I only comment on the dining aspect of The Grand as I am lucky enough to live close-by. We have dined there on a number of occasions, usually to mark a special event in our lives, birthdays,anniversaries, what have you. As far as we are concerned, for us, this is the special place to go. The attention from every member of staff the food, the ambience is all at least five star. Can't wait for my birthday.

Sadly in need of a refurb. Spa area smelt dank.Hospitality tray in room was housed in redundant tv cabinet
Most staff charming with the exception of waiter in Mirabell restaruant who was positively hostile when a comment was passed on the' grey' potatoe dish. Definite does not warrant 5 star rating or cost!
A very disappointing Birthday treat

My wife and I stayed one night at the Grand in Eastbourne when we travelled there in March 2013 to take in a show. The hotel was excellent, a cheerful and exceptionally helpful staff who are all so obviously well trained in looking after their guests. The whole experience was a pleasure. The room was clean elegant and spacious and well equipped, the Times was complimentary (thank you). My wife and I made good use of the indoor pool and steam room which was lovely and very warm. Breakfast in the morning was first class and the service impeccable. The hotel has an aire of grace about it, it is aged but also it is ageing well. A comfortable stay and run the way a hotel should be. In the summer, this would be a lovely spot just across from the beach.

This lovely, elegant hotel is from a bygone era but everything you should expect from a 5 star hotel. I stayed in a first floor suite with large balcony with sea view. Everything from walking in the front door was perfect. Fantastic attentive staff, excellent food, great night sleep..... I loved the welcoming atmosphere everywhere. Interesting that it apparently affected everyone because every time we passed other guests they said hello!
The place is full of character, and you will certainly not be disappointed if you stay here.

I've visited The Grand on many occasions but this was my first accompanied by a party of 11 family members ranging in age from 18 months to 88 years. The service, from beginning to end, was excellent - the rooms were well appointed, clean and equipped with a selection of Molton Brown toiletries, tea and coffee making facilities. The hotel was busy but still managed to offer its customary marvellous service. We will be back.

Having returned from a superb weekend celebrating my hubbies 60th birthday I would like to thank all of the staff who made a landmark birthday a memorable one! We booked a meal for a gathering of 39 family and friends and all without exception had a great time. All of the staff did their utmost to ensure our weekend ran smoothly and they succeeded. Can't wait to return and cannot recommend highly enough.

This was our third time at the Grand, as with the other stays it was again perfect. The staff are very attentive particularly the concierge staff. This time we had a lovely suite which was both clean and very comfortable. We will be back

This was our first stay at the Grand, and we really enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and excellent service throughout the hotel.

Our bedroom had a lovely full view of the sea from its big bay window. It was a large room, with two cosy armchairs by the windows, and a very large and comfortable double bed. Even the pillows felt really luxurious and the bedding and bedlinen were first class. The room was attractively decorated and furnished, clean and fresh, and well-equipped. The bathroom was a good size and stocked with Moulton Brown toiletries.

We had the champagne afternoon tea in the Great Hall, which felt like a grand location with its extra high ceiling, large fireplace, oil paintings and opulent decor. The afternoon tea service was excellent, and with a good range of sandwiches and cakes.

The breakfast in the Garden Restaurant was delicious. There was a broad selection of good quality cold and hot buffet dishes. Service was very friendly and efficient in the restaurant as well.

The spa facilities are good. The pool was a warm, comfortable temperature for a swim, and the steam room, hot-tub, and sauna (located in the changing room) were relaxing to use.

Overall, this was an excellent hotel, backed up a great team of staff.

During February this year (2013) we had occasion to stay once again at The Grand Hotel. We have visited the hotel on many previous occasions and once again we were treated to the most wonderful hospitality. The quality of the visit begins the moment one arrives at reception. The staff have the ability to make you feel welcome and at home, they have a charm including a smile making the greeting a real pleasure. The rooms are superb, spotless and well appointed as well as being very comfortable. Dining is what should be the norm in any quality hotel, a treat and something to be cherished. The cuisine is impeccable with a great range of choices on the menu. The breakfasts are a great start to every day. Dietary requirements are dealt with with great care and thought.
The Spa is an excellent way of relaxing and enjoying the amenities on offer.
Overall the quality of service which is discreet, thoughtful, and of the highest standard demonstrates what a "Gold Standard" level of hospitality should be delivered in every quality hotel (sadly not the case in many instances) in the country.
Having this wonderful experience maintains our continuing visits to The Grand Hotel. We cannot wait to return!
What is more, there is the added bonus of bracing walks along the promenade and to Beachy Head.

