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.

I have been frequenting this lovely hotel since Elite took it over and spent millions on renovations. I am an Elite Club member so frequent the restaurant often and stay in the hotel at least once each year. I have celebrated my 50th in the hotel and also my partners 50th when we stayed in the Debussy Suite for 2 nights (excellent). The Mirabelle is a good fine dining experience and reasonably priced and what the hotel has its AA rosettes for. The Garden Restaurant table d'hotel menu has crept up in price whilst the selection has diminished. The food is nowhere near as good as it once was. It is clear that the hotel has not been immune from the financial climate and costs have been cut, noticeably so. Coffee and petit fours are now chargeable, staff numbers reduced drastically and plate sizes reduced. The extravagant flower arrangements and the perfumes that once pervaded the hotel have been cut back. I cannot fault the staff or service in any of the areas, polite and friendly whilst being discreet but it has to be said that when the hotel is very busy things don't always go as well as one would expect from a 5 star establishment. I have tried pretty much all the rooms from suite down to executive sea view and can honestly say they have always been clean and comfortable. I like the old fashioned antique feel about the place. I love the Grand at Eastbourne and will be a loyal customer for many years to come but there are some improvements required.

This was a memorable hotel whose impeccable hospitality and friendliness made you want to stay longer. The room had a sea view and balcony which enhanced the ambience and the hotel facilities were great for our family including our 7yr old who loved the swim pool, pitch & putt and snooker room!

A hotel for celebration and relaxation made afternoon tea glamourously effortless, which by the sea made this a great coastal location for families and all. Loved the romantic Garden Restaurant, pianist and attention to detail. The service and location make this a 5 star hotel, beautiful hotel in a fab part of the country with the promenade, South Downs & dramatic coastline. A favourite!

We stayed here for three nights to celebrate a special occasion. The hotel lived up to our expectations in that it was indeed, grand, and the staff level of service (excluding the Garden Restaurant) was very good, and the room comfortable and pleasant to be in. Hotel facilities were very good. The champagne afternoon tea in particular was very good, and the service excellent. However, we were extremely disappointed in the quality of food and the service in the Garden Restaurant. We had booked for our special occasion evening dinner, but didn't think it provided a special occasion. On arrival, the maitre'd ignored us for 2/3 minutes before acknowledging us - he was busy with his booking sheet - and then we were 40 minutes being seated before we had any service. The service was then perfunctory, and the food was bland and uninteresting - it's a traditional menu, but that doesn't mean it has to be without some imaginative taste. It was like very basic pub grub - but at a much higher price! As the alternative restaurant menu was not to our liking, we then had to find places to eat out as we cancelled our subsequent Garden Restaurant bookings.

It was a wonderful experience. We have been there on 3 ocasions, and each time the overall service and food is excellent.
The breakfast is the highlight of the trip, with just so much to choose from. The fresh honey from the comb was delicious, and something I've never seen in a hotel before.
LOOKING FORWARD TOT EH NEXT VISIT

Staying at this hotel is utter bliss. From the moment you walk in, to the moment you leave you are treated very well by friendly staff. The facilities are very good, with spacious, well furnished and clean rooms and well decorated, clean public areas. The leisure centre is good too. Dinner in the Garden restaurant was excellent, as was breakfast and the waiting staff/chefs were able to cater very well for me, despite my food allergies. The only minor issue is the lack of parking at the front of the hotel but this wasn't a problem for us as there is plenty of on street parking at a reasonable price.
Overall, this is a wonderful hotel and if you are looking for a high quality and classic hotel, then The Grand is an excellent choice.

as a treat for my wife and I I booked to stay at the Grand and to have dinner in the Mirabelle restaurant. The booking process was easy, and having considered the set menu I had to raise with the hotel a change to the menu for my good lady who has a problem with shellfish. All absolutely seamless no problem with a change to our meal. We were looking forward to a romantic evening in the hotel without the need to go home afterwards.
I arrived at the hotel before my good lady, checked in and was going up to our room when I noticed a sign pointing into one of the restaurants, not the Mirabelle, indicating that gentleman were requested to wear a jacket or tie when dining. I didn't have a jacket a tie with me. I enquired at reception whether the requirement applied also to the Mirabelle restaurant and was told that it did. I was also advised that I was notified of this requirement at the time of booking, which is factually wrong. In fact, buried in the small print at the foot of the confirmation of reservation e-mail, all that stuff which is usually confidentiality notices, is notification that gentleman would be expected to wear jacket or tie when dining. I take that as being a post contract arrangement and not part of my booking. The hotel staff remained calm and were very happy simply for me to walk away and go elsewhere, not something one does on Valentine's Day.

Eventually, I was loaned a tie. We had a very pleasant meal in the Mirabelle restaurant, service was exemplary and the Chef's choice of wines to go with each course very pleasant. The alternative to the shellfish course offered to my good lady was seabass which I believe she enjoyed.

