A magical setting, which made our wedding so perfect. The service from all staff from the event manager to the concierge team was immaculate.
The Mirabelle was superb. The Maitre'd Ben, Chef Gerald and the team made sure that the food wine and service was simply terrific. Well done the Grand we would recommend it to everyone.

On this occasion we just ate and relaxed in one of the Hotel's lovely lounges. We spent the whole day there going out to see the carnival halfway. On a very busy day car parking had been arranged for us and we were welcomed with great warmth by everybody and the service was the usual excellence we have become used to.We really do feel at home here and would not use anywhere else for our family and friends get togethers.

Took my wife for a nice weekend to the grand and it was wow as soon as we arrived.
The doormen met us took our bags parked my car and took us to reception for check in.
We received a complimentary upgrade to a suite ( very unexpected)
All i can say is WOW.
Everything about this hotel is 5 star plus and very british i am proud to say.
The staff are excellent the hotel is immaculate the facilities are excellent and the food is first class.
I have just returned from a fishing trip in the norwegian fjiords and bought home some halibut which i asked the chef to cook for us.
The chef cooked this for us and it was cooked in 3 different ways which was most delicious and all i can say is its the best fish dinner i have ever tried anywhere.
Nothing is too much for the staff at this wonderful hotel i think it should get an extra star

Our night away at The Grand, did not live up to the reviews or the 5* rating. Our room had a smell of damp from the very dated bathroom. There was no air conditioning in the room, which is definitely needed.
We were left waiting in cocktail bar for at least 10 minutes before anyone served us. We dined in the Garden Restaurant, food was basic, not impressed by menu. Veg was overcooked, turned to mush as I attempted to pick it up. We had to get the waiters attention on more then one occasion for water etc, the staff seemed to be focused on clearing empty tables as opposed to serving us. We went back to the cocktail bar after dinner and again struggled to get any attention from the staff. The breakfast was also very disappointing, the continental cheeses was individually wrapped cheese spread!
I did not complain at the time, as the night away was a birthday treat from my husband and I did not want to disappoint him further as he was already upset with the service we had received. We complained at check out, reception staff were very apologetic offering discounts & upgrades if we returned to the hotel.
We are a young couple, we knew we were not the clientele the hotel is marketed at but we still expected 5* and my husband certainly expected much better service & attention.
I will not take away from the fact The Grand is a fantastic building but it's not for young couples expecting modern 5* standard.
Being

When we first arrived my wife was horrified with the awful view over the pipes and airconditioning ducts at the back of the hotel. Within 15 minutes she managed to get us an upgrade to a penthouse suite with a sea view! The staff were excellent as was the breakfast in the room overlooking the seafront the next morning.

Wow, what a hotel. I had been here before for afternoon teas but not stayed here previously. It was a very last minute visit as a surprise anniversary present from my husband (bookd the day before I believe). What a joy. The second we pulled up the concierge appeared, whisked our luggage and car keys away and left us to wander into the very welcoming reception area and be escorted to our rooms. My husband had booked a seaview room and we were delighted to be told that we had been provided with an upgrade to some kind of suite - I can't remember what they called it. Anyway, it was Rm 308 and I highly recommend this room. It has incredible views over the seafront and along to the pier (which most of the other rooms will not have as they are 'set back' in way that will prevent them seeing the pier). The room was spacious with an incredibly comfortable bed, several sofa/seating areas, and large bay windows facing West and South. We ordered room service which was prompt and the qualty of the provision for snacks we had very high. Be careful when ordering snacks, the portions are huge and you can easily order one thing and share!

Room 308 has a lobby area when you enter it that houses wardrobes, ironing boards etc and provides plenty of storage for luggage and belongings. The bathroom is off to the right of the lobby area and has a shower over the bath rather than a walk in shower. It was perfectly fine for us but may present issues for some people. Equally, the shower head is 'fixed' so if you have long hair that you don't want to wash, showering is not that easy! As is quite typical of hotels of this age (although beautifully maintained) the bath is quite small. Also, if you need to use the handles to assit with movement when using the bath, it would be very difficult in this room due to the handles being placed so close to the wall that you cannot get your fingers around them. Again, this was not a problem for me but it's a professional issue and I notice these things!

As you would expect, the hotel provides all toiletries, bathrobes, slippers etc so you can leave all of that at home!

