We have been visiting this hotel from time to time over the last 40 years. About 5 years ago we stayed with friends visiting from France, It wasn't a wonderful experience and I remember being very disappointed with the service and food in the Garden Restaurant; we probably just hit an off night but didn't visit again until this Easter.

This visit was a wonderful satisfying experience with a standard of service seldom achieved in the hotel/service industry.

From the moment we arrived we were treated like valued guests. The concierge guys were exceptional and this first impression remained for the duration of our stay. Reception was equally welcoming and professional as were all the team we interacted with.

We booked a mid price room which was well furnished, nicely decorated, clean with very good facilities. The bed was a triumph of comfort, which is rare for many hotels. The bathroom was well stocked with good quality toiletries, soft fluffy towels and clean.

We only visited the restaurant for breakfast. Service at breakfast was again exceptional (bar one young lady who had an unpleasant attitude) and a question regarding the fresh fruit was efficiently dealt with. The breakfast surprised us as the quality of the produce was clearly evident and this had been prepared in a careful professional well cooked manner which was geared to maximizing the flavor of each individual item. Breakfast was a credit to the kitchen brigade working that morning.

The Grand Hotel Eastbourne has been operating for many years. We were impressed with the cleanliness of the common areas, the good quality wall coverings, carpets and period art on the walls. The building is a 'stately grand dame ' whom has managed to stay beautiful for many generations. It is a period building which needs constant love and care in maintaining its majesty.

If you are looking for stark modern lines or absolute perfection in public or private guest areas you maybe a little disappointed. But if you admire good architecture, period features and grand rooms you will be able to forgive the occasional reminder of the age of this fine hotel.

We didn't have an opportunity to use the Spa but the facilities looked impressive.

Eastbourne is a real treasure on the South Coast, with its unique bandstand and elegant pier. Taking a stroll along the promenade is such a pleasure. The exterior maintenance of the seafront hotels and apartments is a joy to witness as is the planted areas and absence of litter. Whether staying in a hotel or just a quick visit, Eastbourne has never failed to deliver on the pleasure factor.

From the minute I arrived to departure we had the most excellent experience at The Grand. From parking the car, check-in, fabulous room, great housekeeping, fabulous food and drink in the restaurant and afterwards in the bar, everything just contributed to a lovely stay. I took a friend who absolutely loved it and my little dog had a beautiful surprise of goodies when we got to the room as well! I cannot understate the excellence of this hotel. For me it is the epitome of elegance and excellence. The staff are so lovely, welcoming and helpful. Looking forward to returning back very soon! Thank you all.

The Grand markets itself as a 5 star hotel and although it is still grand particularly on the ground floor the bedrooms are certainly not of a 5 star standard. Having said that we enjoyed our weekend stay and would recommend it to others, just do not expect a 5 star hotel.

Our second visit to the grand for lunch.
Food was of good quality but vegetables were cold and plates unheated.
And yes the hotel needs bringing into the 21 century with decor and furnishings. I was shocked to see how old fashioned and dated and shoddy the furniture was especially in the bar area. Furniture is out of the 70’ /80’s , for. Luxury 5 start hotel it is definitely lacking.
Having frequented 5 star hotels in London there is no comparison apart from the excellent service.
Cocktails are also overly priced compRed with London please remember this is the south east!

Thank you for another excellent stay at The Grand. Excellent service, a very welcoming atmosphere from all the staff and good food at both breakfast and dinner. We look forward to a return visit soon.

Hotel entrance is magnificent!! Concierge brilliant reception good restaurant manager at breakfast great bar waitress ok
Room pretty good for the age of the building very clean. bearing in mind we were in Eastbourne the hotel was great couldn’t really fault it breakfast was brilliant albeit bad on so many levels 😜 I had a massive cooked breakfast 🍳 perfect treat ! Did not eat in the restaurant went into town as I wanted a chill weekend and did not want to wear a jacket for dinner smart casual would have been fine

We had a lovely stay in a wonderful hotel. All our needs were met and Eastbourne stood up to its reputation as the sunniest place in the UK - not entirely sunny but much better that the rest of the UK while we were there.