Wonderful hotel for special occasion (our 47th wedding anniversary). We were upgraded on arrival from a front seaview room to a suite on the first floor with an enormous balcony. Pity the weather was so appallingly cold that sitting out on the balcony was not really an option, but a nice thought. The rooms were very nicely furnished and very comfortable, very clean and tidy with sufficient complimentary tea and coffee and fresh milk. As there was only an over-bath shower, the hotel very kindly put a stool in the bathroom and a grabrail over the bath to assist me in getting in and out. Funnily enough, we met the couple who we think had been upgraded to the room we had originally booked which they described as "palatial".
We had our evening meals in the Garden Restaurant (set menu). Quite acceptable, nicely presented, for two nights. For our anniversary we had wanted to have our dinner in the Mirabelle but this was closed that night, so instead at the suggestion of the young lady at the desk had our anniverary dinner in the Garden Restaurant using the al la carte menu (a copy of which she had sent up to our room. Cannot describe how incredibly perfect this meal was. Food, service and a "Happy Anniversary" piped in chocolate round the desert plate!
There were two niggles. Firstly, the central heating and the plumbing were noisy. We know it is an old building and that it will cost them a fortune to upgrade, but it really must be done.
The second niggle is the breakfast service. You have a choice of either the buffet (usual cooked and continental do-it-yourself) OR you can select items from the breakfast menu (waiter service) which seemed a great idea (I like porridge and kippers). However, the staff are inclined to take your order into the kitchen and then just forget it! This happened twice in three days. Not very good is it. Could do so much better.
All in all, an extremely nice hotel with very nice staff. Service on the whole was excellent although let down by the kitchens. All in all I would stay there again, although I will have to start saving up my pension now.

My partner and I have stayed at the Grand on a number of occassions and have never been dissapointed, and this stay was no exception. We had booked a Deluxe room, and on checking in, we were informed that we had been upgraded to a Junior inland suite, courtesy of the Grand, a very nice gesture. The room was amazing and so much space, a lovely 4 poster bed, large en-suite, and as usual, cleanliness was of a high standard. All of the staff are so polite, friendly, nothing is too much trouble, and appear proud of the work they do, and of the hotel they work for. Mr Webley, the manager must be so proud of all of his staff.

We have enjoyed another overnight stay at the Grand, having enjoyed dinner and drinks. Service and food was excellent for dinner, the hand carved serloin is fantastic.
Our room this time was an improvement and had been redecorated. The carpet in the toilet had been replaced with tiles so is more up to date. Nice shower, but the pressure wasn't great and not very hot. The staff are all excellent and will take the time to talk. Concierge parking is a very nice touch and make arriving that much more pleasant.
Breakfast was excellent, but whilst the session was busy, it was a shame to see the hot buffet run out of most of its items. They were replenished though and the ingredients are of the best quality. For the price and experience and service, the Saturday night fixed dinner menu at £37 perhaed is good value. Can spend nearly this is a local eatery with ping meals and items. This hotel remains excellent, not tottal perfect but apart from the Savoy where is. Good value for money, pool etc is great which we used again. Nice to experience a hotel where all the staff are pleasent and seem to actually enjoy their work, and smile while working very hard.

We have just had afternoon tea at the Grand, and it was indeed a grand experience. The staff were attentive, polite and friendly and put us at our ease immediately. The tea was very tasty and beautifully presented. They also provided a special child's version for a little boy at a table near ours - he was absolutely thrilled with it , as we were with ours. We would certainly recommend it as a special occasion.

There is a distinct mismatch between the Downton Abbey splendour of the Grand Hotel's imposing exterior and reception area, and the pokey, seaside B&B-style bedroom where we slept. The door to the bedroom opened directly on to the bed, which provided an uneasy feeling that one of the hotel staff might, at any moment, walk in! We could clearly hear the conversations of other guests passing along the creaky corridor at night and in the morning, which added to our unease. The one small window looked out over the back of the hotel and on to a pigeon net - not very pleasant - and brought very little daylight to the dingy room. There was a single old fashioned armchair - velveteen green - which we used to dump our clothes because the wardrobe was difficult to access. The bathroom was small and carpeted (ugh!) and in serious need of tarting up. We had to call the consierge to turn on the shower tap, which was stuck, and the water pressure was too low for an enjoyable shower.
Downstairs in the spa we were similarly underwhelmed. It is much smaller than it looks on the website and because of half term, was full of children and teenagers. Fine if you're on a break with the kids, but not great for those of us escaping family life for a night away. There are separate saunas in the male and female changing rooms and an over-crowded steam room and jacuzzi. The spa did clear out significantly around 6.45pm but as we left at 7pm we didn't have too much time to relax in peace.
I have stayed in 4-star hotels far more luxurious than the Grand Hotel, and better value too. For a 5-star hotel, at £150 per night (excluding dinner and expensive bar drinks), one expects a little more than an old-fashioned back room. Looking at the amazing bedrooms with sea views on the website, I can't help but feel a little cheated by the experience. Interestingly, it was one of the valet staff who gave us a 'heads-up' on why our room might be disappointing. It seems that the better rooms are reserved for guests booking directly with the hotel, while inferior accommodation is off-loaded via the online booking sites. Worth remembering!
Will I stay there again? Unlikely. I prefer my luxuries a bit more '21st century'. But Eastbourne itself is worth a visit, to see the glorious cliffs of Beachy Head and eat fish and chips on the windy prom.

