My friend was bought a treatment gift voucher as a birthday treat and so we decided to make more of a day and use the facilities. The website is well laid out and gives a variety of options; however the receptionist was very helpful when I phoned and advised that if you book a treatment you are also able to use the spa facilities for an additional £15.00 - quite reasonable, but not very clear on the website.
The hotel itself is as named 'a grand old lady' with prime location on the seafront - beautifully decorated inside - a step back in time.
The spa - rather unfortunately - is in the basement and consequently a bit dark. The pool with jacuzzi and steam room are pleasant enough but perhaps a bit tired looking, and there is not really enough space around the pool for relaxing considering the amount of spa days/packages that they offer. The changing facilities are similarly small and could do with a revamp. However the staff are all very welcoming and we could not fault our treatments - my friend came out from hers looking radiant and said it was the best facial she had experienced.
We finished the experience by taking afternoon tea in the lounge - always a wonderful treat - warm scones with copious amounts of cream and jam - all beautifully served, they even lay a linen cloth on the table before setting out the tea in fine bone china.
I would definitely return for the tea if not the spa!!

This was a very interesting experience ! Very british! A large selection of vakse and pastorer. We had the afternoon tea with champagne. I tried the loin of tuna which was perfectly cooked. Wery professional and helpful staff.

My husband treated me to an overnight stay in a Suite so that I could pamper myself in the Spa whilst he went to watch the super bowl with friends. Although the website offers a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast price, we telephoned and opted for a bed and breakfast option. (The booking staff were incredibly helpful)

On Arrival we found that we had been upgraded to a Master Suite and were given the keys to Room 334 - a beautiful suite that offers fantastic views over the front of the hotel as well as the beach front. With an entrance hall, two balconies, a four poster bed, a separate lounge area and a large bathroom with a whirlpool bath and shower facilities, TVs in both Lounge and Bedroom, tea and coffee making facilities, complimentary fruit and bottled water, trouser press, hair dryer, fluffy bathrobes and slippers, I realised very early on that this was indeed the best place to spend the super bowl...and I think it will have to become a tradition!

We ordered afternoon tea with champagne, from Room Service and it arrived beautifully laid out on a table with wheels. It was wonderful and it was very filling and scrumptious! So many wonderful flavours and the food prepared to perfection.

With my husband gone for the evening I ordered a mushroom soup followed by a Chicken Caesar Salad - the soup was very good, although a little salty for my taste and the chicken was cooked perfectly, moist, succulent and the accompanying Caesar Dressing was fabulous.

As I enjoy architecture so much I asked the Reception staff if I could wander around with my camera and they were only too happy for me to explore. They suggested I take some pictures from the Gallery Suite which overlooks the main ground floor lounge and I got so engrossed taking pictures of all the décor that by the time I had finished, the spa had closed for the evening...which was a little disappointing but as there was a whirlpool bath in the suite, I wasn't too upset.

The bed was very comfortable and I felt very decadent having it all to myself. The views in the early morning were wonderful and upon hubby's return we had to drag ourselves away from the views to go to breakfast.

Breakfast was another very impressive arrangement of various tables laid out with what seemed to be every conceivable type of breakfast food known to man.

Even though this hotel is as old as it is, it has been maintained very well. Some areas such as the window frames and corridors are starting to show their age but this in no way detracted from the overall experience. The staff provide an attention to detail in everything they do whilst being friendly and helpful.

When you are here, you know that this building is special, It has seen many decades of genteel travellers come through it's doors and it is easy to visualise these past patrons walking through the corridors or sitting in the Restaurants dressed in their finest apparel. When it is late and quiet..the long corridors can feel a little spooky too.

I would come back in a heartbeat and really don't want to have to wait for another super bowl! Perhaps our upcoming Wedding Anniversary would be a good reason to come back and celebrate in Luxury.

Well I have had a really wonderful 2 night stay at The Grand, it is a wonderful hotel, rooms are fantastic, staff are fantastic so very helpful and pleasant they cannot do enough for you. The breakfast is also fantastic I will definitely go back there again and again.

stayed at this hotel for three nights from 28th Feb this year.
Very welcoming hotel with very nice atmosphere.
Food very good and excellent attentive staff.
Situated on quiet part of seafront.
Have stayed three or four times, never disappointed.