Another very pleasant two day stay at the Grand, which always provides a relaxing haven away from the cares of the world. Even an evacuation in the middle of the night due to a fire alarm (false) didn't dampen the spirits

We spent a 3 day short stay at the end of March 2018. Our experience from booking to check out was very good. Staff are attentive and helpful and worked together as a team to provide a relaxing stay. The service and food in the Garden restaurant was excellent. We were upgraded to an executive sea view room. However,the lounge lacked atmosphere in the evening and the tea and coffee was not hot. This is a lovely hotel and we will definitely return

This was the 2nd time staying here, but this time in a room with a sea side-view. Room was tired, two single beds pushed together to form a "king size"
Plumbing noisy and room needed re painting. Could of been dusted better as well!
Breakfast order on first two mornings were screwed up, we both ordered two poached eggs with mushrooms & tomatoes - got one small mushroom & one small tomato on a big plate - no eggs! Waiter wanted to leave what we had on the tables & make us wait for the eggs! Second morning, wife ordered omelette - 20 mins later after two reminders it finally arrived! Cheap thin bread used for toast, Not what you expect from five star hotel. Also could do with background music in breakfast room & bar areas.
Disappointed!!

Stayed for one night in a master suite (overlooking the main sign above the entrance) and it contained everything expected of a five star hotel. Plus points include:

- upon arrival, the concierge service is excellent
- check in easy and staff polite
- spa and gym on site
- food very good
- sea views
- parking available
- lots of lounge space for relaxation

areas for improvement:
- have more than just one draft lager (Heineken) available
- replace seating in steam room (or remove stains)

I had the pleasure of staying a night in this hotel and from start to finish the service and experience was exceptional!! I only wish I had longer to stay but will be making a visit again in the future.

Mirabelle restaurant over rated and overpriced. Rooms very tired and many needing updating but this was exactley what we expected from an old Hotel. Excellent service from all staff. Room service meal was very good.

from arriving and parking to the doormen carrying our bags the service and attentiveness of all the staff at the grand was first class , i would recomend the grand to all our freinds .the pool and sauna , steam room was brilllant.

We came down for our first wedding anniversary. It was a lovely place, good dinner and breakfast, we enjoyed the big rooms with high ceilings! The hotel is right on the seafront and is only a short walk from the pier.

Excellent experience including evacuation at midnight for fire alarm which luckily was not triggered by fire - well co-ordinated and exciting!! Try cream teas. Plenty of parking available - (free for disabled badges)

My friend and I were looking for a last minute spa weekend somewhere in England in October for a reasonable price, with a bit of charm. There was an offer on the Spabreaks website for £105 which included bed and breakfast for one night’s stay, full use of the spa facilities, and a 25 minute back massage. This fit the bill perfectly for us. We had to pre-book the massage but the times offered were very limited (dinner time Saturday or early morning Sunday). In the end we were able to get a booking after our check-out time on the Sunday but I preferred this to very early slot on a Sunday morning. We did only book the spa break quite last minute so I guess it’s par for the course.

We took the train from London to Eastbourne for £30 on the Saturday morning and arrived at 11am. It was a 20 minute walk from the rail station to the hotel. We could not check in immediately so we left our luggage and went for lunch at a nearby Italian restaurant (Little Italy, delicious food) which the hotel recommended. After lunch, we were able to access our room. The room was very spacious, clean, a bit worn and tired, but had old school charm. Rustic and quaint is how I’d describe it. We then decided to go for a swim. Luckily the outdoor pool was open as it was unseasonably warm (it is usually closed in October). There was also an indoor pool with a lovely hot tub and sauna. The steam room was closed as it was broken, which was disappointing.

In the evening, we walked 20 minutes into town to eat dinner, as the restaurants in the hotel seemed very expensive and full of elderly people in smart clothes; we wanted something more casual. We ate at a Mexican in town (Tres Amigo, very tasty). When we returned to the hotel, we sat in the lounge where there was live music and old couples dancing ballroom and Latin. It was a sight to behold and I felt like I was transported back in time - so classic and beautiful. The men were leading the ladies around the dancefloor and it all looked so romantic. My friend and I are in our 30s but nearly all other guests in this hotel were aged 65+. I think some couples live locally and come here to dance, while others were staying for the weekend.

The next morning we had breakfast in the hotel. I was very disappointed as the options were so limited for vegetarians and the service was incredibly slow and frustrating. I had to get up at least twice and almost go into the kitchen to find a member of staff and ask for something. After breakfast, we checked out and then went for a swim and a massage. The massage was very good but not long enough. We left our luggage in the hotel as our train back to London was not until the evening. We had lunch in town (Gianni’s, good Italian food) then took the tourist bus and went to see Beachey Head (breathtaking!). We returned to the hotel to pickup our luggage and also had some afternoon tea.

