That just about sums up the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne - for dining at any rate. Can't comment on the rooms as only at lunch here New Year's Eve.

Everything looks pretty, the staff pleasant and cheerful but the menu is outrageously priced with a supplement for virtually anything worth having.

How can 5 sticks of asparagus (one inedible) be worth an extra £9.00 on top of the basic price of £24.00????

The menu is hopelessly old fashioned and not chef standard at all. Plaice fillets with pea puree was basically fish and chips with mushy peas, frozen green beans and oven fries. We were not expecting it to be bread crumbed at all. We have strong suspicion it was frozen to start with and whacked in a frying pan.

Glass of wine and prosecco nearly £10.00 each, any other place we dine it is never more than £7.00 and usually less.

Not at sure why the prices should be higher and standards lower than places in Brighton.

We will not venture i here again as the ambiance was like that of a posh care home, sorry to be harsh but that is how it struck us and we are 64 and 66 and felt the need to escape before we signed up for the rest of our lives!!!!

hi I stayed here with family and asked for a refund and left the sheets was older then my self and needed up dating I will not be returning as member off staff was very rude to fit the filling it wasn't a family hotel

Several things excel at the Grand Hotel and make it exceptional. First of all the service is fantastic. The members of staff are efficient, charming, and extremely accommodating.
Secondly even if you don't have dinner at the hotel, you must experience the afternoon tea which has to be one of the best in the country. The bread and pastry chefs are some of the most talented I've experienced in a long time.
Well done team, first class!

This hotel was perfect for a Christmas stay. The place was decorated beautifully , the staff were excellent . This hotel was perfect for that old fashioned , old time christmas . We got dressed and blinged up every night, it was magical. I would spend Christmas here again in a flash , there was just one very small thing I would ask them to change and that would be to maybe have more upbeat entertainment on more than one night. We found the entertainment a bit old fashioned as well, which is ok as long as more modern bands were featured for more than just one night

Absolutely fantastic! My sister, mother and I stayed here last minute last weekend. We had not been away with just the three of us for decades, and with my mother being 83 and less able than she once was we wanted comfort and luxury. And that is exactly what we got. Our master suite was incredible. Vast and gorgeously comfortable with a spa bath and sea views. We could also see the pool which was handy for checking how busy it was. The staff were fantastic from the minute we arrived. I slept on the sofa bed in the living room and it was so comfortable! We experienced some truly gorgeous sunrises! The breakfast was spectacular! We all ate enough to last us all day! And again the staff were lovely. We used the outdoor pool, steam, sauna and jacuzzi every day and all were superb. The only minor irritation was locals using those facilities were mostly quite rude and unpleasant to us, as if they resented our presence. The staff coped brilliantly with a surprise fire alarm during the breakfast hours. All three of us had the most perfect weekend. Thank you Grand!

A historic hotel with its greater claim to fame the stay of Claude Debussy when he was completing La Mer in Suite 200 in 1905. The views of the endless horizon are indeed inspirational and the impeccable service by all the willing and very polite staff makes it a great stay. Nice Molton Brown toiletries and Nespresso machines in rooms. Which add to the overall experience

lover the hotel we where upgraded to the debussy suit fantastic big balcony sit out side with a sea veiw. breakfast cooked fresh. bar well stocked with with good wine and cocktails staff great back in june debussy suit again can,t wait

I stayed in the grand for one night and to be onset ,and one night was to much,the double room small and cloustobhic pubic hair left in bath couldn't get out of bath bath handle up against wall,the food one star would be to much big lettuce you feed to pigs no dressing what so ever,sorry would not go back, went down to breakfast was left standing at door for five minutes, staff no understand English,view looking out at leaded roof , couldn't open window bolted down, payed £240 for this,hostel would be better .sorry.

Was there for a day using one of their many conference rooms. Professional and courteous staff, nice lunch , beautiful setting.

From the second we stepped into the hotel to the second we left. Perfect service.

