This review is based on one incident but nevertheless shouldn't have happened in a hotel with such a high reputation. My wife and two friends drove 30 miles to have tea at the Grand to celebrate two birthdays. The confirmed booking could not be found, meat sandwiches were served to a pre-notified vegitarian and one lot of sandwiches were still frozen in the centre.

As we had previously visited Eastbourne's Grand Hotel for afternoon tea, dinner in its Mirabelle Restaurant and for Saturday evening dancing, expectations for our stay ran high - we were not disappointed. From the moment of arrival we felt pampered by each member of staff we encountered who all did everything possible to ensure comfortable settling in. Our room, furnished in traditional style to suit the hotel's ambience, was 'roomy' - plenty of space for the huge and nicely-canopied bed, several pieces of useful furniture including tallboy, desk, 3-piece suite and two capacious fitted wardrobes (one with a personal safe). The elegant drapes, in William Morris design-style, completed the overall feel of comfort and being cared for.
Our dinner party of ten in the Mirabelle was first-class with attention given to every detail. The dancing which followed in the nearby lounge/dance floor was immensely enjoyable with excellent music provided by a versatile trio and good vocalist.
When we made a reservation for Sunday afternoon tea we did not realise, as it was the last Sunday of the month, there was to be a Palm Court String Quartet providing that special brand of 'genteel' music: as it was for the broadcasts from the hotel's Great Hall of the BBC's Palm Court Orchestra every Sunday afternoon from 1923-1939. Tea was presented individually on 3-tier stands - dainty sandwiches on the lower plate, small cakes and a fruit compote on the centre plate, and scones on the top; of course, cream and strawberry jam were provided for accompaniment. This 'Palm Court and Tea' session was a highlight of our stay, but the entire experience was one of magnificent pleasure. It would be wonderful to return for another get-away at this elegant 'white palace' - a stunning building with a comprehensive range of accompanying facilities.

We last stayed at The Grand 13 years ago before its multi million refurbishment and so returned less than enthusiastic. However I can honestly say that it was one of the best hotel stays we have ever had - and we have stayed in a lot of hotels both for business and for leisure! The welcome was incredibly warm, nothing was too much trouble and you got the feeling that the staff really cared about us enjoying our stay. The room was lovely, very comfortable and quiet and the spa (unusually for one in a big hotel) was both reasonable with an experienced team. We had a wonderful evening and our meal at the Mirabelle was sublime, we then relaxed in the bar with the really friendly bar man. All in all a great stay and I am completely mystified about the reviewer who stayed on 23 November. The Grand is not a trendy 'of the moment' hotel, it is better than that - it is a great British classic. I didn't know they still existed.

We paid a visit to the Grand for a surprise birthday treat for my wife with our two young children (7 and 16 months) with high expectations. We were not disappointed. We arrived, to the strains of La Mer by Debussy on the car stereo (composed at the Grand in 1902 apparently), on a tempestuous and rainy November afternoon, and the whole family simultaneously squealed with delight on arrival at the ornate, gleaming White Palace looming above us. The building itself certainly has the "wow" factor. We were greeted warmly by the doorman - the first of many immaculately and traditionally turned-out, friendly staff we encountered during our stay, and ushered into our serene autumnal bolt-hole-by-the-sea graciously and efficiently. We were checked in delightfully by the charming receptionist, and our 7 year-old daughter was impressed by her own special check-in, complete with a Grand rucksack of goodies (surely a valuable life-lesson and incentive for her to go on and earn the money required to treat herself and her family - including, hopefully, her ageing parents - to 5* goodies in adulthood..). From the pristine Victorian splendour of the exterior to the immaculately maintained (and thankfully non-modernised) Grand entrance and galleried halls, we were whisked relaxedly to our suite by our charming and helpful bellboy. The suite we selected (a standard Junior), was spacious and immaculately clean. We were provided with all the items we had requested prior to arrival - a DVD player (plus library of family DVD's available to borrow), kids bathrobes, cot, high-chair, changing mat, and even a Grand Hotel rubber duck, and immediately felt at home. We had read complaints from other reviewers about the dated-ness of the rooms. but felt that the decor suited the overall feel of the place perfectly. A trip to the Health club followed, and we were again impressed by the friendliness of the staff and the facilities provided for a nice chilled-out family swim/sauna/jacuzzi session. We had ordered a babysitter for both nights (a highly recommended option) and we left the kids at turndown with their complimentary milk and cookies to retire to the fabulous cocktail bar for a couple of stunning cocktails recommended by the friendly and knowledgeable mixologist (check out the to-die-for Pyrat XO Sours), and went on to dine at the Mirabelle Restaurant. The Mirabelle was a perfect venue for a romantic dinner a-deux, but failed to deliver to expectation, foodwise, on both evenings. Again, the staff were polished, friendly and attentive in the proper old-fashioned sense, but the food was unfortunately mediocre, apart from the universally stunning desserts - check out the Pear poached in blackcurrant for a distinguished and perfectly executed example. However the experience itself was intrinsically enjoyable, but, foodwise, just not up to other 5* dining experiences we have had in the past. Breakfast was an excellent, relaxing affair in the opulent garden restaurant - we would recommend ordering from the breakfast menu for best results. Throughout our stay, the beautifully turned-out staff (even the chambermaids in their smart fin-de-ciecle outfits) made us feel at home, and were universally charming with the kids. Next time we visit (soon, hopefully), we will plan a weekend/school holiday visit to take full advantage of the excellent kids facilities on offer - the childrens high-tea and playroom, as these were sadly unavailable during our visit. Overall, a hugely relaxing, very child-friendly break in the type of Proper, quintissentially English seaside hotel that we should regard as a National Treasure.

