Excellent pool, easy parking.

BOOKING
My wife and I decided at the last minute to have a short break away and as we had stayed at the Grand before decided to return, as it had been a long time since our previous stay.

I booked by telephone directly to the hotel and the lady I spoke to was interested in what I had to say, offered suggestions about the best deal and we agreed on an Executive Sea view room.

The booking process was quick and efficient.

ARRIVAL
When we drove into the hotel car park the Consierge asked us if we were staying, when we confirmed that we were, our car boot was opened, our bags were removed and carried by a second concierge into the hotel. The concierge then parked our car whilst we registered and paid for the room. This s quaint process especially as you have to pay when you leave, but the whole process was undertaken politely and efficiently. Before I knew it my car key was returned to me.

ROOM
Our room had a sea view and was located above the Garden Restaurant on the second floor. A pleasant room, clean and tidy. The decorations are 'old fashioned' but the room was spacious. There were two easy chairs in the main section of the bedroom and a large bed. In a smaller detached section of the room there was a dressing table and large fitted wardrobes. Through this room was a large bathroom.

The bathroom was spacious with a shower fitted over the bath but the bath, however the bath was very narrow although the bath rim was relatively low. This meant that access was relatively easy although you almost had to stand in the bath sideways if showering. A wider bath and a wall grab-rail would be an advantage for the generally elderly clientele.

I had emailed the hotel before our arrival, requesting that our bed be fitted with sheets and blankets. It was. We both find duvets to be too hot, and there is no chance of cooling down. Sheets and blankets provide that option.

The bed was extremely comfortable and as the weather was extremely mild we slept with the window open and were very comfortable.

HOUSEKEEPING
The housekeeping staff were extremely efficient, and very polite when we did see them. They are to be complimented on the service they provide.

BAR
We visited the bar each evening for pre-dinner drinks. The staff were polite and mainly attentive, save for one night. On our second evening we were not served any canapes and our drinks took a long time to arrive, both due to the seemingly low staff levels on that evening.

Our drinks were served with trays of crisps, nuts and olives. Each evening the crisps were 'soggy' and had obviously been left exposed for too long. We don't eat crisps so this was not a problem for us.

Whilst in the bar we were provided with the menus for the evening and so we were able to order before entering the dining room.

One minor point was that we were not invited into the dining room, but told to 'go through' when we were ready. This meant that we had to carry our own drinks in, something that we did not do on our previous visit.

DINING
We generally ordered from the daily menu but I did make two forays into the a la carte menu for scallops on one occasion and the brown shrimps on another. The former was not worth the additional cost as it was served with crisp slices of chorizo, or something similar, which were hard and tasteless. However the brown shrimps were excellent and well worth the additional charge.

The menu describes a 'three-course' meal but is in fact five courses. Firstly there was an amuse bouche served, before the 'starter.' Then there is a different sorbet every evening, before the 'main course.

The sweets changed each evening, although some were very similar.

We both thoroughly enjoyed all of our evening meals, despite the problems with the scallops described above.

We chose a different wine each evening and Ronald the sommelier was very efficient and attentive and our glasses were not allowed to get empty.

LOUNGE
Our coffee was served in the lounge and I had a brandy each evening. I do not understand why hotels and restaurants do not include coffee within the meal price. A Cafetiere of coffee was served, together with petit fours.

BREAKFAST
This is the worst thing about the hotel, not that the food was poor, but that it was self-service. With a little organisation at least the cooked breakfast could and should be served, which would just raise the standard just that little bit more. I did order poached eggs one day which were delivered to the table plated with other selections I had ordered.

There was always a good selection of freshly prepared fruit and plenty of cereals.
The cooked food from the display was sometimes cool and the plates could have been hotter.

STAFF
The staff we met were all polite, informative and most listened to what we said. There is a trend, not present at the Grand, for waiters/waitresses to ask if your are enjoying the meal, and then not listen to the answer, here they do listen.