The restaurant itself perhaps had seen better days, this is however a grand seaside hotel rather than a cutting edge city hotel. I am not entirely sure how the hotel merits its five stars but that is always confusionas there does not appear to be a general policy.

Whilst the issue with the jacket and tie leaves a sour taste, we have rebooked for Mother's Day but won't be staying in the hotel. The hotel is caught in a time warp, apparently pandering to its traditional Client base, seeking to offer a traditional dining and staying experience, I am not sure that a jacket and tie policy really fits in this day and age, no doubt they wish to avoid the "Kiss me quick" hat market, with the greatest of respect to the hotel what they charge excludes that market in any event. I take considerable exception to being told of a policy which is only communicated after the booking has been made. That being said they handled it very well and were very firm. Would we stay there again, frankly no. I think this hotel has to watch out. If Eastbourne is God's waiting room, the waiting room empties and there may not be anybody left wishing to go there. Whilst not in the first flush of youth by any stretch of the imagination, jackets and ties smack of a bygone era.

I love the Eastbourne Grand. We've made at least 20 visits over about 10 years and each one has been just as lovely. It is totally old-fashioned in the best possible way. We are a family of four with an 11 year old and a 6 year old and we have always been amazingly catered for as a family. The hotel provide lovely and special high teas for children during school holidays with several choices and dedicated staff. There is a decidedly older clientele but you are never made to feel unwelcome and everyone is given the same star treatment. It is true that the rooms could do with a bit of modernisation and that the food also is a bit old fashioned but none of this really matters when the wonderful location, grand public rooms, sense of occasion at every meal/drink in the bar and every staff member has been hand selected (or at least that's how it feels). The manager is omnipresent and remembers every face. He takes the time to chat to every customer and make them feel special and he has selected his staff to take the same care. You don't find hotels like this any more. What the Grand lacks in mod-cons, decor and foodiness it more than makes up for in staff attention to detail, friendliness, welcoming for children and care for families and the older generation and just general loveliness and old fashioned charm. Dancing to a live band and the regular strings trio that play at afternoon tea time evokes memories of a time long gone but one which I wish more hotels would aspire to recreate now. Special touches for families include special welcome rucksaks for children with a special set of steps at reception so they can see over the reception desk - they are even asked to sign in with parents. High teas, day long entertainment should you wish, all day long use of the pool and special canapes at dinner, even milk and cookies delivered to the room free of charge every evening and small cans of coke/lemonade on ice in your room on arrival - it's those little details that really count for families and make you feel you are actually welcome here rather than sidelined. Our last visit was for the New Year's Eve package and I actually think the food has really improved in the last year. We had a really happy and enjoyable time and the children really enjoyed the free party on New Year's Eve which included a special disco, games, babysitting til midnight, a lovely buffet and generally was fantastic. The adult party was pretty special too and the staff always have a smile and a chat for you. One of my favourite hotels - and trust me - we are a fussy family!!! Special thanks to the manager who always remembers a face and goes out of his way to help.

We recently stayed at The Grand as a 'special deal' gift from our son and his wife. What a lovely building. The staff were extremely professional and from the moment we arrived, we were welcomed and made to feel special. Our ground floor room, not the grandest in the hotel admittedly, was nevertheless spacious and well equipped. A supremely comfortable bed was much appreciated and after our evening stroll, we returned to see the bed on each side turned down. A nice touch.
A few niggles have to be mentioned though:
The supply of tea and coffee items was quite meagre for a hotel such as this, eg one very small packet of biscuits for two people?
Ditto the bath items...We both remarked on it and compared it unfavourably with the 4star hotel we normally frequent in Eastbourne. The bathroom was very small too which was another surprise.
My sleep was disturbed at around midnight by the noise outside of, I discovered later, squeaky trolleys which were being used to transport items to the bins. Such was the noise, I got dressed and went down to reception to ask what it could be? A very polite and helpful member of the staff came back with me to try to identify the noise. He was impeccably polite and helpful saying he would report the matter, assuring me it would stop very soon.
Clearly, this isn't an unknown problem.
Finally breakfast: Unfortunately we can only rate it as average...6/10. Service was excellent and we could not fault the way we were looked after. But the quality of the food, or do I mean cooking, was disappointing. My scrambled eggs were overcooked and crumbly in texture instead of creamy. My husband's poached eggs were hard.
Notwithstanding these criticisms, The Grand is a lovely elegant hotel with a well-trained and friendly staff.
I just wish the overall experience had been free of those annoying little niggles. Hence the title of this review.

We have stayed here a few times for the LMP weekend and the service and friendliness of all the staff is legendary. You will not find a better place to stay. Everything runs with a smooth efficiency but should you require anything the staff will try their best to accomodate. The food is also very good. Spoil yourself in the Mirabelle