Room and full English breakfast was excellent.
I couldnt have been happier with my choice of hotel.

A shame really - the hotel is part of Elite who have some lovely hotels. My husband booked it as a weekend away from the children. Eastbourne is OK - but once you have done the promenade & Beachy Head then that is it really. Perfectly pleasant for walking, but shops are nothing really special. The hotel is just bit tired and in need of a spruce up. Elite are deliberately grand and have lots of pretty flowery soft furnishings but this is now a bit dated. Good restaurant and breakfast was excellent.

If you want a 3 star hotel at a 5 star hotel then by all means stay at this run down hotel who's furniture is so worn that it looks like it came from the 1300s. The doormen are as nice as they come and incredibly accommodating and the managers are nice but it is not a five star or a resort. I suggest you look else where.

We weren't staying at this hotel but was treated to a meal in the Garden restaurant.
l had requested when booked for a side table as elderly Mum can't hear if she "zooms" in on other noises. We arrived at 7pm agreed time of booking told not ready please wait, followed a couple in 5 mins later to be brought to a table in middle of room, place is 3/4 empty and l asked waiter could we move to side, yes we had sat down but he said he'd check then brought us to a side table. From that point on he was surly, l felt l was being awkward despite half full. Our food was nice but lukewarm and quite frankly not worth the money.
We found most of the staff Eastern European, just standing around gossiping, lacking any personality.
The Grand calls itself a 5* hotel this does NOT apply to the restaurant

The Grand has always been one of my favourite places to stay - and we have stayed many times over the years. But, sad to say, this time I was really disappointed. It started badly when the concierge seemed surprised that we were actually residents and reluctantly directed us to a parking space!

The actual building is a true delight - it looks like a beautiful wedding cake from the outside and the marble hall is truly beautiful (particularly in the winter when there is a roaring fire). However, I have to say the public rooms are really looking a bit shabby and I'm afraid the same goes for our bedroom. As a 5* hotel I really think it's time for an update. There are nice touches i.e the bathrobes and Molton Brown toiletries.

Service at breakfast was also not up to their usual standard - we must have waited 20 minutes for tea and only after I asked about it. Generally cold food at the hotplate.

I am so sad to be saying this because I have always loved staying here and have never had any complaints before.

My husband and I got married at The Grand last year and we also celebrated our 1 year anniversary there last week. I can say with certainty that both occasions were absolutely perfect. The staff, the service and the luxury of the hotel make The Grand an outstanding place to visit and stay. Truly worth the experience. We highly recommend The Grand to anyone who wishes to experience excellence at its best.

Anogen & Nilanka

Today is my birthday and rather than go out to dinner we were recommended to go the Grand in Eastbourne for tea. The weather has been kind to us and we had a leisurely drive to Eastbourne.

Hotel looks lovely. I do not eat butter and my husband rang in advance to ask if this is a problem with the sandwiches and was told no anything you want everything made fresh.

We were seated in a lovely conservatory type lounge, sun shining one would think one was in Cannes! The waiter came and we ordered the tea for two and mentioned the no butter which was fine as evidently they do not put butter on the sandwiches!. One of them was cheese and cucumber as I do not eat cheese I requested just cucumber. Well the problem with this is unbelievable. I know I am 63 today but I could not get my head around this. He launched into a diatribe about the sandwiches being cut in in quarters on the corner and if he did one without cheese he would have to throw away the rest of the bread. Evidently these are all made in advance despite being told all freshy made.If they are made fresh one could make it without cheese, easy! What and embarrassing start to my birthday tea. He said we would have to pay for and extra sandwich of cucumber if that is what we wanted.

I may be old fashioned but I do not get it!! Not a good way to encourage people back or to recommend the Grand. However we did order the extra sandwich of just cucumber and mayonnaise. The mayonnaise came and we had finished our tea and other sandwiches and still no cucumber, phew! Not happy campers at all by now.

Husband called waiter to explain had not arrived and he chased it and eventually it came. Again husband not impressed with all this stress on my special treat.

I have to say that the tea was absolutely delicious and cannot fault it. Sandwiches, fresh bread lovely and soft and cakes to die for, which certainly helped the bad start.

We did have a lovely afternoon, but when the bill came it was "£7.95p"for round of cucumber sandwich and a few crisps which to my mind is disgraceful particularly after the embarrassing start in front of a room full of people. I know it is a 5* establishment but I feel that is is over the top. I am sure they could have used the other quarters left if a separate one was used for more sandwiches. Very mean spirited of the Grand.