I was fortunately enough to find availability in the spa and had a treatment late in the afternoon, the spa staff, like all the others here, were a joy to meet and simply could not do enough for you. Full marks to Chelsea, my therapist for the session!

The decor and surroundings of this hotel are simply divine. Everything is spacious and sumptious, it is a pleasure walking around and seeing the public areas etc. We went for afternoon tea in the hotel. It did take quite a while for someone to serve us but once our order had been taken the refreshments arrived very promply and were very pleasantly served. We were attended to regularly by welcoming and fun staff who seemed to genuinely care that you were enjoying your stay.

We spent most of our evening in the bar at the hotel, both my husband and I enjoy bar atmospheres and what a fantastic find this was. The staff at the bar are really skilled and knowledgeable. There is a fantastic stock in the bar and it was pure joy to watch and talk to staff who really know their trade. We spent way to long and drank way to many cocktails (all made to absolutely precision and perfection) and had a great evening in the bar.

The hotel has a lovely outdoor heated swimming pool, we didn't use it on this occasion but many people did and there is an indoor heated pool too. All of which are available for use by residents. There are also ouside seating areas from the lounges etc.

We both thoroughly enjoyed our stay and will most definitely return.

The only downside is the Garden restaurant, I have placed a seperate review of this on Tripadviser but when returning, I will not be using the Garden Restaurant again.

However, that must not put you off staying at this fabulous gem of a hotel. Everything else it offers is exceptional in every way.

On arrival we received a complimentary upgrade to an Executive room, on the side of the hotel. It was huge, bigger than the floor area of a 4 bed detached house! The Superking bed looked small. The room was nicely furnished and decorated. The bathroom was lovely, my only complaint would be that the room was carpeted, where personally I feel tiles or washable flooring is more hygenic.

Complimentary robes were provided, but we couldn't find the slippers. Usually you get both.

Being in an Executive room seemdd get get you a better position in the dining room at breakfast. We were directed to a lovely window table. Breakfast was magnificent, cooked to order and delicous.

The heated outdoor swimming pool is also a bit of a treat, not many hotels seem to have outdoor pools in the UK.

I woudl definatley recommend an executive room at this hotel. However, being 5 star it was expensive even on a Sunday night. A luxurious treat!

I was fortunate enough to stay at The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne last Friday and it did not disappoint.

I had not heard too much about Eastbourne and held the similar perception of many as it being a sleepy retirement town, that perception was immediately changed as I drove along the seafront and into the entrance of the Grand. The pebble beach was clean and inviting, the lawns opposite the hotel were nicely kept and decorated with beautiful flowers and the view of Beachy Head was spectacular.

As for the hotel, we were met by two extremely helpful members of staff in the car park who assisted with a parking space and then took our bags inside and the check-in was quick and simple. The room was pristine, clean and equipped with everything and more, and the sea view was one of the best I have seen. I took full advantage of the facilities, the swimming pools, sauna and steam rooms were great and the staff again very helpful and friendly.

The dinner was of the highest standard along with top class service from the waiters, this was followed by a seat in the lounge by the open fire where the bar staff provided table service and recommended the cocktails from their very extensive bar menu. After a fantastic sleep in the comfortable bed, I went to breakfast where the buffet was vast and fresh and the chef was more than happy to prepare eggs benedict just for me.

The entire stay was perfect and I could not have wished for anymore, great hotel, staff, food, rooms and facilities AND to top it off, Eastbourne is the sunniest place in Britain.

I could not rate this hotel high enough and would recommend The Grand and Eastbourne to anyone.

Fantastic hotel! Real class!
The staff were amazing - nothing was too much trouble. Lovely rooms.
Superb food in a beautiful setting.
Highly recommended. Try the outdoor pool too! Eastbourne is a wonderful location and there lots to do.

I was lucky enough to stay at The Grand on Friday 17th May 2013 and had such a wonderful experience.
The hotel is beautiful and located perfectly along the seafront with the most beautiful views of Beachy head!
From the moment we stepped foot in the door we were looked after by such kind, polite and helpful staff.
Our room had a sea view and looked onto the gardens and heated, outdoor swimming pool which was being used by the hotel guests. The room had a bedroom and separate lounge area and was incredible clean, there was not a spot of dust anywhere, everything shined! The bathroom had under floor heating too which was lovely!
We had dinner in a unique balcony overlooking the lower lounge area and roaring fire, a superb place for small groups to dine or perhaps a romantic gesture! The food was amazing too!!! The Bar Manager was excellent, charming and hilarious and made some brilliant cocktails too!
Overall and unforgettable experience and one that I would recommend to all. Traditional, but Grand Seaside hotel...
I will certainly be coming back!

