My wife gifted us a one night stay, with sea view, evening meal, & breakfast. We were joined by 3 family members for the dinner in the less formal but smart Garden Room.
Two of us were vegetarians with no liking for mushrooms; this wasn't a problem as the mushrooms were replaced by the desired cheese for their delicious gnocchi. Three of us enjoyed perfectly cooked steaks. We were also presented with a dainty cup of soup as a complimentary starter, very tasty & a nice touch.
Our morning swim in the heated outdoor pool set us up for a good hearty breakfast.
Throughout our short stay staff were upbeat, courteous, helpful, & attentive without being overbearing - even presenting me with a birthday card.
This splendidly-located hotel is mature in years & a reminder of perhaps more gentile times; as a result it probably is due for a significant financial investment to restore the physical fabric however these are tough times for a business & it didn't detract from.our stay.
So we'll done to the staff & their immediate management for creating a good experience.

It’s a nice enough hotel - lovely pool (which was empty when I went!) and jacuzzi. The breakfast is good and the staff always friendly. However, the hotel as a whole is dated in its decor (most guests are elderly to be fair though). It’s not classic - it’s tired. The cleanliness around the communal areas could be better (lots of dead flies in the staircase, pretty gross!). The rooms were a let down as they don’t have fridges - unusual for a 5-star hotel - and my double bed was REALLY uncomfortable (it sagged in the middle where they had put 2 single beds together ).
I would summarise by saying you could have a perfectly decent stay but there is definitely better out there

We are still at the hotel but I wanted to leave an early review to reverse some of the misinformation and ridiculous poor comments left by previous reviewers!
From reception to housekeeping, the staff are all extremely friendly and helpful and very well trained. Our room (a junior suite, room 209) is spacious and airy and not in the least bit shabby as other reviewers have claimed… and all windows are fully operational !

We have eaten in both restaurants, the cocktail bar and the terrace by the outside swimming pool for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the food is outstanding and the service is first class. We have eaten in some of the best restaurants and stayed in many of the worlds finest hotels but my fillet stake was amongst the best I’ve ever had !

It’s true that some parts of the hotel are a little dated but everywhere is spotlessly clean and well maintained and I just hope that I look half this good when I’m 145 years old.

If your idea of a good five star hotel is limited to a modern glass tower block where everything is brand new and the staff wear fake smiles and polo shirts, then please go elsewhere and stop leaving unfair reviews. On the other hand, if you appreciate the elegance and opulence of Victorian splendour, first rate food and drink and genuinely five star service then you’ll love this place as much as we do.

Thank you Grand Hotel - we’ll be back !

We had booked a Sea View Junior Suite for 2 nights at a cost of £958.00 (considerable cost!). On arrival, I was informed (in a not great manner) that we couldn't park as hadn't reserved, I explained I had asked the question of Reception a few days earlier and they said "it will be fine". Doorman said I shouldn't have listened to Reception it is Reservations that I should have spoken to (felt like a child being told off) - anyway, he was very nice from this point as I told him off for being condescending, he managed to find us a parking space so all good (perhaps be was having an off day). Reception advised we had been upgraded to a Suite with Balcony which was lovely - what wasn't so great (and I'm not being ungrateful) is that it was like an oven without any windows to open apart from one at the top but no pole provided (didn't want to leave doors open at night). Asked housekeeping to open window, he was very surprised that it opened at all but managed to do it - all good! First night, we asked for an ice bucket and 2 glasses, husband had gone to the bar to request, not by phone - they charged us £5 for room service!! He could've brought it up to the room himself but was discouraged from doing so. I was really looking forward to my first meal out since lockdown 2020 and hoped that tables would be spaced out etc - nope! so close together that it freaked me out a little bit, only staff wearing masks and literally nearly all residents not wearing them as they wandered around even tho it says Mandatory on the web site, likewise in common areas - I did not feel comfortable at all I am afraid. Now for the crowning glory - rough sleepers in the park opposite (we have been here a few times and they used to be on the front in the huts but have moved up) we were approached for money on our second day and just ignored which was fine, however on checking out one of them walked past me in reception stinking of drugs, he used the facilities and then one of the waiters brought him out a drink - whilst the staff may think this is helping it isn't and isn't what a hotel should be doing - take the drink out to them in the morning with a bacon butty or something. Both of our breakfasts were cold and requests for more toast as lukewarm didn't materialise. This is our last time at this hotel, we have been a few times over the last 5 years and it needs complete refurbishment etc, it is NOT 5 STAR and cost us over £1000 by the time drinks and coffee etc were added for two days!!