This is the only 5 Star hotel in Eastbourne (and probably the best) and is a wonderful place to stay, or simply drop in for a drink or meal with friends.

Having used this hotel in the past, for lunch meetings with friends and business acqaintances, we decided to celebrate my birthday there, over the Valentine's day weekend.

The overall impression of the hotel is refined comfort and excellence and our experience began as soon as we drove into the hotel car park. As we stepped out of our car, the concierge met us and took our suitcases into the hotel. A very good start to the weekend and what one expects from a 5 Star hotel. Indeed, all the concierges were excellent and always ensured there was a parking space for overnight guests. A small but important detail.

Reception was friendly and efficient and after check-in, the concierge escorted us to our room accompanied by our bags.

The quality of the room overall, was excellent with lots of space in which to spend a couple of nights.

It was a little warm at first ( much better than being chilly) and as this is an older building, the temperature was easily controlled by adjusting the central heating radiator valves.

We had a cafetiere in which to make fresh coffee and on the occasions I requested fresh milk from reception, it arrived in a matter of minutes. Another small detail done well.
One should never need to ask for things twice, when staying in a hotel of this standard.
(See a later comment regarding the bar service)

The turn down service was a nice touch every evening. Although it comes without a chocolate mint on the pillow! :-)

A few little details in the room however, were disappointing, so I mention these as follows:
1 The bath towels were not of the luxurious quality you would expect in a 5 star hotel. We felt that they were a little thin compared to the Premier Inn where we had stayed earlier in the week. Their towels were far superior.

2 Shower: While the bathroom was of a high quality, the shower was not that great. It was adequate but once again, we have had more powerful showers in cheaper hotels.

3 Bathrobes: a great idea but slippers would have been a nice touch.

4 Wi-fi. If you are going to offer free wi-fi to guests then free should be free and should work well. I have noticed that a number of hotels are introducing a system where there is 'basic' wi-fi in the guest-rooms, with the option of upgrading to a super fast connection for a premium. The Grand does this. Unfortunately, the 'free' wi-fi was intermittent and very unsatisfactory.

On the first evening of our stay, we decided to visit the Great Hall for a light snack. It has a wonderfully relaxing ambience with a log fire flickering away and gentle music playing in the background.

I checked with one of the waiters in the bar, regarding the system employed for ordering snacks. He gave us a menu, told us to take a seat and said that someone would come within a few minutes to take our order.

We waited 20 minutes before being attended to and only after I had caught the attention of a totally different waiter.

We then ordered some wine and a little food (a sandwich and fries) but this took at least 20 minutes to be delivered. We expected much quicker service than this and thought that our drinks would have been served immediately. The drinks were not served immediately, but came with our food. It was not good to wait 20 minutes for a glass of wine, especially when there were only 6 people sitting in the Great Hall.

However, the presentation of the food and the way it was served to us was excellent. A white cloth was laid on our table accompanied by good quality silverware.

Breakfast the next morning was to a high standard. A great buffet and the best poached eggs I have ever had in a hotel.

However, a couple of observations from our first morning:

1 Coffee is served fresh in a cafetiere which is great but is only sufficient for three normal size cups. You then have to catch the waiter's eye and ask for more, which involves a wait, while they go off to get it. We are used to the American system, where there are always plenty of waiters walking around with full jugs of coffee, topping up your cup or mug without being asked. Also, in German hotels one gets a big jug of coffee on every table which goes further.

2 There were two people on a table near us who had to ask repeatedly for their coffee and toast. Something was not working right that day.

On the second morning of our stay, we invited a couple of friends to join us for a celebration breakfast. A special table had been set aside for us and a birthday card was waiting for me, courtesy of the hotel – a nice touch.

The breakfast was excellent and the waiting staff were on top form. There was a moment when I went to the buffet looking for smoked salmon and there was none left. I mentioned this to our waiter and he assured me it would be replenished shortly. However, without me asking he delivered a fresh plate of smoked salmon to our table.
Needless to say we all came away from my birthday breakfast totally satisfied and happy.