My best friend was leaving for Canada soon so I thought I would treat us both to afternoon tea at The Grand. I had been to afternoon tea before but my friend had not and neither of us had ever been to The Grand. Walking up the step at the front of the hotel, we were greeted with a very cheery "good afternoon" on what was a miserable rainy day. When we walked through the door, we were blown away. Beautiful chandeliers in the lobby and hallway. A lovely gentleman led us down the hallway to the lounge area at the far end. There were sofas and lovely armchairs that you just sunk into while listening to the peaceful and calming music that was being played. Whilst waiting for our afternoon tea, we took in our surroundings and the beauty of the hotel. When our afternoon tea arrived, we were blown away. The presentation was just so lovely. The scones were amazingly light and a very generous size, the sandwiches were delicious, the Eton mess was yummy and the pastries were scrummy. The staff were very attentive and our tea was refreshed quickly and efficiently. We weren't able to manage everything but we were able to take away the remaining pastries in a little box. I would have no hesitation in recommending anyone to go to The Grand for afternoon tea and I will definitely be going again.

The only downside was that there was a meeting on the 1st floor which was overlooking the lounge area we were in and it was quite noisy.

Have just visited grand with my husband and our niece for her birthday. Wow afternoon tea to die for. wonderful experience ....wonderful food, a truly special experience. Plus what we couldn't eat of the delicious food they offered and we accepted to box it up for us to take home. Waitress was very efficient friendly and helpful, asking would we like more tea. We used the rest room facilities and again wow, the hotel is beautiful, clean and friendly. Can't wait to go again

Me & the mr got a got price through last minute.com with the grand hotel, for £150 each 1 night stay with breakfast & 1 free treatment, you had to pre book it which is fair enough I booked a facial for my free treatment then reflexology, the mr booked 2 treatments (can't remember what lol) but on the day the spa called to say the lady who does reflexology was poorly so I rearrange something else so went for a body scrub. When we arrived the hotel was amazing & we got to check into our room 2/3 hrs early, the staff were very lovely, the room was beautiful beds comfy & you got molton brown samples with slippers and a robe. We had lunch which was nice but overly expensive. We went for our treatments which mine was 30 mins before the mr and when the mr went for his, someone else took his treatment...he did get another free treatment but that's not the point...I had to wait an extra 30 mins for my treatment...the staff have no idea what there doing. Was very disappointed in the spa staff! The hotel overall was lovely and the hotel staff were lovely & will do anything for you x

I stayed at The Grand in Eastbourne, mid April for two nights, I had a small dog with me who was treated to dinner in our room! an experience for him. The Grand is the perfect name, its a most relaxing hotel to stay in, everything runs so smoothly, theres a lovely welcome on arrival everyone is so friendly and professional. the hotel is like being in another world, I loved it.
I will be going again...dont miss the breakfast its wonderfull.

Stayed one night in one of the front/seaview facing suites...with a fab view of the sea..sumptous rooms...
They say its one of the only 5* hotel on the coast & from my brief visit, they are definitely right..if your looking for that one special hotel for a 'special occasion' then i would suggest you look 'no further'.....treated very well by the staff & felt very relaxed....loved the fact 'Gentleman had to wear jacket & tie' for dinner..
It has two restaurants, we ate in the Garden restaurant...the service was great & the food was 'delicious' - i would say about the dining room - we ate in 'spacious grandeur'...following on from that, the breakfast was 'exceptional, with huge choice...an experience i will not forget. Obviously if your a person with huge wealth you'll be used to that type of hotel & experience, but I'm not....but I can 'savour that slendour & experience'...would i recommend for that special occasion 'Oh yes'...even loved the fact we had a 'reserved parking space outside the front'. Its a lovely location on the sea front, with a nice easy walk into town & of course the 'pier'.

We had a small wedding and a three night stay; everything went smoothly, attention was paid to every detail and request; food at The Mirabelle restaurant and chef were as brilliant as ever; the hotel staff are exceptional in terms of courtesy and consideration and made our wonderful wedding even more special.

