This hotel certainly lives up to its name. The ambience is kind of stately and sometimes you feel you ought to whisper. The Junior Suites are large and comfortable but not the best as Suites go. The food is excellent The staff are plentiful and helpful, but leave the tipping until the job is done otherwise you might find yourself having to manoeuvre your own car out of a tight spot!

My wife and I enjoyed a three day stay at the grand last week, the hotel itself was as grand as the name suggests, our room was of a good size and had obviously been recently redecorated and upgraded. The room facilities were more than adequate and the super king size bed was very comfortable.
Our plan when booking our stay was to enjoy the local area and come back to the hotel to swim in the indoor/outdoor pools and then eat at one of the two restaurants at the hotel.
We arrived on the Sunday evening and had booked to eat in The Garden Room as it was the only restaurant open, unfortunately the meal we had was very disappointing. I brought this to the attention of the restaurant manager and although I was offered another main course my confidence in the kitchen was not sufficient to risk it.
This lack of confidence in the catering at the hotel meant we then had to look elsewhere to eat in the evenings and unfortunately Eastbourne is not over endowed with good restaurants.
The breakfast is curious in that you can help yourself or ask the waiters to take your order, we opted to do the latter and were very well looked after on the first and second morning, on the third morning we again gave our breakfast order to one of the waiters but when it arrived it consisted of the elements I had ordered but each and every one was ridiculously overcooked, the poached eggs hard,the bacon sausage and black pudding crisped the tomato unyielding. I spoke to the gentleman I took to be the manager who came over and asked me if I had ordered the meal cooked in this way and I assured him I had not and he took a photo of it to show the kitchen.
I was asked if I would like the breakfast replaced but the point is as made to the manager at the time the meal should never have been allowed out of the kitchen of a hotel that suggests it offers a five star experience in the first place.
Overall I Would have loved to give the hotel an excellent review as so many elements were excellent but the food offered on our first night causing us to change our evening dining plans for our stay and the admittedly almost laughable breakfast on the third morning prevent me from doing so
PS the "free wifi" was so slow to be almost unusable

We have stayed here over the previous 15 years, and always enjoy it. The ambience and situation of the hotel are both outstanding. There are now some points which seemed to indicate a change of attitude within the the running of the hotel:
1. In our room (executive sea-view), the bathroom was decidedly old-fashioned, and importantly, there are no grab-handles or any means of support in the bath/shower. Rooms at this price should have a walk-in shower as well as a bath, and a visit to any London hotel would confirm this.
2. Amenities provided were parsimonious, a tiny bottle of shampoo, a bottle of bath gel, a very small cake of soap and a shower-cap between 2 people is downright mean. Likewise, there was no cotton wool, and a few little extras which make a difference.
3. No extractor fan, or window in the bathroom, so it felt perpetually humid.
4. The food in the Garden Room is now getting a bit mass-produced, stale-looking and canteen standard. Also there is some slackness in the dress code, despite the request for collared shirt/tie or jacket in the evening.
5. Smokers spoil the lovely terrace by congregating there and polluting the air.

I didn't use wi-fi, so I don't know if it was available, or if it was free.

Apart from these points, a very good stay, thanks to the kindness and efficiency of the staff.

We were fortunate to be given a present of spending a night at the Grand with the lluxury of a seafront room - this was a very rare gift and we could not have had a better present and experience. From arrival to departure the staff were without exception happy and helpful. The large bed was so comfortable with the feel of silky sheets.The unexpected coffee machine thoughtfully had the instructions beside it and delivered exceptional coffee - with extra supplies during the evening visit from a lovely young lady. The facilities and staff certainly deserve the 5 * rating

The staff were very attentive and all 10 of us were treated well throughout our two night stay, including 4 children.
The attention to detail and service for Birthday lunch with 14 member of the family on the Sunday could not have gone better.

Superb hotel , with good food & large clean rooms & great beds & clean bathrooms - all you would expect from a 5* hotel. Plus a heated out door & an indoor swimming pool. The desk staff are very helpful , offering suggestions which were spot on for what we wanted to do. HOWEVER its the details . Sometimes we got replacements for our coffee maker in the room. The system we chose was to go into the lounge before dinner for a drink & order dinner meal & Drinks . Sadly we were 3/4 of way through our meal ( we always skip dessert) when I gave up and had to go to the bar and ask for our drinks. The following night the red wine was so cold it MUST have come out of a fridge (if not freezer !) I appreciate not MAJOR but at the price they charge & they boast they are the only 5 star hotel on the South Coast ( ?? ! ! ?? ) I would expect them to have the ability to serve drinks without us having to leave a meal to get them.