Would recommend the tea, but beware if you your preference is without cheese or another filling add £7.95 on to the £22.50p for the privilege.

I took my Mum for a 3 day break to the Grand it was sheer luxury from the moment we drove into the car park, our car was parked for us, we were quickly booked in at reception,escorted to our very luxurious room where we made a lovely cuppa after a long journey, and there our wonderful break began.

The beds were fantastic, the food was brilliant. ( I am a coeliac and the Garden restaurant were more than helpful and managed to cope with my diet).I think the excellent service from all the staff was the most refreshing part of our stay, My mum and I will certanly be back for another wonderful experience.

We have just returned from a lovely night at the Grand to celebrate my husbands birthday, from the moment we arrived and our car was parked for us, to check out all was superb, we felt cosseted and looked after, we had a lovely room, an amazing dinner in Mirabelle with a special mention for the waiter who saw us get up to leave for the lounge to have our coffee after our meal , with our wine glasses and rushed to get a tray to carry them through for us find us a table and served our coffee, a lovely relaxing hour then spent listening to a great little band. fabulous breakfast served at our table (you need to ask!!) and 2 hours pouring over thew saturday papers in the comfy lounge chairs before checking out . on our last visit we had a hic cup with our dinner but this time our stay was faultless thankyou Grand it was !

A quality experience, staff are superbly well trained and diligent. From doorman to waiters and all in between, this is a quality establishment of the 'old' world. Been here several times now, each time relaxed and enjoyable. The choice of restaurants is good, with informal dining available throughout the day also. Perfect for a reliable and sublime break, views of the sea are a must, so ensure that you get a frontal room on the upper floors.

Took our auntie for her 90th birthday for the afternoon tea. Was not as nice as the ritz but then half the price. We sat in the grand lobby in nice chairs. Food was lovely, nice sandwiches, cakes and a few different teas to choose from. She loved it and said she felt like the queen, so would recommed it for a nice treat.

Beautiful building, stunning exterior, well maintained entrance lobby. Efficient and dedicated footman, conciege and reception staff - A+!!
Sadly, the promising start soon faded like the interior of the hotel.
Our room, 143, is clean and the bed sumptuous and at first glance, acceptable. Upon settling in and exploring the amenities within our room, we found the bathroom exceptionally tiny with a wobbly floor, creaky and leaking taps together with a weak shower. It was impossible to have two people in the bathroom at the same time!
We arrived @ 7.30pm to the bar and had wanted to dine but were told that the earliest availability was 9.45pm! Unbelievable! We were given the bar menus that were as battered, frayed and uninteresting as the furniture! We went out for dinner as we felt bagels for dinner is sufficient!
Having arrived early for breakfast was a good move as when we finished at 9.30am, a queue had formed outside the Garden Restaurant of diners waiting to be seated .... Not a sighted expected of a 5 star establishment. Just as well there were seats in the lobby as some guests were elderly and disabled!
The breakfast was excellent, staff attentive and efficient but, yet again the menus were worn and needed renewing.
Overall, excellent staff and cleaniness but the rest of our experience was highly disappointing.

We use The Grand quite frequently for lunch.The fare is delicious,the choice is good,and the service is very friendly.Following a recent one-night visit we have no hesitation in giving the highest rating in accommodation,comfort,the competence and attitude of the staff,and the general ambience.The breakfasts are especially noteworthy! A truly 5-star experience.

a

On a glorious sunny afternoon in June we arrived in Eastbourne for the "Queen's Jubilee Afternoon Tea " At about £22.50 per head ( we were a party of 10) our expectations were very high for a sumptuous "Royal " meal.
This was booked well in advance with Reservations . It took them 3 weeks to send an acknowlegement of the deposit and only then because I rang up and asked for one.

Sadly, the tea was cold and the sandwiches would put a Cafe to shame. Not for the size, delicate was the looked for order of the day, but for the fillings. Tiny triangles over spilling with mushy, lumpy white cream (coronation chicken?)and what tasted like shop bought sliced ham covered in a yellow lumpy pickle which spilled out over the sandwich. and onto the plate. Same plate to be used for the cake/scones . Oh for a dainty cucumber and cream, The smoked salmon sandwich was tasteless and the cheese sandwhich, only vegetarian option, was unidentifiable. I won't mention the minute scones. No one came to check on us until it was all over so could not remedy the cold tea. The prepared "hot water" being luke warm. There was no evidence of the Jubilee, not a tiny flag or red, white and blue in site. Not sure why it was called the "Queen's Diamond Jubilee AfternoonTea" - partly the title which drew us here!