A fantastic last minute stay at this hotel. Staff couldn't do enough to help, so polite. A wonderful upgraded room with amazing sea views. Food lovely and whole hotel had a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere. Would definitely stay again.

We stayed here again for one night after several year's absence. The buiding is still magnificent, however, a room at the back with no double glazing and no air conditionning is not so good (5 stars?) There was only one robe in the bathroom, no toiletries, not even a piece of soap, and I couldn't have a shower as the shower distributor tap was broken.
In the evening whilst we had our Martinis, which were ok if not very expensive, we tried to order dinner. We were not very hungry so the maitre d'hotel tried to explain the pricing policy. It is totally incomprehensible and perhaps even illegal. The result is that you pay more for one dish from the à la carte menu than for a whole 3 course meal from the daily menu!!!!! The result was our dinner cost £122.90 without the cocktails!!!!!
The dinning room was nearly empty in sharp contrast to ou last visit - perhaps due to this crazy pricing policy!!!!
We will not be going back.

We stay here many times a year,and the reasons are...great location...huge public rooms(to watch the world go by)...wonderful smiling efficient staff...a very attractive dining room...above average hotel food.Yes I will agree that The Grand looks a little tired in places,but hey what do you expect with a building of this size and age.We have just spent 9 days at The Grand,and thoroughly enjoyed it.I had smoked salmon/scrambled eggs every day for breakfast,as well as fresh fruit,cheeses and excellent chunky rolls.The most memorable dinner consisted of...Thai infused pumpkin soup,Cod (oh so fresh and cooked to perfection)with a herb crust,and followed by a rhubarb and gooseberry crumble.
On a personal note I have just retired after working for the last 47 years full time,so I presume that I am now one of "the Oldies" that so many of the reviewers of The Grand refer to in their reviews!!However I have all my own teeth,a fine head of hair,am fairly slim,wear up to date clothes and have "old fashioned" good manners!!
If you have never stayed in a hotel of this size in an English seaside town,then go and try it.We did just that 6 years ago ,and have been returning ever since.

Dont get me wrong, my wife and son enjoyed their stay....as previous contibutors have stated, the majority of staff were most helpful, the breakfast is one of the best we have tasted for a very long time and the hotel is conveniently located. However, we all thought that the hotel is in need of being dragged into the 21st Century...little things like not having a children's menu at dinner was a irritation and when we asked for a simple plate of fish and chips for our 12 year old son, he received his fish accompanied by a baked banana....not being offered bread until we had sat at our table for at least 15 minutes....the bathroom whilst perfectly adequate and functioning correctly looked as though it had come from a 1970/80's catalogue (the bathroom had clearly been recently refurbished)....on booking we were asked to notify the hotel of our son's age so you can imagine his surprise when he received a gift of a bucket and spade and crayons.

Overall, the hotel reflects what one imagines a "Grand Hotel" to be.....the BBC did a recent documentary on Claridges.....might I suggest the Grand Hotel at Eastbourne for the second series

We booked via Offpeakluxury and were able to get the room with free upgrade, breakfast and evening meal for a competitive price which is not easy for the only 5 star hotel in this region on the coast. Upon arrival our car was parked for us and our luggage taken at reception we were offered our free upgrade to a side sea view room. I was after a room with a sea view and close to the stairs and after discussions with the management was offered Room 126. This was a very beautiful room with sea views and a balcony., the room was near to the stairs so very handy. We found the room very comfortable and decorated in a fashion fitting this lovely hotel. Of course, it is old fashioned with drapes and velvets but it is all very fitting. The breakfast is in the Garden Room which is huge and well staffed, we were seated and asked immediately if we would like tea, coffee and toast, white or brown. This arrived swiftly. There was a table with all different cereals, jams, and bottles of organic carrot juice. The next table with food was situated further away., this had several fresh juices, a large display of fresh fruit, then a varity of prunes, apricots, dried fruits, yoghurts etc. Also some cheeses, croissants, several cake croissants and some soft cheeses. On top of all this you could order any cooked food from the menu. The breakfast menu choice was extensive. Also quite a good vegetarian range. At dinner we again were shown to the same table which was a nice touch and were told this table would be kept for us. As a vegetarian i was pleased to see a menu for vegetarians but was disappointed to learn this did not change and had not changed for sometime. My husband had cod and chips one evening but had to ask for peas he thought it was not a lot of value for the price. I had pasta which was nice and was asked if i would like chef to prepare something for me for the following evening, i asked for a vegetarian curry. To my surprise this was put on the menu the next day. I am afraid it was not to my liking as it was all fruit almost which i have never had and in my opinion bore no resemblence to curry. I was told it was a popular dish and they would not make it spicy which i expected. The waiting staff were very helpful and went out of their way to please. I didnt use the spa facilities. We were shown around the pool which was in the basement and i felt it was too dungeon like. The outdoor pool is heated but was not open at the time but i was informed by a member of staff that it is absolutely lovely, so i am hoping to use this next time. The hotel has some truly striking features, with wonderful architecture. Also the flowers were of note, with some very very lovely displays in all the large rooms on the ground floor, no expense was spared. One arrangement was full of cymbidium orchids with shamrocks, alstromeria, lisianthus, and more. We would certainly return to The Grand but would say it is a very expensive place to stay.