My wife and I took advantage of a three for the price of two offer, and enjoyed three happy days in the Hotel. Not our first visit, so already a familiar haunt, and we were treated to excellent service throughout. Check-in was easy and friendly, Dave, Gary and Tony on the Concierge desk really looked after us, Ahmed and Alexander in the lounge gave us gracious service, and Barbara, Martin and Shaun in the Garden Dining Room as always, were superb (as were all the staff we encountered)

Our room was a junior, and although quite small, we found it enchanting, quiet, and we both slept well on all three nights. The room service was excellent in all aspects, and in spite of the Hotel being absolutely heaving on two of the three nights, we found that standards did not slip in any way. Some of the staff were absolutely rushed off their feet, but still had time for a quick word and a smile

My only minor negative comment is that there has been a slight drop in the dress code of the Dining Rooms. While I am in no way a snob, I was saddened to see a (very small) minority of guests turning up to eat in T-shirts and shorts. The whole point of the Grand Hotel, in my opinion, is the elegance of the whole place, and it is really nice to take your wife or partner to somewhere where you can really dress up and feel special, particularly for dinner. I hope General Manager Johnathon Webley has a serious look at this change in policy. I understand that the Hotel has to fill up the rooms and keep its occupancy rates high, but is it too much to ask the Gentlemen to put on a jacket and tie for dinner, or the ladies a smart dress?? Thin end of a wedge if you ask me. What next - bare tatooed chests and bathing trunks ??

All in all a wonderful experience and much recommended

Normally we like to do a bit of research on a hotel before we book, but our visit to the Grand was on a whim. Saturday morning - unexpected free couple of days - let's go to Eastbourne. We phoned the hotel, got a good deal, and were in the bar by 4 o'clock. And what a treat our stay was! Hotels of this quality are quite often pretentious, verging on the snobby. None of that at the Grand - excellent service by genuinely friendly staff, comfortable rooms, and a delightful atmosphere of elegant times gone by, without being remotely stuffy.
The breakfasts were excellent, the evening meal easily lived up to our expectations, and the bar had a huge selection of malt whiskies. Nice pool and spa facilities as well. A pet hate of mine in hotels (call me picky if you like) is the lack of a tray in the bathroom shower on which to stand your shower gel and shampoo, so I was gratified the Grand provided one, rendering our stay a faultless experience. The only blip was that I was served a pot of hot water for breakfast one morning instead of tea. The very pleasant and apologetic waitress and I had a laugh over that. To dock the hotel points over something as trivial as that would indeed be picky. Enjoyable stay? Absolutely, especially as the weather was rubbish and we spent more time in the hotel than we would normally have done.
Go there again? Yes please. Definitely a Five Star experience.

I visited Eastbourne for the first time this weekend, staying for three nights whilst visiting an Aunt recovering from an operation. From my arrival on Friday until I departed this morning I could not fault this hotel. It is so huge, but the service is so personal. Chris and his colleague who work as the Concierge are so welcoming. They really did make both by Aunt and Mother feel really special with service and attention to detail. Afternoon tea, they moved our table to window, re-arranged seats to accommodate the "frame". The food really was amazing, so fresh. Nothing seemed to be too much trouble, and no rush to move you on. Sunday Lunch was also brilliant, they found the perfect table (not sure of lady in restaurant's name), but she found me a table, kept it for us and then found us a quiet table in the lobby to have tea afterwards. Really loved the whole experience and I will definitely will return. Really was first class.

Friends and I often eat and dance at the Grand. The food is fabulous and dancing to a live band is fabulous. Old charm to be enjoyed. Yes the prices match, however the grand never fails to disappoint.

This certainly was a treat! We were treated like royalty. Doorman, Concierge and Maid service.The staff could not do enough for us. They were friendly at all times. Breakfast was delicious and if you want special orders like poached or fried eggs or kidneys, they are delivered under a silver cover! Eastbourne is, in general, a beautiful place, especially in the sunshine. There are a huge range of places to eat to suit all tastes and budgets.