Having said all the above, noting a few little details that need attention, we would recommend this hotel for it's ambience, comfort, politeness of the staff, location and general high quality.

We would definitely stay again!

In all hotels there will be little things that don't quite go right but when you are paying a 5 Star price, you expect the very best.

Spent the night last weekend as a treat. Got an upgrade to a junior suite as there was a mix up with our booking. The room was really large and comfy. we had a jacuzzi bath which was wonderful.
We had a cooked snack and drinks in one of the lounges and spent the evening listening to live music in a very relaxed atmosphere.
We used the spa facilities and all in all we had a wonderful stay.
Look forward to our next trip.

Booked afternoon tea for the last Sunday of the month because I had read that a string quartet played in the Great Hall.
The hotel appears very grand from the outside and doesn't disappoint on entering.The Great Hall itself is magnificent and with an open fire roaring on a wet and windy afternoon we felt like we had picked the perfect place to spend the afternoon.
We were escorted to our table and were initially disappointed by its location in what seemed to be the corridor to the Great Hall. However as the afternoon went on we realised that for us it was the perfect spot as we could enjoy the music without feeling like we had to sit in silence as though at a concert.
We did have to wait rather a long time to order and for drinks to arrive but could not fault the afternoon tea. The sandwiches, scones and pastries were delicious.
The whole afternoon was thoroughly enjoyable and the string quartet fabulous.
I would recommend a visit.

Another lovely weekend spent at The Grand. Nothing too much trouble from interested and thoroughly engaged staff. Fabulous room, fabulous view and fabulous experience. The pool was lovely and warm, all public areas spotlessly clean, despite the hotel being busy. One of our favourite places continues to deliver.

We took our grandchild who is a baby to stay. They not only provided a cot but a changing mat, a bath seat and a rubber duck to take home. He ate breakfast messily in their lovely dining room and they couldn't have been kinder. Our room was five star fabulous. We will definitely stay again

Have visited The Grand previously on numerous occasions, several times as a resident and for lunch & dinner. Yesterday was my first time for afternoon tea. Now I have been in the hospitality industry for 36 years and spent a majority of my career as a pastry chef, therefore my expectations from a 5 star hotel are extremely high. To be honest I wasn't blown away, although I wasn't disappointed either. The table setting was nicely laid and the young lady server was very pleasant and attentive. Our beverages were served promptly and very hot, the food followed shortly after, which consisted of freshly cut sandwiches with nice flavour combinations and garnished with some dressed baby leaves, excellent scones, soft, warm, neat and well glazed. The selection of pastries is where I feel more finesse is required. To be fair here, I can only comment on presentation as I only eat one of the six items, a Bakewell tart, this had good flavour, light and not too sweet. Very enjoyable. The fresh fruit tartlet would have presented better with the fruit arranged neater and glazed, and three of the pastries were topped with a rosette of creme chantilly and a berry, all a bit too similar. Please bare in mind this is just my personal opinion and meant only as constructive comments to the management, by no means should this put you off as a customer. I have another reservation for next Wednesday, that's how much I enjoy this wonderful hotel and all its amazing staff. Keith the executive chef is a true professional, and very highly respected within the industry. Well done and thank you to all at The Grand.

Everything from the front door to the food, to the room amazing.

They way you are looked after is great. I would highly recommend this hotel. They say you pay lots at a five star hotel but actually it was really good value for money.

Would definitely go back for more and longer !

Met my friend for.our regular coffee as like the lounge here. Amount of coffee in carafe barely enough.for 2 cups and not very warm either, and whereas we normally have shortbread biscuits served with this, today we weren't given any. When we asked.they were provided, 1 biscuit each but we were a little taken aback.to be charged £2.80 for them.
Might have to find a new venue as the bill for 2 cups.of coffee and the 2 biscuits was £12.25 and perhaps a little high.

we came to the grand in the middle of January for a spa day I have to say we had the most wonderful time. walking in to the reception area of the spa we was greeted by a young lady with long dark hair who was very friendly and helpful. it was our first time here and defiantly the best spa we have been to. The young lady answered all our questions and showed us around. the pool area is very relaxing and was perfect for me and my friends to have a relaxing day.I had a facial and both of my friends had a back massage, i had mine with i think her name was jess, which was superb! The food was outstanding couldn't fault it at all, Sauna, pool, steam room was lovely although could do with a update. overall it was a wonderful day and we will be returning in the future. would definitely advice people visit.