I live will I loved hotel when I drank tea England

Very pleasant and grand

We bid for a night with dinner at the Grand Hotel at a charity auction. We probably paid more than the rack rate but it didn't matter. The experience was super! Sadly it was pouring with rain but the greeting by the concierge with an umbrella and a parking space just for us, set the tone for the visit. The reception staff were warm and welcoming, the ambiance tangible, the dining room gloriously outdated with charm, the food and service taking us back in time to a very pleasant place indeed. The room faced the sea, terribly florally decorated, with old fashioned faded furniture and tired porcelain in the bathroom. none of that mattered. The service and charm of the place is cherished by many repeat customers who long to return for that 'oasis' of something long forgotten and loved. don't ever change (except perhaps the dodgy plumbing).

My family and I have been regular visitors to The Grand and have just returned on 29th December after a two night stay which cost just under £1000 bed and breakfast in rooms 323 and 325. In our opinion the attention detail seems to have slipped.
The first thing we noticed on checking in is that we were required to pay for the whole bill upfront.
We booked with the hotel directly two interconnecting rooms one for us and one for our two children, Upon arrival we were informed that no notes were made requesting an interconnecting room and we had been allocated rooms next to each other. We accepted this, which was lucky as no interconnecting rooms were available.
There are were no slippers in the room (which used to be there). One of the dressing gowns was dirty around the neck. The tea cups on the tea tray had not been cleaned. The water pressure in the sink in the bathroom was really low, the water in the shower seemed to only be either scalding hot or cold which resulted in my husband and I and the children showering in the health club.
I had the worst night sleep ever due to the bed being so soft (in my opinion old and well used).
Upon departing we were due to pay £20 extra for two children meals but it seemed that lots of other food and drinks had been charged to our account from the bar and our £20 charge which we actual had was not on the bill. We asked to see the signed docket but it could not be found.
The receptionist agreed to wipe the charges off. I was going to feedback upon departure upon leaving but the lady next to me was also complaining and waiting to speak to the manager.
Its a shame really as we just to enjoy the hotel and have stayed many times over the years and felt it was worth the money but sadly not now.

This hotel is very grand and very luxurious. However, I requested in advance one of the more modern rooms and one of the less floral room and ended up with a very floral old fashioned room! However, you absolutely can't fault the service and level of care when you are there. We were very well looked after.

We were given a gift of afternoon tea at the Grand. We had heard good reviews from friends and colleagues so decided to use the gift to round off Christmas.
I recommend it for the experience and the suburb staff. The tea itself was disappointing, the sandwiches were very basic, the Turkey and egg combo was a little strange! No finger rolls! The cakes were very average and the tart cases were probably bought in. But the Scones were excellent, fresh and warm.
I don't think the food was worth the £25 per head but the overall experience definitely was.

It's hard to convey the qualities and atmosphere of this hotel. It is "old fashioned" in such a good way, with terrific charm. I'd been having a rough few months health-wise but all the same, wanted to take my son away for a special birthday treat. I chose The Grand. My son's little face lit up with excitement as we walked inside the entrance - the decor and scale of the hotel is so impressive - and yet it is homely and inviting too. On booking the hotel, I had vaguely mentioned that it was my son's birthday. To my surprise, the staff made such a fuss of him - without any prompting from me. As a surprise, they brought up to our room a little teddy bear, and even a slice of birthday cake with a candle in. The warmth from the staff, and the attention to detail, made it a very happy memory for me my little boy. The breakfast is also sublime - the beautiful dining room itself, and all the delicious options. ...Keep up the great work!

A classic hotel. The service is second to none - and that entrance is simply stunning. The staff are superb and the facilities are second to none - a wonderful night's sleep too! We had dinner there - not cheap, but excellent - and breakfast was of a standard you would expect of a 5* hotel.