This trip was a long time coming but was originally booked during the first week of lockdown. We knew, at the end of it, we would need to be able to sit and look at the sea but it is surprising how few spacious balconies with a sea view there are in this country. However, the Presidential Suite at the Grand has this and more.

By the time we finally arrived, the suite had been refurbished and it cannot be faulted. A huge and tastefully decorated sitting room, large equally elegant bedroom with king-sized bed, huge [if slightly dated] bathroom with whirlpool corner bath, walk-in shower plus his and her washbasins, all with a huge, very well-furnished balcony overlooking the sea. With the fantastic weather we were able to eat breakfast on our balcony on five of the days of our stay. On three other days we ate at the dining table.

My husband had his total hip replacement four weeks ago and we ventured out little. The suite was perfect in the circumstance, enabling him to get the exercise he needed but always be close to somewhere to rest.

If both restaurants were, perhaps, a little disappointing [it seemed that the hotel may have been suffering from the well publicised shortage of hospitality staff] room service was fast and efficient, and in every other area of the hotel service was impeccable. Without fail. staff greeted you, usually by name, and checked if there was anything they could do for you. The housekeeping staff were excellent keeping up my husband's stock of teabags. Do remember to request a fridge him, you prefer proper cold milk.

The final jazz BBQ lunch if the season on the terrace was a lovely start to our stay. Sitting there watching people in the magnificent heated outdoor pool [in constant use during our stay despite the time of year] we almost expected Miss Marple to arrive with her little suitcase.

Having never been to Eastbourne before, prior to departure we booked the same ten days in the same suite next year.

Lovely afternoon tea. Not until I got home did I realise I had been charged £18.75 discretionery service charge - discretionery is just that - I would expect to be given the option to choose whether to tip or not and this DID not happen. My fault for not checking my bill but others should be aware

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Grand, clean and comfortable, the staff courteous as well as warm and friendly, always ready to help. I would like to mention both David and Robert, at door/reception, who were both so kind and helpful on our arrival and when we left. The food was delicious and I particularly enjoyed an early morning swim in the outside pool

Always enjoy this wonderful hotel whether it's for lunch, evening meal or special afternoon tea. Everything is always first class, excellent staff, always kind & helpful. Never stayed overnight but I'm confident that would be great too. Always recommend.

A perfect day of lunch and spa. Staff extremely friendly particularly in the restaurant and make us feel special. Thank you for a special day x

Great old hotel, generally well maintained. Lovely staff, every one helpful polite and friendly. Ate in the Mirabelle restaurant - smashing food. Unexpected stay - thoroughly enjoyable stay. Happy to recommend.

All the staff were so welcoming and very helpful.
Room was nice and clean.

5star prices without the 5star accommodation.
Stayed in a suite which was great space but drab and uninviting.
No in room fridge
Staff were courteous and polite and room service breakfast was appetising.

Lovely high tea, great experience

Always a treat to visit

Perfect hotel stay!