We stayed for only one night as we were there for a formal dinner. On arrival we were booked in by the smart, efficient front desk staff. A porter then collected our luggage from our car and escorted us to our room and showed us how things worked. The only downside was that our room was at the back of the hotel so therefore no view. We asked for an iron and one with an ironing board was delivered within minutes. All in all a very short but enjoyable stay. Would we stay there again if we found ourselves in eastbourne, yes, most definately.

As a big fan of this hotel we were slightly disappointed on our last visit as basic errors where made in the dining room......First error was made on the starter with us having to wait for a starter which resulted in one cold soup for my wife which we had to change...hair in the vegetables which was shrugged off with no real apology....not what we would expect from the Grand
Breakfast was again not up to standard with the scrabbled eggs tasting of fish ! no fried eggs on offer ! Plus we asked for instant coffee and the English language then became a problem .........which we had not encountered before with service at the Grand
But please don't be put off this hotel by my review we will still go back ....but hotel management note my first black mark for the Grand.......Please try it its English charm and service normally at its finest !!

I am giving the 4 star rating because the staff are so helpful and courteous I always feel I am in safe hands inside this wonderful building. I usually eat in the Garden Restaurant which is slightly cheaper and less formal, but on the night of our stay we used the Mirabelle. Both never disappoint.

Unfortunately our twin room was too hot, even when we turned the radiators right down. It was traditionally furnished with faded flowery bedcovers and chipped headboards. There was so much furniture in front of the windows it was hard to get to the radiators underneath, or to see the view of the sea, and the bathroom (especially the carpet) could do with being updated.The trouser press stuck in the middle of the wall opposite the beds did nothing to enhance the room. The beds were comfortable though and it was clean enough, but old places like this never seem as pristine as new, modern hotels. The room was quiet apart from the rattling windows (which could have been fixed with a window wedge apparently) probably because the hotel was not busy and we never passed anyone in the long corridors.

I appreciated the friendly telephone call while we were unpacking, offering any help with anything we needed and welcoming us to The Grand.

We used the indoor pool, jacuzzi etc which was very pleasant.

It was a long walk to our room which did not bother us, but it is something to consider if this might be a problem. It is a large building! Our bags were of course carried there for us by a cheerful Concierge.

If I had paid top price for this room I would not think it was good value, but luckily got a winter 'deal'.

The whole hotel was overheated at the time of our stay, but to be fair the weather had just changed from ice and snow to milder weather, and obviously they had not adjusted the temperature on the heating system. On the other hand, I have been here for afternoon tea, and felt chilly in the high ceilinged Great Hall.

Breakfast was underwhelming compared with some modern hotel chains or even bed and breakfast establishments. The cereals on offer were very basic, and apart from smoked salmon on the buffet table, there was nothing special about breakfast. The cooked breakfast consisted of the usual choices and was brought to our table by efficient and polite staff.

The drinks are very expensive. £15 for a cocktail is over the top, £4.50 for a freshly squeezed orange juice (but it is delicious)and they are served with olives and crisps which is a nice touch. I think a bottle of Prosecco was over £30. No wonder the bar was empty! The bar itself could do with a bit of livening up, even soft background music perhaps? There is nothing to encourage people in. It seems rather gloomy in the evening. I notice few people buy wine in the restaurant , maybe it is time to put something more affordable on the wine list?

I love this hotel for it's old fashioned service and good food. I love the building itself which is a spacious and comfortable place in a traditional way. I am a regular visitor for lunch or just to have coffee in one of the lounges and I will carry on with this, but unless the bedrooms are refurbished I am afraid I would not choose to stay here again.

I had a very short but very pleasent stay in this well decorated, presented and serviced hotel. No complaints about anything, although I was only there for 2 days, so would have preferred a little more time.

