For our weekend in Eastbourne I booked my partner and I both a massage, and a pedicure (for me). The Grand was the only place I could find that had appointments so we could have them at the same time, so I booked in. It was a little expensive, but I thought it would be a nice treat. We were not disappointed. The Grand is exactly that, the building is amazing. The staff we dealt with were so lovely, from when we first arrived at reception through to the beauty team downstairs in the spa. My therapist Beatrice did a fabulous job, and I'm a seasoned spa goer so I know. She was thoroughly brilliant, making sure we were comfortable, bringing us coffee and tea, and biscuits and we felt suitably relaxed when we left. We might have to come back and stay in the Grand sometime soon.....

Spent a lovely afternoon at the Grand Hotel, we had booked a cream tea and we were not dissapointed. Lovely sandwiches, great selection of little cakes and of course the scones with jam and clotted cream. We sat out side on the terrace and were very full when we left.
Attentive staff , lovely service,cant wait to go again!

This was my third stay at the Grand and the most enjoyable always exceeds my expectations every visit. The staff are so friendly and genuine, the food is top class, i would highly recommend this hotel.

I'm trying really hard to think of a negative about the fabulous weekend that we have just spent at the Grand but apart from the fact that maybe there were not quite enough chairs around the pool when the hotel was extremely crowded, it's dificult to think of any.
From the moment we arrived and our car was valet parked and our luggage whisked up to our room we knew we were in a five star hotel in every sense of the word.
We booked a de-lux double room with breakfast but decided not to opt for our evening meal in the hotel as I really couldn't face having to wear a jacket and tie.
The room was spacious with plenty of shelf room and wardrobe space.
Breakfast was a serve yourself buffet but there were plenty of alternatives from the menu such as kippers and haddock if you couldn't face a full English.
All the staff we encountered were extremely helpful and efficient and nothing semed too much trouble.
We will definitely return

We first visited The Grand in Eastbourne 30 years ago,just before we were married and it was a delightful experience to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary there with our children and their partners. My husband and I have visited many times over the years and it is always lovely to come back. Having good weather was a real bonus as we were able to sit outside in bright tho chilly weather but nice enough to have lunch and tea outside on the terrace in full view of the swimming pool. The hotel was full to capacity when we arrived late Friday afternoon (by the way, it is an easy journey by train from London Victoria, only one and a half hours) direct into the little Victorian station. Then only a 10 minute walk through the pedestrianised shopping area onto the promenade and a further 10 minutes along the prom to the hotel.....it is worthwhile doing this if you don't need your car. As the hotel had a visiting conference we were placed in the Mirabelle Restaurant that evening and the food and service was superb. The next evening we had dinner in the hotel's main restaurant which is always lovely to dine in.....a feeling of grandeur and elegance and tie or jacket for the men is a nice requirement these days. Food as ever is excellent. We could not get our requested sea view rooms as these were all taken up by the conference delegates but our inside view rooms were huge and very prettily refurbished.
We could have moved to a sea view the next morning but we were happy to stay where we were.
Breakfast is a fabulous affair with hot and cold buffet and anything else ordered from the waiter.
Plenty of obliging staff caters to everyone's needs. Overall, I have no complaints at all about the restaurant. Only my son used the facilities of the hotel's spa and as the weather was so good we didn't hang around the hotel during the day. It is very well placed here for visits to Beachy Head, a ten minute drive away or to the delightful towns of Rye and Alfriston, not far by car. I especially love coming back into the hotel after a long day touring the area and resting in the lovely lounge area to be served traditional afternoon tea. This is always busy with hotel guests plus outside visitors usually celebrating birthdays, anniversaries etc....the atmosphere is great.
A Golden Wedding party was going on on the Saturday evening with many guests staying over but at no point did we ever feel we were not getting attention or that standards or service had slackened because of a full-house. I find it a wonderful experience every time I go back to The Grand - it certainly deserves its five-star status. It would be nice next time tho to simply enjoy the hotel more, sit around the pool for a day or just relax and read the papers for the afternoon in the splendid lounge and bar area. By the way, there is a terrific hard-back publication on the history of The Grand avalable for purchase at the reception desk. Do read it!!!

S. Sternberg, London

Had a spa day deal for a reasonable price including lunch and coffee, and a treatment. Had afternoon tea, which was lovely. Nicer when weather good enough to use outdoor pool too.

This was our second stay at The Grand in the last twelve months,and it will not be the last.Elegant is the best way to describe it,but the most impressive part are the levels of service from the greeting at the Hotel Entrance on arrival, to the Bar,Lounges and Dinning Rooms.
The staff are always available but never imposing but there to help when needed.
We find it a Hotel which is difficult to fault.

B & G Long Eaton

Right on the Seafront a short walk to the pier......from the moment you arrive Valet parks your car for you...Shown to reception and taken to your room...your holiday starts.
Can not fault hotel....(floorboads a bit old a creaky) not as cool as the RITZ but very close for half the price.

Stayed here again and cannot fault the service. Especially the reception and concierge staff.
Breakfast is great.