In many ways a unique hotel. You really feel that Pirot would be at home. Very friendly porter, receptionist maybe a little distant. We got upgraded to a sea view room which looked great. HOwever it all seemd to go wrong thereafter. We went for the tasting menu. Two to three of the courses were below standard, the portions really very small and the selection of wine iffy. But what was annoying is that when we complained, nothing happened. One would have expected that paying £500 for the all inclusive one night stay that the level of service would have been better. No one came to appologise or try to put things right. Probably the main complaint, in that there was no onwership of any problem, it was always referred to someone elase. And one more thing, do not be in a hurry. The meal took two and a half hours to serve. I can honestly say I was starving at the end!
Then the room. To put the hairdryer in you lie on the floor to plug it in under the desk! The bed was so soft that if you lay in it, your feet ended up above your head, and lastly in the morning, there was no hot water out of the taps.(8:30 in the morning.)
Breakfast was so so. I was sort of expecting something different to why you pay £7.50 for at a premier Inn, but to be homest they have more choice and the same self service at the Grand.

Shame, as i think it could have been a wonderful experiance.

A lovely short stay. The Grand Eastbourne is beautiful hotel, just sitting in the lobby of the hotel it isn't too hard to imagine the hotel in its pomp with resident orchestra et al.

The service was excellent throughout and meeting staff on the stairs or corridors we always got eye contact and a friendly greeting.

The room was spacious, very clean and well presented but perhaps a little dated. Not in it's condition or the standard of fittings or decoration just in the colours. The bathroom was perhaps the biggest disappointment. It was carpeted and although large enough to have a seperate shower we had to combat a fabric shower curtain whilst using the shower over the bath. The tap fittings left you gambling on the temperature of the water. The bathroom sadly wasn't 5 star, but everything worked and it was very clean and warm.

Breakfast was lovely with a wide range of offerings. Cooked breakfasts can be self served from a buffet or cooked to order arriving on hot plates. The attentive staff ensured that our tea remained topped up with pleanty of toast.

Overall it was very good and we will certainly stay again in a few months time.

Very nice hotel, cannot really say anyting bad
Had a very nice room over looking to sea, very big and spacious.

Breakfast was fine, nothing to rave about, but just ok..
Not for the young, main market for the older generation.

Overall very good. Has a tough act trying to juggle an historic bygone image with a modern appealing hotel that families want to stay at.

Very family friendly and yet still manages to feel like an old Gentlemens' club. Decor stunning in the public areas. Rooms dated but do the job and would be difficult to modernise I suspect.

Staff were very good and friendly. Service was very attentive. Breakfast a slight let-down for 5*. No better than many cheaper hotels.

But we were made to feel welcome even with a baby and that counts for a lot.

I highly recommend the Mirabelle Restaurant. We had an outstanding lunch there. The best aspect of this was the impeccable silver service from the highly trained yet youthful staff. The food also was of a good standard, especially a sensational seafood soufflé starter (at a supplement to the table d’hôte). Another pleasant surprise was some good wines at relatively reasonable prices (or rather, not the total rip off that many 5star hotels indulge in).