Having stayed at the Grand before I knew that some of the staff were not in the least interested in their clients but this time I was pleasantly surprised. There were smiles and help from Front of House and the slow waiting at table, possibly due to staff shortages, was done in an otherwise efficient and pleasant manner. My 4 stars are for everything but the Afternoon Tea. I suggest they contact their sister Hotel, Ashdown Park, who produce an Afternoon Tea to be proud of any day of the year, to ask how they manage it.
And another thing! Dogs are welcomed but only in the room. They can have their supper served there and are given a bed and blanket but they are not allowed in any of the public rooms, terraces, poolside or gardens. In fact they are only allowed to come and go straight to their rooms. Happy Holidays, doggies, but you have a great Promenade and lots of grass across the road to enjoy. Note to Owner - remember to take a raincoat to cover your PJ's if doggie needs an outing late at night!

We take our family away every year for an extended weekend and I only wish we had found The Grand many years ago. We have stayed at many Hotels trying to pass themselves off as '5-star' but do not come anywhere near the wonderful decor, excellent service and delicious dining of the Grand. From the way we were met at the door with a cheerful smile, always, the Reception, the speed with which Housekeeping fulfilled our every wish, to the calm, unruffled way the Dining Room staff went about their duties, was paramount to perfection. What is more my family consists of ten members, the youngest of whom is four years of age up to to Gramps who is seventy- five and we were all treated with the same respect, kindness and care. It was also a pleasure to be able to find a quiet spot in the many Lounge areas where we could have afternoon tea as well as watch the family thoroughly enjoy both the outdoor and indor pools. My family are all clamouring to return, we can't wait.

Having stayed at The Grand several times and frequented the Garden Restaurant many times we have always enjoyed the olde worlde atmosphere and the feeling of escaping from the hustle and bustle of daily life
.
However it now seems that it is this very atmosphere that is creating a gloomy and tired feeling throughout the hotel.

We did not have dinner in either of the 2 restaurants as we feel that ,in this day and age, they are overpriced and poor value.

Breakfast was good but the overwhelming feeling in the dining room was of gloom. Management could have done with being more cheerful which might have then encouraged guests to talk above a whisper, as the majority of guests were elderly a rather funereal presence was felt.

The Grand Hotel needs to market their hotel to attract younger guests as well as the elderly regulars to ensure their future in the coming years. It would sad to see this "Grand" old hotel disappear as so many others have.

We last stayed on the 7th June and use the hotel on a regular basis, either for a meal in one of the restaurants, for overnight stays, or for special occasions. The quality of food is almost always of a high standard with excellent service from Ben and his team in the Mirabelle. Every room in which we have stayed has been extremely comfortable, whether it be with a side seaview or an executive suite facing the seafront. The level of service from all members of staff has been of a high standard as one would expect.
Whilst bar drinks do seem somewhat over priced the range of wines in both restaurants is wide giving one every opportunity and choice.
We look forward to many future visits.
KOJM

I took my wife here to celebrate her 50th Birthday and what an excellent choice.

I thought Berlin was Steam Punk but this place is, in the words of the great Jim Bowen, "Smashing Great Super"

Looking at some of the other reviews clearly some people don't get places like this, If you want a bland Holiday Inn type experience then take their advice but if you want to experience a whiff of what it was like to be a person of means in the late Victorian and Edwardian era then this is your place. It puts the Gentle back in gentleman.

You Hoxton sorts can keep your Hotel du Vin "boutique" type places, this Hotel has more character in it's copper piped khazi than they can ever hope to achieve.

7/10 Martini rating, Tasting menu at the restaurant was 9/10 and good value.

If you want something different take a trip to this Hotel you will not be disappointed.

Over the last 35 years every major event of my life has taken place at the Grand. We have celebrated with 5 Company Dinner Dances, many Company Training days, many Company Dinners, endless business meals with customers and suppliers in each of the restaurants and endless family celebrations of Birthdays, Anniversaries and other celebrations. We also held the funeral teas there for both my Husband and my Mother. The welcome, service and attention to detail has alsways been of the highest standard and never faltered, even when just calling in for a quick coffee break or afternoon tea.We have often stayed there as well and the rooms and comfort afforded us are superb.
This last weekend we again spent a very happy Family weekend together there celebrating a special Birthday and yet again the welcome and service was of the Highest standard.
We feel so fortunate to have such an excellent Hotel on our doorstep and look forward to many more happy times there.