We had Afternoon Tea at the Grand and it was a real treat. Pure luxurious indulgence with perfect scones, cream and jam, delicate little sandwiches and the most delightfull Eton Mess in tiny sherry glasses. The service was first class.
Can I also praise the very helpful girl who dealt with my telephone query when buying a gift voucher for some friends and I was having a little difficulty doing this via the website. She was very patient with me and explained everything clearly.

We visit The Grand quite regularly for Sunday lunch but have noticed a gradual decline in standards and had a very disappointing experience last Sunday. We had drinks before hand in the bar - delicious canapes used to be provided but this has ceased and we weren't even given a crisp or a peanut! Even though we made it aware that we were there for lunch we were not offered menus and had to ask for them, no-one then came to take our order and again we had to ask for this to be done. The service in the resturant has declined - the wine was not poured and the serving staff were unaware of who had ordered what. Three of our part ordered the beef and, as always, asked for it to be well done - when the chef carved it he acknowledged that it was not well done but just served quite red meat anyway. Those who had ordered this did not eat it but when the plates were cleared away this was not questioned in anyway.
The dessserts too were very poor all the more so as they had sat on an uncovered trolley for over two hours.
All in all a disappointing visit and a shame to see a drop in standards in somewhere that used to be excellent.

We attended a post-funeral tea at The Grand. The place has a lovely feel about it - very plush, clean and with friendly staff. Excellent toilets, too! It also has a great sea-front location. The tea was excellent, tasty sandwiches and cakes, tea, coffee and very good wine. We had a 360-mile round trip for the funeral and found ourselves wishing that we'd booked a room at The Grand for the night.

We stayed at the Grand in May 2012 part of my year of celebrations for a special birthday. From we arrived in the car park we were made to feel like we were the most special people in the hotel. We were made incredibily welcome by all staff. We had afternoon tea while there which was absolutely delicious, drinks in the bar, but on this occassion did not dine in the restaurant as we already had other plans, however we did have breakfast which was delightful. Our room was lovely as is the whole hotel. I did not want to leave. I recommend the Grand. All of the staff are 5* and a credit to the Grand. We will be back.

All the staff were courteous, kind and friendly - nothing
was too much trouble. The health club was immaculate,
The food was top notch with first rate service.
The hotel was very child friendly. It is a credit to the
British Travel Industry. I thoroughly recommend it

We love this hotel all the staff are very friendly and accommodating. The health club facilities were excellent. The food was superb. I am a wheelchair user and nothing was too much trouble. I look forward to my next stay

We stayed in a third floor superior bedroom with full sea views. We received the best service from the moment we arrived. Staff collected our luggage from our car and delivered it to our room. This allowed us to enjoy a light snack lunch and drink in the lounge. We dined in the Garden Restaurant in the evening.

Breakfast is of a high quality – particularly the “Full English” buffet selection that was piping hot.

We have stayed here on a number of occassions and will continue to do so.

Had an excellent stay at the Grand last weekend for a friend's wedding and the reception was at the hotel.
All the staff were friendly, smiled and spoke first, the staff training certainly works.
I was upgraded to a junior suite with a 4 poster bed and the room was excellent, large, clean and very comfortable.
The dining room service was excellent as was the food, even with 200+ guests at the wedding reception and dinner.
I would definitely recommend this hotel.

We have been many times to this hotel, I know it is expensive but the minute you drive up to reception you are treated like you are important. Most staff remember our name and all staff are wonderful, especially Oliver the bar manager he goes that extra mile for not only the customers but also his staff. He is not afraid to do any job that needs doing. For a very special occasion this is the hotel to go to.

5 Stars? Usually stay here for odd night a couple times a year for special occassions. The hotel is steeped in history from the Palm Court Orcehstra days, which still run last Sunday of the month.Just had two day stay and re-evaluated my views having stayed elsewhere.
The hotel still offers superb service and has all the showy features, such as top-hatted Concierge etc. May be able to park in hotel car park for free if spaces available,otherwise it is pay and display on sea front, which is now expensive or side roads free of charge
Room was large and well presented with excellent quality bed. Linen did not appeared to have been ironed. Bathroom furniture was tired and varnish and mahogany laminate pealing. Room as very clean, but after next morning madi made bed but had not cleaned. Her boss later knocked and enquired checking up on her, so perhaps a rogue maid?
Downside. New Flatscreen TV with option to HIRE a DVD player! Com eon... 5 star?. Have stayed in 3 start with free DVD players and IPOD docks.
Room had a quality Roberts clock radio but no MP£ connection. NO ROOM WIFI, apparently they are looking into it. Braekfast is excellent, can order off menu or go buffet style. Quality ingredients used, eg bacon/sausages etc. Sadly the manager took my order for two [poached eggs and they never came after 20 mins. Only 5 tables in retaurant at time and the chef forgot to cook! After querying came in 4 mins. (definitely not upto the Grands standard) Dinner again superb, £37 per person for 3 courses in garden rest plus wine. Cheapest bottle wine £21.00
Used health centre, was Ok, Pool is basic and there is also steam rooms, and jacuzzi. Towels provided very good changing rooms. Also snooker rooom with 2 tables (Free)
If you want to stay at a hotel wher you are treated 'posh' it is a great experience. Sadly the facilities are getting tired and not keeping up with general public demand. EG No WIFI, etc.
There are better furnished hotels around now in the area which are offering cheaper stay and dine deals. Try the Seattle in Brighton Marina. The grand is OK for the old school but sadly seems to be resting on its laurels. Would say 4 start now really having shiny meal covers taken off with a 'Voila!' isn't enough on its own. Men have to wear jackets or tie in restaurant. For breakfast was disappointed to see residents in shorts. Overall a pleasurable stay, but not great value for money. Afternoon tea is about £20 per head, sandwiches, scones etc. Nice, but the WOW factor has been taken over by other competitors.