The room itself is well maintained and traditional. The china, crystal and silver are all immaculate and there are also delightful feature flower arrangements. They have a self playing piano which drew mixed comments from our group. A piano playing in the background belongs to the traditional grand hotel ambience and whilst it would be nicer if played in person I would rather have a ‘fake’ than nothing at all.

I have eaten (and stayed at) many Grand hotels as I am a fan of them. However, the vast majority in the UK are now trading on past glories and offer a disappointing and all too frequently depressing service (e.g. The Imperial, Torquay; The Royal Bath, Bournemouth; The Grand, Brighton etc etc). The Grand at Eastbourne is one of a tiny tiny number which is managing to maintain traditional luxury standards. It is such a rare treat to find this and we all left the place feeling very happy. The Management and staff are to be commended. Based on the experience of this lunch I plan to stay here for a sojourn before long.

This hotel is what all hotels with history should be like and lives up to its "Grand" name. It is unquestionably traditional, chintzy decor etc and the only really obvious concession to modernity is the flat screen tv in the room. It is clean and well maintained. The outdoor heated swimming pool is a real treat although this facility was made easier by the unseasonably great weather at the end of Sept. I stayed as part of a large group - corporate but leisure combined so did not have to pay for the privilige of staying here! Breakfast was very good catering for all requirements and the service was very good. This is Eastbourne - not Ibiza so if you are looking for wild action it may not be the place for you. If you are looking for a quiet relaxing break in a well maintained gem in a great location this might just be the place. Although you may have to delve deep into your pockets to pay for it.

We spent the weekend with girlfriends to relax and have fun in Eastbourne. We decided not to stay at the Grand but instead opted to organise a spa day for ten of us. We had the best time and couldn't fault the spa.

Although at the beginning our enquiry was a little neglected, we couldn't fault the staff at the Grand. the spa facilities are good, probably not the best, but certainly good value and very relaxing. We were made to feel so welcome and Anna our contact at the Spa delivered faultless service throughout our day. Adam the manager was equally attentive and all of the staff at the spa made us feel very special.

We used the swimming pool, sauna and steam room which was all clean and inviting. The changing rooms are a little snug, but that didn't really matter too much.

Lunch was exceptional - we opted for something simple and had soup and sandwiches, but it was all delicious and served brilliantly.

The treatments were all good and we didn't stop smiling all day. I'm already booked to go back in two weeks time, but this time, i'm staying at the hotel! It's a stunning hotel and you feel so welcome from the minute you step through the door - if only more hotels adopted this attention to detail and welcome approach to customers!

well done everyone at the Grand Spa!!

This hotel was lovely, had a real olde worlde style with grand entrances and old fashioned charm. The only downside was that the rooms were a bit dinky, with chintzy decor, but that was to be expected. Would definitely stay again if in Eastbourne.

This was a delightful place to stay. If you stay at this hotel on the last Sunday of the month you must have high tea at the hotel. They have an orchestra playing. We sat in the front foyer with a sea view and could still hear the music. The room was acceptable. We had a small room, but the bathroom was huge. The carpet in the bathroom was suprisingly clean. Small TV. The common areas are beautiful, so there is no need to hang out in your room. It is situated in a great part of town. We rented bikes, but had to travel quite a ways to pick them up. Hiking to the top of beachy head was fabulous. The town was a bit old for us . (we are in our early thirty's) but was perfect for a relaxing get away wihout nightlife. They did have an outdoor pool, but to get there you had to go through a mold filled hallway. That was the only negative. You should go to The Farm if you have time. It is a bit out of the way from the hotel, but worth it.

I've visited The Grand a couple of times (most recently in the summer) and have to say that it is consistently the best service I have ever experienced. It's not intimidating, just warm and friendly.

Nice restaurant, good rooms and sea views. What more could you want?

Myself and my husband used to stay in this hotel every year for the tennis season. We loved it every time we stayed there. There were lots of guests and the staff coped very well, we could not find a single fault.

This year I decided to take my mother for a 3 night break for some "luxury" as a special present for her 60th birthday. Unfortunately it was not so special at all.

The room was OK. Only in the morning at about 7 a.m. there was terrible noise from outside as if somebody was disposing of tons of empty bottles, that happened every morning. Clean towels were never replaced without specifically asking for that. One evening after a so called "turn down" service our rubbish bins were not emptied and to make things worse my dental device was stolen from the bathroom. Of course I mentioned it but nobody bothered to take this seriously.

