
So what are the not so good things about the hotel?
There was only really one thing we didn't like, mostly because it was so inconvenient. We weren't able to eat in the hotel restaurant because of the strange system. There is a set menu, with choices, with a fixed price and an additional a la carte menu. However, to order from the a la carte, you have to pay the fixed price and then a full price supplement for each item from the second menu. Given the fixed price is not cheap, this would make it an expensive exercise. We therefore had room service. This wasn't always successful either. The club sandwich doesn't come on bread, but something rather strange, and my Caesar salad was, frankly, horrible and small.

My tip is to have afternoon tea. It was really delicious but, as we weren't too bothered about cakes, after the first time we just had the scones which are fabulous. Also, the Presidential suite sounds grander but is on a lower floor, so the view is not as good, and it doesn't have the comfy feel of the Debussy.

Arrived and check in was quick and smooth. Very well maintained hotel with public areas stylish and glamorous. We were there for 2 nights and so I got a rounded opinion of the place.
Breakfast: 10/10
Room: very weak shower pressure & bathroom rather dusty for rates/hotel standard. Whole hairdryer & mirror access situation just doesn't work (in room 335).
Bar staff: really rather inattentive and cold overall. Took an age for the bride to get a round in!!
Concierge: asked us to move away from entrance in very heavy rain (fair enough) but neglected to offer us one of the brollies that we later noticed. Really need to provide some better options for smokers outside than stood in the rain. Also no ashtrays. Surely not a great look for other guests arriving.
Overall. I felt there was an air of smug superiority coming from some of the team and they really need to treat all hotel/wedding guests with equal warmth regardless of age etc.
I appreciate the hotel has history and meaning for the town but more warmth is definitely needed. We almost felt like an irritance at times.

Came away for a weekend, junior suite was cosy and clean. Overall nice hotel but the spa area downstairs needs a massive overhall
If i paid for a spa and got greeted with the area downstairs i would not be impressed. The shower facilities are really old and mouldy. It doesnt reflect the 5* hotel above
Staff were friendly but the lady i was with paid for a luxury manicure £55 - it was basic, the massage was 45 mins but actually was 35 on the day
Dont get me wrong, the main hotel is lovely , but very expensive
Please revamp your spa area