Overall I’d say the hotel is fantastic; it’s really retained its charm and feels like you’re in another era! Would recommend.

Well - I have travelled a lot across Europe and America but I doubt even the swankiest Upper East side hotels could beat the service I have received from this wonderful hotel, just down the road. The staff are so sweet and solicitous - opening doors, carrying bags, even parking my car! My daughter and I felt looked after from the moment we arrived until we said goodbye. Every member of staff was happy to go that extra bit further to make you feel like a VIP. Special mention to Chris and George at the front of hotel and to Ahmed who served us our delicious afternoon cream tea. Five star staff and service. Just shows you really can’t beat traditional good manners and courtesy. We will be back!

Celebrated our Diamond Wedding Anniversery here,Marvelous time.Two hickups Fire alarm went one evening false alarm.Had to change room radiators noisy.Otherwise best holiday.

Excellent hotel in a seafront location that's hard to fault. Staff are courteous and knowledgeable at all times and the restaurant facilities (especially the revamped Mirabelle Restaurant) are top notch. Rooms are traditional and elegant though could benefit from some updating in the bathrooms (especially the shower arrangement).

I took my mother in law for a early spring break. She thoroughly enjoyed her stay as all the staff were extremely helpful and friendly. And she enjoyed using the facilities while we're easy to access.

There were two problems with the room - a light not working and a wash basin tap not turning off properly. Reported at 7 pm, neither were sorted that evening. A 5* hotel should have the capability to remedy problems, even on a Saturday evening.

My wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren checked in at the Grand for my son's birthday weekend. Even upon arrival Gary, Tony and the superb concierge team made us feel welcome (and do an excellent job - please note Jonathan Walby). It was my son's first stay at the Grand, an old lady with class and charm, my wife and I simply love it here - always impressed.

One minor hiccup, I had arrange bubbly and flowers in both rooms - but the bubbly did not appear in my son's room (not good) - however it was quickly rectified by housekeeping.

On the Friday evening we took Gary (Concierge)'s recommendation to eat at Ashoka Indian restaurant nearby, and that was an excellent choice - superb food, service and atmosphere.

Saturday was pool day for us as the hotel has superb indoor and outdoor pools (indoor for us as it was snowing outside). In the evening we had a superb meal in the Garden restaurant where all the staff are superbly attentive and extremely professional at their jobs. I highly recommend the beef blade - a joy to the tongue.

This hotel is indeed one of England's finest 'genuine' 5 Star hotels with standards. It's a 'must' to visit.

We have stayed at the grand several times before. This time it was exceptional. Our room had been completely refurbished as had the Mirabelle Restaurant. The staff have always been attentive and friendly but were more so this time. Couldn't fault it. In particular the Mirabelle Restaurant was fab.

Good things come in threes. For my wife and me this means a great hotel, with excellent food and drink and good walking nearby. Let’s start with the hotel. Quite simply we found staying there a joy - all the elegance of a bygone era with 21st century comforts. Staff are courteous and attentive - the warm welcome starts at check in. Staying off peak we benefitted from a 2 nights for the price of 1 deal so treated ourselves to an Executive room with full sea view. Well equipped, we loved sitting in the comfortable arm chairs admiring the view that inspired Debussy to write “La Mer” in the suite that now bears his name. To get this deal you need to take dinner one night in the Garden restaurant. Not exactly a hardship - food and wine are pleasant, service attentive and the room has a reassuring grandeur. The Mirabelle fine dining restaurant up the corridor is extraordinary - see my separate review if u want to know why I make this bold claim. Wherever you eat you can take aperitifs or coffee in the wonderfully spacious public rooms. If you want full afternoon tea there is a charming lounge with roaring fire - it’s small and popular so best to pre-book. Wonderful cliff top walks are 15 minutes walk away. After ur exertions the hotel’s spa is a great place to relax, with decent sized pools outside (heated) and inside, steam room and jacuzzi. If walking’s not ur bag the hotel is within easy walk of Eastbourne’s many other pleasures.

All in all a really enjoyable hotel that ticks all the boxes. I’m sure a return visit won’t be too far away!