Real service

Fantastic afternoon with jazz and a bbq

I have come to this hotel for more than 35 years. Luckily in essence it has hardly changed. Coming here is like coming to our second home. We splashed out on a large suite, about 1000 square feet with views on 3 sides and of course a sea view. The suite was light and airy. The decor is a bit dated now but the air and light made up for it. Even if you cannot afford a suite you should try and get a sea view room. The room was very clean and we had plenty of towels and toiletries but the turndown service we requested didn't happen on a couple of nights of our week long stay. We found the breakfasts very good quality and with plenty of choice and the system of being served with continental items works really well. We paid for dinner too and again there was a good choice and the quality was excellent although they also do a vegan menu and we tried a couple of dishes which were good but of a lesser quality. We ate in Mirabelle a couple of times and the food there is more fine dining and slightly more sophisticated plus it has a much more comprehensive wine list. We swam in the indoor pool a number of times which is nice although on occasion it was rather busy despite the Covid restrictions which mean you have to book. There was live music in the lounge on a couple of nights with dancing. The staff at the hotel are in general amazing and can't do enough to serve you. This hotel is probably unique outside of London - a true 5 star seaside hotel left. The only issue is that the rooms could do with upgrading as the decor is a little bit tired but everything else great.

Thank you for a wonderful stay. We came for a night with our 3 kids and had a wonderful large suite. The service and attention was fantastic, we felt looked after and special for our stay. Exceedingly comfortable beds! Due to covid booking is required for indoor pool use, breakfast and other meals. We booked very last minute, so did not get an opportunity to experience dinner, but breakfast was fantastic!

This is the place to stay if you want a big suite. Our "Signature Suite" consisted of two huge rooms each of which would be called a suite in many hotels. Admittedly the bathroom was rather small, though it did have two basins. Some hotels won't allow adult children to stay in the same suite as their parents, however much room there is, but The Grand Hotel is happy to allow this, though it may not be offered if you book online.

The hotel is a little down at heel in places. There is no air conditioning, which has been a problem in hot spells when we've stayed in the past. It wasn't hot weather this time, so we didn't get to try out how much help the large modern fan in our suite is in such conditions. The hotel is indeed very grand and a joy to stay in.

Breakfast wasn't quite as good as in pre-covid days, but was still very good. The buffet is smaller with staff fetching anything people require. This works very well, but they've had to reduce the choice to make it practical. The hotel was very busy, but there were enough staff to handle the situation, though one has to book one's breakfast slot in advance. The 9am slot seems to fill up quickly.

A small decanter of sherry and a bowl of fresh fruit in our suite were very welcome, but these were not replenished. I've never understood why some hotels treat people who stay one day better than people who stay for several days!

Great place to stay for a few days, take some smart clothes though.

Very nice afternoon tea, beautiful food and lovely surroundings x

Stayed with my daughter and grandchildren last week. We enjoyed our stay very much. There were many good things about this hotel and I only have a couple of negative points. The good points are as follows: excellent service couldn’t fault every member of staff, especially the door men and the lady who brings room service; breakfast excellent; heated outdoor pool is an absolute god send when the weather is dull; indoor pool nice too; milk and cookies for the children at night - they loved that!; housekeeping was excellent especially how they kept the tea/coffee topped up and the bathroom toiletries; bathrooms have good showers and baths;
Negative points; we stayed in rooms 140 and 141. Both face the back or side of the hotel. Room 141 was very small, both rooms need updating we felt; my daughter was given a spa voucher for her recent birthday, she went to book when we arrived but was told there was no availability. After some discussion she did eventually get an appointment for a facial. Could the hotel keep some appointments open for arriving guests? It was the same for the indoor pool, we were told at first that there was no availability but eventually got a 1 hour slot.
We did not eat in either of the restaurants so cannot comment on those but we did have a meal in our room one night. All was excellent. It's expensive but worth it for the service you receive.
Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We would normally have gone abroad but would definitely consider going back in the future.

Sunday lunch in the Garden Room.....We had the lamb and the monkfish. Both superb - had not realised that his place had a Michelin star when we visited but by my reckoning they deserve it! Excellent. Service good too. Compliments to chef!

My mum and I loved it.