We stayed 3 nights what a wonderful place the rooms are very nice we had a nice view of the seafront the food is of a high standard as you would expect I would highly recommend this place the staff are a credit to the hotel plus you are not far from the shopping centre

The Grand is the best seaside hotel in England. Like something from the gilden - of course not quite what it was but still an experience. From the moment the porters unpacked and parked the car, to the champagne and chocolates in the room, to the first rate Mirabelle restaurant a great experience. Both breakfast and afternoon tea not to be missed.

Have just returned from a three day visit to this extraordinary hotel.having stayed at many top hotels in various countries, I would certainly rate this as one of the best.from the moment we arrived on Friday afternoon to be welcomed by Gary who immediately parked my car after a very friendly & efficient porter removed each of our bags with accompanying clothing ready to escort us to our room. Our room (323) was just as we had hoped for . Great view over the sea and all accessories provided.without exception, every single member of staff treated us like royalty.the dining experience in the Garden Restaurant was first class with outstanding service .a special mention must be given to 'Barbara ' and Ronnie the wine waiter whose charming & attentive service really made us feel 'special' My partner is almost totally blind and a table was provided for us each morning near the dining room entrance without ever having to ask for any assistance.Really appreciated.
Cannot wait to return later this year. Thanks again to each and everyone of the staff who made our visit so memorable

Stayed here for valentines day in Feb 2014, was fantastic from start to finish. Hotel is huge with a lot character.

Bit more up market than what I am used to, so having a harp playing you some music in the reception area and the reception chap lending me his suit jacket for dinner was surreal.

The food in the restaurant was superb. The whole experience felt like a luxury.

Just got back from a one-night stay at the Grand Hotel. It is a bit over-priced for what you get - but the room was decent enough. Staff were very friendly. Breakfast in the morning was all right.

There was a noise from the bathroom extractor fan that was a bit unusual and annoying, but other than that we enjoyed our stay.

My husband & I stayed here for 1 night as a special anniversary treat in March 2015. Having reviewed the hotel we booked an Executive Sea view room at a cost of £285 for bed and breakfast. My first impression as I walked into the room was one of disappointment. The room, although resembling the photo's on the website, looked old and tired. The bedspread was faded, the coffee table seemed to be moulded plastic or perhaps fibre glass, there were a couple of framed pictures which the manager has since informed me were originals but were framed in what looked like the cheapest frames money could buy, this all created a 'cheap' look.
On a more positive note the bathroom was large, clean and warm with a shower over the bath and all the staff we dealt with were friendly and professional and a credit to the hotel.We enjoyed our evening meal in the Garden Restaurant and the breakfast next morning was fine. We had a pleasant enough stay, but would think twice about staying there again as the room we had certainly did not warrant the charge of £285. It's a shame, but I think this hotel is earning a living on its past reputation. I believe some of the rooms are being refurbished so if you book this hotel I'd recommend you ask for one of those rooms.

Our second experience of afternoon tea at the Grand. Cannot fault the attentive service from all the staff. The hotel has a dated feel as do a large percentage of its clients, but that is part of its charm and I suspect that others may even put us in this category. This may explain why I find it such a relaxing experience. If you want glass and chrome with equally flash young executives constantly fiddling with their various bits of technology, then go elsewhere.
The tea was fine although a few more sandwiches would have welcome. Scones were particularly good. The afternoon tea is a little on the expensive side but makes for an enjoyable afternoon none the less.

We have been to this hotel a few times but this was a one nighter over a bank holiday weekend. From the moment we entered the car park we were treated amazingly well by all staff that we interacted with. Lovely room with a sea view at the front of the hotel.

This is probably one of the last period 5* hotels. An ambiance of a bygone era, not spoilt by modern additions etc.

Very comfortable bedroom.

Both restaurants highly recommended.

The staff were very efficient, helpful and friendly from the initial booking onwards.

The only downside was the service in the lounge, this was slow, we thought they'd gone to Brazil for the coffee!!!

Stayed hear before ( 2011 ). Thought I'd booked the same room but when were shown our "Junior Suite" it was tiny to say the least. For a family of 4 ( children aged 10 and 12 ) this accommodation is totally unsuitable.

But reception were able to find us a "Suite" at additional cost of £120 per day. This gave us a fairly large room with a sitting area where the settee could be turned into a bed for the children. Total cost quite expensive for what we got but was worth it for the space ( in comparison to the continent ).

Location is excellent. Free parking with valet service right on front of hotel.
Plenty of space in various parts of hotel to sit and relax.