We stayed for 2 nights over the Jubilee weekend. The room (408) was dated and did not, based on our experience of other 5 star hotels, meet the expected standard. Furnishings are old-fashioned; the curtains didn't meet, allowing daylight in; there is no minibar; very few TV channels; and we were amazed to find a carpeted bathroom - surely totally unhygienic! The non-adjustable shower head is too low for anyone of any height and the shower curtain tends to stick to your body whilst showering.

I think the Grand is resting on its laurels based on very impressive common areas and high standards of service. But for the resident guest, more thought needs to go into bedroom facilities.

We were particularly disappointed with dinner in the Garden Restaurant. We were told no bookings were available until 9.15pm. However, when we arrived, there were a number of empty tables, so it wasn't obvious why we had to wait for such a late booking. However, even more importantly, having taken the late booking, we were then rushed through our meal with no pauses between courses and it was clear that staff were trying to get us finished as soon as possible so that they could get away - as confirmed when I asked the waitress what time they closed to be told "when the last guest leaves". In addition, the serving trolley was left next to our table througout the second half of our meal, which didn't exactly add to the ambience. At a cost of over £100 for two, it was not a relaxed experience and not one that I would want to repeat or recommend to others.

Overall, having had high expectations for a very special weekend, we would not stay at the Grand again.

I took my mother here for a Spa Day for her birthday. Unfortunately we were turned away when trying to park so as we were not overnight guests so had to find somewhere to park. The hotel itself is beautiful, nicely laid out with attentive staff. The treatments were good and some of the staff where extremely helpful and very friendly. However, in between treatments, when trying to relax by the pool, it was a pain to find loungers for the three of us. It was was also extremely noisy with hotel guests and their children playing in the pool and certainly not the relaxing atmosphere we were hoping for. At £42 for the privilege of using these facilities (no treatments) this was a little disappointing. I think if i were a hotel guest staying I would not be quite so concerned about the noise (although at £21 for a file and paint manicure, it is rather overpriced) however as a spa it does fall short.

We have been frequent visitors to The Grand and it is always a lovely feeling at the welcome you get and how relaxing it is to sink into one of the chairs in the lounge to have a coffee and snack before we go up to our room. The rooms are spacious and generous with good quality bathroom toiletries.
For the first time, being my birthday, we visited on a Sunday and unfortunately, on Sundays the Mirabelle Restaurant for fine dining isn't open so we dined in the Garden Restaurant.

The dining room is exquisite and I guess if you stick to the table d'hote at £38 a head quite reasonable. We never seem able to stick to a set menu and paid around £45 extra for various items on the menu which clearly wasn't worth the extra money. But the wine choices were good and we enjoyed the meal nonetheless.

I would not let this slight disappointment prevent us from returning. I love The Grand and we have now booked another visit to one of its sister hotels Ashdown Park to see if it's as good.

I would recommend this hotel to anyone who is content with old fashioned courtesy and service, no music intruding anywhere and tip top accommodation in one of the least shabby seaside areas of Southern England.

Stayed here over the Jubilee weekend. This hotel offers 5 star service and is unusual in that 1) It is an old very grand building however is still pristine and very comfortable 2) Not come across such a child friendly establishment given the class of Hotel. This child friendly approach manifests itself in the attitude of the wonderful staff, both professional and friendly. This is a really genuine attitude and the Hotel should be congratulated for this achievement. Room was clean and spacious, breakfast very good. Only slight concern I would make would be at the indoor pool which was busy and the men’s changing area was not clean. Aside from this however a fantastic break.

Service is what sets the Grand apart. From the moment you have the door of your car opened and then the car is parked, the bags whisked away and the gracious welcome, this is the focus of the Grand. Mirabelle restaurant is excellent, the rooms comfortable and totally unflashy.You'll sleep well here, and enjoy a style of hospitality rare these days

Spent two nights here this weekend, our first time, and it will definitely not be the last! The hotel is wonderful, just what you expect from a five star hotel, the plentiful staff could not be more helpful and despite being an older building, was very comfortable. Breakfast was excellent, one of the best full English' s I have ever had despite being a help yourself buffet. Did not have dinner at the hotel as my other half was not keen on having to wear jacket and tie after wearing one all week for work but I would expect we will on a future visit as I am sure we would not be disappointed. Only negative is no wi-fi for the I-pad but in some ways that was a good thing to keep us off the gadgets!!