A most impressive building with street appeal. Our short visit was just before Christmas. The central area decorations were stylish with three huge real Christmas trees decorated very tastefully. The great hall was certainly a place to linger. Our basic priced room was fine, clean, well decorated and with a good bed and bed linen.
The restaurant was the weakness in my opinion. We booked for Sunday lunch which was disappointing for a five star hotel. The food was certainly not as hot as it should be and we mentioned this to the waiter. The choice was limited and the food about OK. We did realise that the dining room was stretched as it was very busy immediately before Christmas. Evening dinner the next day was much better. However breakfast on both mornings was not to our expected standard. The buffet was average. It was best to order from the menu because the food was then cooked to order.
We found that the porters and doormen were very attentive and helpful.
The hotel is well situated on the seafront and if you appreciate a grand ambience then this is the place for you but only if you get it for a good price!

Well... Our second visit to this wonderful hotel, we went up for valentines night and we had room service and breakfast in bed the following morning, it was the first time for us to have dinner there the last time we had afternoon tea but it was stunning food. It was my brothers birthday and I had the hotel to make a cake and it was fantastic they made my brother who's birthday it was feel like a lord. I have nothing bad to say about this hotel and beleave you me i'm fussy ohh I forgot my hubby ordered flowers with hotel for valentines and they were beautiful. The staff are amazing the hotel is impeccable and the food is to die for. "See you soon guys" x

I booked a spa package one night stay at the hotel for my Mum's birthday treat. I should firstly state that the overall standard of service was very high and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.mas soon as we arrived we were met by the reception manager, Emma, who was very welcoming, friendly and helpful. She told us that our room had been upgraded (unrequested). The experience at reception gave us a really good impressionn from the start. However, we had booked for a spa package and as such were looking forward to using the spa facilities. Prior to using the spa we had lunch in the bar. Again, the service from bar staff was impeccable, definitely what you would expect in a 5 star hotel. The staff that we encountered within the hotel set a very high standard...unfortunately this was let down by our experience at the spa reception. The young female member of staff seemed to assume that we were not guests at the hotel and told me that we would need to pay £15 each entry to the spa. It was me who then had to say that i had booked an overnight spa package. When we entered the changing room the first thing we noticed was the muddy changing room floor which was extremely off putting. A number of other ladies in the changing rooms (who appeared to be members of the spa) also commented on the floor and said that it was going down hill. Obviously not the sort of thing you want to hear when you want to relax and unwind. The facilities were fine, but when we noticed others wearing robes and slippers my Mum went to the reception desk and had to ask for our robes etc, these were not offered to us! I had thought that whilst we were using the facilities that the floor may have been cleaned, but no. It was really not a very nice experiience to shower and then have to walk across a muddy floor. This is not something a guest should have to mention to staff, I think an hourly inspection of the changing rooms by staff should be a regular Occurence. No excuse for a lack of cleanliness.

I have to say that we really enjoyed our treatments, I had a back massage and my Mum had a facial. Our room was superb, as was our dinner in the Garden Restaurant. Breakfast also absolutely delicious and high quality service. Sorry to say that we did not use the spa again on our last day and enjoyed a leisurely walk along the sea front instead. As a spa package, utterly disappointing, but truly excellent stay in the hotel.

Our stay at the Eastbourne was simply wonderful Every member of staff was fantastically kind and polished in the art of wonderful service. The atmosphere was so relaxing, the comfiest chairs and beds ever. Tremendous food. Great spa. Sea breezes. Old fashioned glamour. We'll be coming back and just hope not too many people find out how great the Grand is

My husband took me here for our first married valentine's weekend.