My husband and I and our 2 young boys stayed at The Grand on 3rd April for 2 nights and wish we could have stayed for longer. The service is amazing, as well as being freindly all the staff know how to deliver traditional and exceptional 5 star service. There is obviously regular and consistent training. Our accommodation was superb and spotless, the beds are so comfortable you don't want to get out them. The food everywhere was delicious , even the kids tea! Children are really well catered for and looked after, the complimentary welcome goody bag on arrival was a real hit with the boys and full of lovely things for them. Breakfast was plentiful and fresh and the restaurant service and food was exceptional. We had a treatment in the spa which was amazing and the boys couldn't keep out of the pool ! The location is perfect and we were even lucky with the weather. We enjoy having the occasional treat away in a lovely traditional 5 star hotel , The Grand is definitely by far our favourite and would highly recommend it to anyone. We will certainly be returning soon !

Although the beds are comfortable and the Molton Brown luxuries are a nice treat the rooms feel very dated. There are definitely some positives upgrading to the Grand such as the excellent food in the Mirabelle and fantastic service from the bar manager.

If one thing could be improved it would definitely be to upgrade the rooms, and also to perhaps offer free upgrades when the hotel is quiet... I believe there were only 20 - 30 guests when I stayed but I still got a room with a tiny bathroom.

The spa/gym facilities are exceptional and they obviously spent a lot of time decorating the public areas for Christmas time.

This is the last remaining top class (5 star) seaside hotel in England, which in itself is something of a pity! I stayed for a weekend and it lived up to expectation.

As in any top class hotel the staff are what make the place. The level of professionalism and courtesy is exceptional. Service is delivered with an element of formality (which has been lost almost everywhere else) but combined with real tact and desire to please. This combination is like gold dust in hotels in this country – it is exceptionally rare today and is why I will return to this hotel.

I dined in the Mirabelle restaurant which was excellent (I know it quite well having used it as a non resident in the past). Like all the staff the manager was superb and the cuisine could not be faulted. I was slightly disappointed to note that the cut crystal glasses have been replaced with ordinary ones. It would be a shame if more such economies crept in.

The major downside is the decor, which is drab and dowdy, especially the rooms. This is not to say that they are run down, they are not, but they have been decorated with an absolute absence of any style whatsoever. I would describe the look as superior B&B. The room itself was rather small and in the eaves (probably a former servant's room). I had booked the standard grade of room but had expected something a bit bigger. It basically wasn't a room that one would expect from a five star hotel.

Everything from the plain green carpet to the dralon sofas to the indifferent repro furniture could have been made far better. Also, carpeting (more plain green) in the bathrooms is not acceptable in this standard of hotel. The public areas have also suffered from style devoid decoration, for example the sludge coloured velour sofas. It looks as if the decor was chosen by a committee of middle aged accountants, and I understand that this is not that far from the truth. This is a shame as so much more could have been achieved for the same outlay had some advice from an experienced decorator been sought. I would suggest a call to Colefax & Fowler or a similar firm next time any decorating is contemplated as a stylish/top class country house interior would very significantly further elevate the hotel.

We enjoyed a family Easter Sunday Lunch in the Garden Restaurant. It was a real treat. The food was delicious and the service first class. We chose the Red House wine and it was excellent. The restaurant was busy but the pace of serving the lunch was perfect. Every member of staff made you feel very special. You definitely felt you were in a 5* Hotel.

The restaurant was beautifully decorated and the flowers were lovely. There was a pianist playing which added to the ambience and was very useful when two of the guests were celebrating birthdays.

Benn at The Grand last February for my Girlfriend birthday, and I must say everything was fantastic, since the moment we arrived till the check out, really friendly staff and amazing food. The staff is defenittely a credit to The Grand!!!

We had our fortieth wedding anniversary at the Grand, and our children and grandchildren also came for dinner and overnight. We had a superb suite overlooking the seafront which was very luxurious. The hotel as always was most impressive and all the staff polished and efficient whilst remaining approachable and friendly. I would agree with some of the other comments that the dinner in the Garden Room, (good value for a five star hotel) may be a little average and could perhaps be a little more memorable in its content and cooking. But overall an extremely pleasant and comfortable long weekend, which we would heartily recommend to anyone seeking a memorable visit.