Really enjoyed ourselves. You will not go to a similar size hotel and find nicer or better staff anywhere in the UK.
We were welcomed with smiling faces and ' good afternoon and welcome' four times before we got to the reception!
We had a lovely suite of rooms on the first floor - the furnishing is not old but, in our opinion, old fashioned.
We had the biggest bed we have ever had.
The hotel has two restaurants which are both pretty good - a bit limited on the menu but good quality food in nice surroundings and excellent service.
what really stood out above all was the smiling, helpful staff - and lots of them - wherever you went.
Only minor complaint is that when we arrived there was a large function in the main dining room and the bar was empty with almost every table 'reserved' ( for the guests of the large function. They had a lovely fire with a christmas tree each side but from midday onwards every table had reserved for 'afternoon teas' - all booked. So, if you are a guest at the hotel you will find times when there is really no where to sit and relax.
But would we go again? YES of course - we loved it.
If you go out the back entrance of the hotel there are some lovely shops in which we found many gifts for Christmas.

I am not usually one to leave reviews for hotels that i stay in and the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne has left me totally stunned. The hotel itself is simply stunning and not what I imagined it to be but truly beautiful. The attention to detail is flawless but what makes this hotel function and shine is the staff. They are a true credit to the hotel and I can honestly say that in all the hotels that I have stayed in and I have stayed in some of the best hotels in the world the service is probably the best that I have ever received. On arrival the concierge was informative and so professional I was left with a warm feeling of being totally relaxed I don't know his name but i will update with all the members of staff that carry out their duties with such ease and elegance that nothing you ask of them is an issue or a chore. I went out to my car this morning to find a puncture in my car which turned out to be a cracked alloy wheel and the concierge took my keys from me and dealt with the entire repair process. Following the discovery of the broken wheel I went for breakfast and again the food was amazing and the tables beautifully laid. After a hearty breakfast I made my way to the spa to burn off some calories. On arrival there was no snobby beauty therapist looking down her nose at you as get in many other establishments but a warm welcome from staff who showed us around the spa and what the format was leaving me felling totally relaxed. We had guests joining us for lunch at 12.30 and informed the restaurant manager we needed to be finished by 1.30 as we had a meeting at 2pm. The food came promptly again with such ease and elegance there was absolutely no fault. The food in the garden restaurant was exceptional good value and of the finest of quality. After our meeting we returned the bar of the hotel with our guest and ordered some cocktails, the two guys behind the bar informed us the were apprentices and this certainly didn't reflect in the drinks. Perfectly mixed and again served in the most professional of manners. I think it's time to stop raving about this hotel as I am sure that you now get the total picture. I would like to thank everyone front of house and behind the scenes that has made this visit one we will never forget. Thank you from the guests of room 323 and look forward to returning

Very good service, lovely food, well presented but not my cup of tea.

Parking service is brilliant but once again I'd rather do it myself.

We had a trio of salmon, lamb and Mash main and a desert of pear? It was very nice, here you pay for quality rather than quantity.

A lovely hotel. We are regulars here. The staff especially the concierge are very accommodating and helpful. Old fashioned elegance. Our next visit is already booked for January. Excellent location and facilities.

We arrived tired after a hectic few weeks. From the moment we approached the hotel and the liveried doorman scooped our cases up and carried them in for us, it was wall to wall luxury and service. Nothing was too much trouble and the overall ambience was warmth and friendliness. We felt cocooned. During our stay we had room service for one evening meal,which was delightfully served, prompt and delicious. The second night we ate in the Garden Restaurant and the meal was superb, as was the service. We must also make a mention of the health club and spa, where the lovely Dawn pampered my sister with an amazing massage and facial, the best she's had for many a long year. The whole hotel was spotless, our room was luxurious and beautifully furnished and there simply were no negatives to report. Thank you Grand Hotel, for getting us back on our feet, we will be returning soon.

The staff were very accommodating

Had afternoon tea on 8th December. First disappointment was the hotel was only in the early stages of decorating for Christmas. The lounge we sat in was soulless and the armchairs and sofas way past their best, faded and worn. The Maitre D (if that is the correct term for the chap in charge) was quite brusque and not particularly welcoming. Service was O.K. Now down to the tea - not enough savoury items and far too many cakes, scones etc. Overall slightly disappointing and not worth £25.50 per person. I think the hotel has failed to move into the 21st century and needs a make over if it is going to charge these sort of prices.