BILLING
I don't like the way we had to pay for the room on arrival, and I suggest that the billing system for the meals could be improved. If the system requires a signature than it should be requested, this did not happen every time.

OVERALL
My wife says that we have never visited any hotel for a third visit, but the Grand is the exception. Neither of us would have any objection to visiting the hotel again.

We purposely did not stay at a weekend, and so the hotel was reasonably quiet, although we did count 50 guests dining one evening, just in the Garden restaurant. The service was still excellent.

The Grand Hotel is absolutely wonderful. Of course it's expensive but if you can afford to really treat yourself and want to sample old world charm and first class service, this is the place for you. My wife and I have been visiting the grand for several years and our most recent stay (last week commencing 18th Sept) was excellent. There were one or two surprises. One evening a young woman, dressed as an ice cream, was waiting for the lift.
When she got to the lobby she was joined by a pirate and an assortment of beech themed people. Obviously a party was taking place. There was a great jazz band on a Saturday night in the lounge. The singer (a woman) was really good. There were guests dancing and some, I suspect, had been influenced by "strictly" with twirls and outrageous posing. All great fun and that is the point, the Grand is not stuffy. Wonderful.

The service was exceptional, but the hotel looks tired and our room was very compact. The 2 key elements of any hotel room for me are a comfortable bed and a decent shower. Neither was present. The maintenance team attempted to resolve the shower issue (unusually it was too hot to use) once we mentioned it but the bed could not be fixed. It was just an old knackered mattress.

Lovely hotel, perfect for a short break. The staff are friendly, guests are offered a warm welcome on their arrival and this continues throughout the stay. The Mirabelle restaurant is well worth a visit during your stay.
One of our favourite hotels in the UK.

I've been coming to The Grand with my family for nearly 20 years and remember my first visit here when my children were very young and the hotel went out of its way to welcome them. We have always had wonderful times here. My last stay here was as always immaculate. I get really fed up with people posting reviews on the hotel about its decor and "faded grandeur ". This was a purpose built hotel in 1875 and I love the fact that it's STILL HERE standing imperiously on the seafront dominating the shoreline and looking like a fairytale castle. What's so special about this most majestic grande Madame is the atmosphere and how friendly and welcoming all the staff are. Whether you turn up in a Ferrari or a push bike, everybody is welcomed warmly and I especially notice how well all the staff get along together. Many of them have been working at the hotel for years and the service is always outstanding and they will always go the extra mile to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. The food in both Restaurants is always of a very high standard. I really like the fact that there is a dress code in the evening as the setting really lends itself to "glam up" and my husband when he stays , always wears a black tie!!! The hotel is not at all stuffy and there is a real feel of understated elegance and luxury of a bygone era. I've stayed in most of the room categories and they are all beautifully appointed in a style which is fitting for a hotel of this age. If you want contemporary, sleek and sterile, this hotel is not for you. If you want elegance, comfort and a hotel with a huge heart then you won't be disappointed. I also don't understand when people post negative comments about the hotels appearance. The rooms are very clean and a lot of them have recently been refurbished. The outside has been painted too, a huge task for such a large intricate building!!
The health club is run by a friendly team and has everything you need to relax. I had a wonderful massage and used all the other facilities. The outside pool is a very nice!
Room service is one of my favourite things at the Grand. I like to order breakfast in my room and it's always beautifully served and presented with a huge choice.
This trip I took my young Labrador with me. For £20 a night he was treated like a king. He had room service with a ready supply of food from
Arden Grange and the staff kept bringing him treats. Much better than a lot of other supposedly "dog friendly " hotels I've stayed at .It was very handy as the beach and promenade are directly opposite, so ideal for walks.
Children are very well looked after here. Little touches like complimentary milk and cookies at bedtimes, robes and goody bags are really well thought out. The children even have their own check in area. Nice touch. There is a playroom too which is open during the school holidays and at weekends. It is complimentary. My two always enjoyed going there and had lots of fun.