Firstly, the staff could not have been more helpful and friendly. Our every need was met before we even had to ask.

The hotel itself is beautiful inside. It is a classic and traditional hotel so if you like contemporary then this is not the place for you. But we loved it - reminded us of the Downton Abbey era. Our room was a good size with a lovely big super clean bathroom - the Molton Brown toiletries were also a lovely surprise!

We made use of the swimming pool and steam room - again great. We also had a massage and a facial - both therapists were great and really friendly. Due to a busy valentines weekend (and us booking last minute) they did not have any space for us originally but let us know when a cancellation came up which was great.

We had the most amazing cocktails (with nibbles) in the lounge before an amazing 4 course dinner in the Garden Room. Topped off by a live band and traditional dancing (Waltz etc - or how you fancy dancing) in the bar afterwards.

The breakfast the next day was also top notch, and the complimentary Sunday Times an added treat.

A truly lovely and relaxing stay. Thank you very much indeed.

Just got home from a weekend at The Grand Hotel with my wife Angela and my sister and partner. A great relaxing weekend was had by all. The rooms were first class very clean an comfortable. We ate in both the Garden and Mirabelle restaurants. The meals on both evening were first class as was the service we had during both evenings was excellent. The group/band on the Friday evening was a bonus the singer was great sounded like Karen Carpenter. The car parking space was reserved as promised which really helped. The reception and courtiage personnel were very welcoming and helpful nothing to much trouble. Thanks to everyone for making the stay first class be back at Easter..

Visited for a Valentine's Afternoon Tea which was delicious. However the service let down the food. It was scrappy and inconsistent. Not what I would expect from a 5 star graded hotel. On arrival, apart from the doorman, no-one assisted us. However on leaving I noticed the people that were arriving were warmly greeted and asked if they were here for afternoon tea. Their coats and names were taken and they were led through to the correct area for their tea. We were left wandering around and when we found someone were told to 'go over there they'll be able to help you'. Then we were asked far too quickly if we'd made up our minds what we wanted. Having just sat down I hadn't even looked at the menu. So asked if she could come back but in the meantime we'd have our champagne (as we'd booked for champagne AT). We waited and waited for the champagne. Eventually another member of staff came and asked us about the champagne and had we ordered it...! Eventually it came. Along with the sandwiches and cakes. Then when I asked for the tea to be served it took ages to come. It wasn't until we'd almost finished that someone came and asked us if everything was alright. The waitresses seemed more interested in having a chat at the bar than serving the customers and the only saving grace was a very pleasant and efficient male member of staff who seemed to be running around doing everything! Such a shame because bad service can't be redeemed by good food. Shan't be rushing back there.

I was taken here as a birthday treat for three days. It's a lovely old fashioned good service hotel. I used the spa and had a wonderful treatment from Be Be, fabulous lady, so friendly but absolute professional.
Shame it's so far to travel or I'd be there regularly

Spend over night Saturday 31st January, from the time you walk in you think you have gone back in time, from the reception at check in to leaving I really can't think of a negative, we were booked in for lunch at the Mirabelle restaurant which was lovely the service was excellent and the food wonderfully cooked, our room was beautiful everything you could of asked for even a four poster bed, nothing was to much trouble for the staff. Use the health spa later in the day all you need for a chill out, didn't bother going out in the evening we stayed in the bar and had a snack and drink, could stay for a week, a lovely place and will definitely go back.

We stayed here for three nights b&b early February, on a 3 nights for 2 deal. We were looked after from before we walked in the door until we left. The interior is impressive, the room was large, and the service was prompt and excellent. We used the bar, restaurant, pool and spa; all were fine. I wouldn't wish to pay full price, but we received five star value for our money.

My wife and I have stayed at The Grand for several years. The service has always been good and so have the rooms. We like the fact that everyone is expected to dress for dinner. At many other hotels guests arrive in the restaurant wearing dirty trainers and tea shirts. If that's what you want to do, then don't come to the Grand. Of course some people will think it is old fashioned, but surely that is part of the charm.
We have always found that the food is good and the dinning rooms are nice with subdued lighting. If you like a little charm from another age then the Grand is for you.