we went to Eastbourne to have afternoon tea we had stayed at this hotel on numerous occasions but had yet to sample this.it was a very laid back afternoon we were offered tea or coffee and they fetched up the tiered sandwich and cake rack.it was all very delicious.we had a window seat and the staff were very attentive.there was also a very big wedding going on at the same time but this didnt affect our visit.perfect afternoon.

4 of us had afternoon tea at the Grand today. I was a bit apprehensive as some reviews in the past had not been 100%.
I am pleased to say this was a very good experience. We were not residents and only went there for the afternoon tea.
From the moment we arrived and were greeted by the doorman....things went like clockwork.
The young lady who greeted us and confirmed our booking...took us through to a reserved seating area. The waitress was brilliantly attentive...the tea was superb...the sandwiches and scones and cakes were first class.
The staff were all well presented and very polite...the way they moved and acted looked like the result of training and attention to detail. ....a classic old school afternoon tea with wonderful charm and ambience set in a wonderful classic hotel.

Made me proud to be British.
Go on treat yourself :) A lovely experience.

My Nan would have liked this place. Some hotels are business friendly, some are child friendly and some are even pet friendly. The "Grand" is so geriatric centric that I reckon the "d" was added as an afterthought. My room, which was very generously proportioned, was furnished in the style of an old people's home with crushed velour lounge suite and heavy patterned floral curtains.
I was visiting with extended family for a short get together. But the first question which occurred to me is why would anyone go to Eastbourne at all? Not for the great British weather and not for the stony beach. And certainly not for the pier, Ok slightly out of season but really only comprising slot machines and a chip shop, frequented by delinquents and staffed by escapees. Not the fault of the hotel but I am still wondering about the answer to my question.
Anyway on to the food. Afternoon tea was taken in one of the lounges and very genteel it was too; tea pots, real tea and fine china. My Nan really would have loved that. Then later dinner was served in the dining rooms, which are certainly quite grand and have some style. I ordered fillet steak and a fine piece of meat it was too. A shame that it came covered in a sauce which I swear was made with an entire jar of Chinese 5 spice. Service Ok, in keeping with many UK hotels the staff seem to largely consist of Polish workers who would otherwise be gainfully employed in the Warsaw branch of Primark, or equivalent. Efficient enough but if personality was a bottle of tonic water then maybe the top has been left off for too long.
After dinner there was a small band playing in the ballroom and some of the residents cast off their zimmer frames and attempted a waltz or foxtrot shuffle. Quite jolly really, maybe this is the norm in a place such as this. I have probably just spent too much time at business hotels.
Breakfast was pretty good and served up in the same grand dining room, the only aspect which let it down was the continued presence of certain family members. But I can't hold that against The Grand.
To be fair the hotel is very comfortable, in a traditional way and I think that's the word which fairly describes it. Probably it was once grand, in around 1930, but that was then and this is now. It's grandness could be likened to a former beauty queen who has acquired some wrinkles and piled on some pounds. A former, but not current, beauty queen. But then I guess that "The Comfortable Hotel Eastbourne" wouldn't really have the same ring to it.

We spent a weekend here but were a little disappointed. The rooms including the bathrooms were OK but small and many of the floors were creaky. The restaurants were good but unexceptional given the prices. One of the doorman totally lacked customer focus being very grumpy because the relatively small car park, for a hotel of this size, was over full.