Our stay in The Grand was really great. What a beautiful impressive building coupled with excellent staff and good food. From the moment we drove up we were met with friendly, helpful people who greeted us with a smile and "Welcome to the Grand". We felt we were back in the days when people really did speak to each other and care about the jobs they had. Our room was large and well furnished although we could have done with a fridge and an ironing board and iron, but that is the only downside. The bed was comfortable and large. We were only staying for two nights and didn't use the gym and pool so cannot comment on that. All in all a very pleasant stay and certainly somewhere we will want to come back to.

From the moment you drive into the front of The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne you are met with well trained staff. Your car can be valet parked and when you move it, they will reserve the place. Inside the hotel the staff are all dressed in uniforms, at least 3 Concierge men to help with trolleys and directions and the receptionists are excellent.
The rooms are good, our wasn't the greatest. We only had an Executive Room, but I expect they all are a bit old and creaky. The bathroom was the main thing we didn't like, it was far too small and the extractor fan was deafening, like a helicopter hovering over you, the floor squeaked a lot and the central heating made a loud water moving noise, all night long.
The Charterhouse Lounge was excellent, as soon as you order anything a spotless white linen tablecloth is laid over the coffee table, then the service follows, all staff again in distintive uniforms and well trained.
There are 2 main restaurants, we ate in them both, they are expensive, you can't just order a steak, you have to pay for the dinner plus a supplement even though you don't want the dinner and the wine is pricy, but today you get what you pay for and this is luxury highclass, you could have been in a Cunard Princess or Queens Grill room. Great selection of food, my wife has to be on a Gluten Free Diet, this was catered for, but they could have offered a better selection of basic food, bread, rolls, breakfast cereals and sweets, but overalll we enjoyed the food and the service, we had a great time and would certainly go there again, when we have saved up for it.

Quite a few things to say about the staff behind reception and all of them - warm, friendly and helpful. The building itself is very grand and imposing - in an "old world" kind of way... the location is great - across the road you are walking along the seashore :)

We visit The Grand about once a month,and stay for a few days,usually midweek.We think she is like a huge Ocean going liner,from the days when liners crossed the Atlantic every week of the year.So----bedrooms are on the large size,and I admit the furniture is a little on tired side,but the bed linen,towels,duvets,gowns are allof excellent quality.Bathrooms are always spotless with a full supply of toiletries.The experience you have when you walk along the magnificent corridors on the way to your room is something no recently built hotel can offer,because The Grand is just that GRAND!The enormous main dining offers a superb breakfast.When it comes to dinner the room turns into a candle light magical room.The food is good hotel food,but if you choose to have what is on the silver trolley you really can't go wrong.Local beef,chicken,lamb and roasted ham all carved before you.Superb!The Mirabelle dining room is intimate,and offers an ever changing repertoire of delicious dishes.Finally and not least----The Staff!From the moment you are greeted when you park your car,it is SMILES all the way.Everyone knows what they are doing,and it shows.Once half term is out of the way,we will return for another few days to stay in this Grand Old Lady!

The uniformed doorman who stepped out smartly to greet our arrival, the porter who carried our bags, the staff behind reception and the breakfast waiting staff - all warm, friendly and helpful.

The building itself is very grand and imposing - in an "old world" kind of way. Room was lovely (but no fridge). Gym and pool to help counter the delicious breakfast calories.

Location is great - cross the road and you are walking along the seashore.

No good if you are on a tight budget, but if you can afford it, or want a special treat for a few days, I can recommend the Grand Hotel at Eastbourne.

Stayed at The Grand a few weeks back during a business conference, the room, food and service was absolutely superb. The conference went along with ease thanks to Leslie, Elliot and their team who looked after us during our meetings and at lunch and dinner. Everything they did seemed effortless, but I'm sure there was plenty of hard work going on in the background.
Alex from Housekeeping was also great as on the Tuesday night of the conference I asked for an iron and board but he informed me that they were all in use at the time. However, Alex offered to iron my shirts for that evening and for the following day. He was extremely helpful and professional in returning my shirts all pressed within ten minutes. He provided an outstanding personal service that went beyond what I expected. All of the staff worked so hard looking after us during the conference. It really was a grand place to stay. I will be returning to The Grand with my family in the summer. Great value for money, a wide range of facilities and a town that is so close by too. It has to be one of the best hotels I have stayed in for a while when it came down to the level of quality and service I received!!

Having stayed at this place before on quite a few occasions. usual superb service and food. However the rooms are in need of up dating as they are a bit like grandma,s bedroom. The biggest laugh is carpet in the bathroom! Is this the height of luxury? With a lovely aroma of an old sweaty sock. The beds too are typical B & B stuff. Otherwise a lovely location for relaxing. The spa is great but again a bit old fashioned.