Hotel now has a Policy of having to pay for full stay on checking in. Feels like they think your going to skip without paying. Do they really attract that sort of clientele ?

Wifi is VERY slow for free and they charge of £5 per day for fast access which is silly, considering domestic rate is £7 per month.

They do not provide a copy of each receipt when you pay for something at hotel. Keep in mind that the final bill is NOT itemized. So ask for a copies.

The garden rest is the bets option. We tried the Mirabella. Although the services/environment was excellent I cannot say the food was stunning. I've had better for cheaper in Brussels ( try the Mercedes house in Sablon ). They also have a service charge of 10% for 6 or more people ( or you can leave cash amount at your discretion I believe - so take some cash with you ).

As an alternative, Zizi's is an excellent place to eat with kids ( located in center ).

All the staff were exceedingly helpful and accommodating. Service was great we only had to call houskeeping once to sort out kids bed.

Breakfast is very good, juts shame no fresh orange juice is served.

If you want lunch try the 'Tiger Inn". Excellent pub in front of the village green. You can pass through Beachy Head to get there ( about 20 mins by car ).

Stayed for 2 nights a few weeks ago as a base for seeing friends and exploring the area. Exceptionally good service all round with willing helpers abounding for luggage, local facilities and internet provision. Basically you are treated very well. This was epitomised when my husband ordered a fried egg for breakfast as they were not available on the self-service counter. A few minutes later a waiter arrived and placed a very large plate on the table and removed the cloche with a flourish and there was an immaculately fried egg looking very solitary on the vast plate!

The hotel is not cheap but you can occasionally get reasonable deals mid-week and you really are pampered. Pool and gym good and bedroom adequate although not very spacious.

Will go again when we can afford it.

stayed for 2 nights in my opinion the Grand Hotel is not worthy of its 5 star claim and high prices.I think it is trading on its former glory it needs a total refurbish the chairs in the lounge are old and sagging the carpets are showing their wear.We were put in room 225 on the second floor the room was clean but it looked out onto Dirty and Water stained brick walls and extractor fans there was pigeon netting all over the windows the windows had all rotted away and you couldn't shut them it was like looking out onto Colditz Prison and the noise from the extractor fans kept us awake.In the morning we asked to be moved to another room the reception staff were very helpful and even took us to view the room on offer to see if it was satisfactory for us it was and it didn't look out over Colditz and extractor fans,but it did come with a wooden wedge to jam in the window to stop it rattling.We used the Hotels Garden restaurant on the Friday evening had to wait 45 minutes for the wine to Arrive after asking the restaurant manager twice to chase it up we had finished our starter and was waiting for our main before it arrived not what you expect from a 5 star Hotel and the food was just average. We found a nice restaurant for our Saturday meal in town and a lot cheaper.On the Sunday morning we had to Queue for 15 minutes out side the Breakfast room to be seated and the manager gave me the impression he was doing us a favour, again not what you expect from a so called 5 star Hotel.Very Disappointing stay would not stay at the Grand again

Booked a night away with a friend for a relaxing spa break. On arrival we were upgraded to a seafront room, which would have been nice except it was right above the bar/lounge where live music was played until midnight. The room was spacious with very comfortable beds and a well fitted bathroom with nice quality shower gel and soap. The room was looking a little tired and we expected there to be a fridge in a 5 Star hotel.
The deal we had booked was including dinner, this was served in the Mirabelle restaurant which was small and cosy. The food was very nice and the service was good.
The outdoor pool had just opened and was nice and warm and a pleasure to use, with free towels and showers.
We had a treatment at the spa which was very nice with exceptional service and professional staff.

This was a weekend break. Arriving at the hotel the doormen helped you park in to a car parking space and offered help with the bags. Entering the foyer of the hotel the stunning elegance was immediately obvious. Reception staff were friendly and efficient. Dinner was as expected 5* with nothing to complain about except wines are expensive. The food and presentation were excellent as was the service. Sunday lunch was equally rated. Breakfast was both hot and cold buffet with specials being available to order eg kippers or haddock.

The bedroom was however not up to the standard expected it was clean and well presented but the mattress was very soft and not supportive the furniture was not pristine but had marks and some damage, since it was free standing it could have been restored and at least one tile in the bathroom was cracked however the overall impression of the bathroom was good. More coffee should be available in the room - only one sachet however it was topped up in the evening.