Thank you to all the most amazing staff who made everything so special. See you soon!

we had a room on the 4th floor which had a duel aspect; the Downs on way the seafront the other. The room was well appointed and in very good repair. There was a very large comfortable bed. The bathroom was adequate with plush robes and well sized towel. one thing that could have been better was the strength of the shower but it did the job.

We had tea in the lounge with scones which were very good.

On entering the Grand Hotel, you feel that you have stepped back in time to a bygone age of elegance and style. My husband and I booked a three day break here. We booked a deluxe sea view room and the hotel very kindly had upgraded us to a junior suite. The bed was extremely comfortable, as was the whole suite. On arrival we had a light lunch in the lounge. The service here was a little slow, but as we were on holiday it didn't matter, we just relaxed and soaked up the atmosphere. Breakfast was a sumptuous affair with everything you could wish for English or Continental, breakfast, cereals, fresh fruit and fruit juices. Accompanied by tea or coffee. A great and leisurely way to start the day.

Had a spectacular weekend here. The hotel is sumptuous and a true celebration of its Victorian roots.
The staff are as friendly and helpful as one would expect from this standard of hotel often going above and beyond expectations.
The spa and wellbeing centre is well equipped and the bar well stocked.
Do not miss the breakfast - it is well worth getting up for...
I can't wait to stay here again!

This is a proper Victorian hotel that has wonderfully elegant sitting rooms and lounges, a relaxing atmosphere and friendly and attentive staff. The bedrooms seem a little mixed in decor (one recently refurbed, the other dated) but all are clean, well appointed and quiet, although no air con and a tiny TV.
The food is good, although for a 5 star hotel the 'continental' breakfast seemed a little lacking. Great location though and definitely worth a return visit. It is quite expensive though.

We were not happy with the room allocated when we arrived. We have stayed at hotel on several occasions previously and rooms have always been bigger and better at the same rate. We raised this with reception staff who were very helpful and allocated a much nicer room. In addition we were staying with my wife's sister and brother in law and were surprised that we were allocated rooms at opposite ends of the hotel and three floors apart. As all part of the same booking would have expected rooms to be reasonably close by. However, hotel is very nice, staff are excellent and we had a very enjoyable stay. We will come again.

The building and furniture are showing signes of better days past.
Our room lacked maintenance and the shower mixer could not be controlled and delivered scolding hot water even with the tap barely turned on. No Mini Bar or Air Con in bedroom.
There are 3/4 Star hotels offering more comfortable rooms and better value for money.
Staff were very attentive but again need to have new uniforms.

We stayed for one night at the Grand and, having enjoyed Sunday lunch here several times, we were looking forward to the luxury that you would expect from this iconic hotel. Unfortunately, we had a room at the back with no view and the decor seemed rather tired. There was plenty of space but there was no wow factor. We went downstairs for a pre-dinner drink and we ordered a bloody mary and an aperol spritz. They arrived promptly along with some very unappetising canapés, which looked like they'd been sitting around for days! An elderly couple next to us had to ask for their drinks 3 times from 3 different waiters until they finally came. We decided to cancel our dinner reservation and go elsewhere in the town to eat. We asked for the bill and were shocked when we saw the two drinks came to £27.50 (as much as or more than top hotels in London). We had a lovely dinner at a local Italian for probably a third of the price of the Grand's garden restaurant. Breakfast in the morning was good and was included in the room rate which was a plus.
Overall the hotel is grand but it is looking tired and shabby and needs an injection of money and flair to bring it back to its former glory.

The hotel is a lovely old building though a bit tired and well located on Eastbourne sea front. No air-conditioning. Fabulous breakfast included in room rate. restaurant a bit expensive. Would like to stay again if we could afford one of the rooms at the front.

We have stayed here a couple of times however, whilst the appearance of the hotel is lovely and the staff are fab, the rooms and especially the beds/pillows have long seen better days. We asked to be moved on our stay last week (we were thinking of going home even though paid for a second night) - we had booked the sea view luxury double, but the bed and pillows were so bad that neither of us slept longer than an hour. Awful. The DM moved us to a recently re-furbished exec suite which was ok but again, the bed was absolutely awful - even with a new mattress which must have cost at least £50!! The hotel should not be classed as 5 star - not because of the service but because of the poor rooms, decor and sleep depravation!

We stayed before at the grand, but this trip we went for tea. Lovely seating area outside with proper english tea and what it entails. Relaxing a,biance.,helpful staff and professional waitresses. The sandwiches fresh and filling b

This hotel was probably the best hotel in the south of England at one point. It is a little bit tired but we loved it. It is traditional English, with super polite staff. The hotel faces the sea and we had a room with a view of the sea... lovely.

Magnificent Victorian hotel. Grand in every respect. Located on the seafront, it has been Eastbourne’s premier hotel for over 100 years and quite deservedly so. The palatial public areas are on par with any London five star hotel. It’s not cheap, but you really do get what you pay for.

Our sea facing bedroom was spacious and had an excellent bathroom, not 21st century, but modern, clean and well fitted.

We didn’t use the restaurant for lunch or dinner but the breakfasts we had were excellent. There was a comprehensive English hot buffet, continental options and lots of fresh fruit and cereals.

As you would expect, service is outstanding.

We thought this hotel would only appeal to older people but we were surprised to find guests of all age groups including children so it’s is very much a family hotel, in spite of the fairly high prices.

We will definitely be back again

The Grand Hotel is a 5 star Hotel, right on the sea front, and it's clear why. The Hotel is the kind you'd find in one of the most prestigious locations in London, with doormen opening doors and calling you "Sir", offering to carry your bags etc. The rooms themselves were sadly rather dated, and the TV was tiny, however this does not detract from the overall experience of the Hotel. Be warned though, this Hotel is the type where you MUST wear a collared shirt if you are a male and plan to use any of the dining facilities. We chose to eat on the sea front, and came back to witness the ballroom in full use with people dancing to a live piano... beautiful

I have stayed and eaten here a number of times over the last 20 years and I have always appreciated the helpful efficient staff and the sheer grandeur of the building however it is certainly beginning to age. We stayed in an executive room with sea view which was spacious and comfortable but the ensuite was past its sell by date and not worthy of a luxury hotel. The food was competent without being challenging but in the bar the price of a G&T is the same as the Dorchester! All in all the hotel has lost its edge perhaps it is relying too much on the " grey pound" ? At present I don't think there is anywhere better to stay in Eastbourne but for the moment it is overpriced for what it delivers.

Staff went the extra mile to be helpful
Food was excellent
Room quiet and very comfortable
Obviously successful refurbishment
Very impressed

An old-fashioned luxury hotel with friendly and helpful staff.
The bed was softer than we find comfortable.
The cost of drinks seemed somewhat excessive-four cocktails,one beer and three
coffees cost £75.

We went to chill out and did exactly that. Staff so efficient We were blessed with great weather and even used the outside pool. Restaurant and food delicious 😎

My husband, 7 month old baby and I decided to have a luxury weekend away. The hotel staff were fabulous, could not do enough to help us. Food was outstanding room was outstanding, spa was outstanding, and the water in the pool was like bath water, so amazing for the baby, who would never ever have felt cold.

The only negative thing I can say about this hotel is in the spa/pool changing room area there is nowhere to put a baby eg changing table/baby change, so I had to lay the towel on the floor for the baby to lay on whilst I got changed.

Was quite a lot of money but, ...........You get what you pay for.

I would love to go again one day but for longer, guess we shall have to save.

Had a fabulous afternoon tea at the Grand. We also saw the live jazz band on the terrace for the summer bbq. Fantastic service, amazing food and such a fabulous atmosphere. This time we didn't stay but our in law did and had an amazing room with a balcony out onto the terrace. Fantastic disabled facilities.