As part of our deal we had to dine in one of the restaurants twice. I used to love Garden restaurant in the past and was looking forward to taking my mom there for dinner. The service was appaling. It was incredibly slow between the courses. I had to ask someone to remove our plates after waiting for about 40 minutes. They only said "sorry". My mom pointed out and I agree with her that the food was quite average, nothing special. As I understand you pay 5 star hotel prices for a dinner which is not really anything special but you expect to be treated as a 5 star hotel guest and you put up with it. Unfortunately that evening was spoilt. I did copmlain about the service and asked to have at least a nice table by the side for our next dinner as a good gesture. Reluctantly we were offered a specified table but with the words" Somebody just cancelled that table so I am going to put you there. Is it OK with you?" I noticed that there were quite a few side tables available so there was no point to be so sarcastic about it without acknowledging the poor service the day before.

We used both pools (outdoor and indoor). Very unpleasant experience. The changing rooms and shower rooms were very dirty, lots of mould, outdoor swimming pool was extremely dirty/ That was supposed to be a spa but the first thing we did when we returned to our room was having a thorugh wash!!!

Everything that I mentioed above is just not acceptable for a 5 star hotel. Probably if you want to be treated nicely you'd better come during the tennis season....

This glorious old hotel sits on the seafront at Eastbourne like some great Duchess. Set slightly back from the road but overlooking the seafront it is a timeless, classic, old fashioned hotel with excellent service. If you like modern hotels with glitz and chrome do not visit here. If, on the other hand, you want space, comfort, excellent service, good food, then you'll enjoy the ambience.

For starters there is no piped music at all. Heaven! To sit in the Great Hall and watch the comings and goings is a wonderful experience in itself. This is a three story high space with grand painting, loads of squashy, comfy sofas and chairs. Just the tinkle of tea cups, the clink of glasses, the chatter of guests and passing staff, the chiming of the clock above the big fireplace. At teatime there is a piano and once a month an old fashioned palm court trio. There are even two writing desks with hotel paper - when did you last see proper writing desks in a decent hotel!

Even a simple coffee will be served with style and elegance. There are comfy chairs in the lounges and quiet nooks and crannies for a snooze or just to read. We intended exploring a bit more but the hotel is a destination in itself and is so comfortable it can be hard to drag yourself out, let alone down to the spa.

Other reviewers seemed disappointed with the Mirabelle but we found it to be excellent. The staff was formal and attentive but not overpowering. The food was excellent and well presented. During one luncheon we were the last in the restaurant yet at no time did any of the staff make us feel we should eat up or that it was time to go. It is a delightful restaurant and we liked the more intimate feel to it. The other restaurant, The Garden Room, is bigger and seemed a little less inviting.

As befits an older hotel the rooms vary in size but are roomy and comfortable. It's true some of the floor boards squeak as you go about the room or up and down the corridors but that is all part of the charm and only to be expected from a great lady of this age!

The staff seems happy in their work and there is always a cheery smile or hello as they pass in the corridors. Managers walk about in smart black jackets and striped trousers and the whole building seems to hum with efficiency and people who know what they are doing quietly going about their business.

We thought the hotel timeless, classic, and elegant. In some ways it is like being on a great old fashioned ocean liner. Magic!

We loved the grand Hotel , everything was as we expected, very well run with plenty of staff, room was spotles as where the common rooms. Indoor swimming pool was lovely and clean. Breakfast as first class and nothing like a school dinner !!. Be aware of the dress code for evening meals

I found this hotel to be a haven of peace. It didn't start off like that, there were a number of minor complaints but the measure of a good hotel is how complaints are dealt with, and they were resolved quickly. The beds and pillows were amazing - it felt like I was sleeping on a cloud. Thoroughly enjoyed the food, although the service from the kitchen needs improving. The staff really do want you to enjoy the hotel and it shows, nothing is too much trouble and if you have a criticism they take it constructively and fix it ! We had a large mixed party and all of us would definately return. Well done Grand Hotel - this type of service is sadly lacking in many hotels.

From arrival to departure, our every need was met. The staff were helpful and obliging at all times and couldn't be faulted.
Our one tip would be to book early for dinner in the Restaurant as they seem to get fully booked.

We stayed here as part of a birthday treat, and wanted a bit of luxury so booked a junior suite with a sea view.
The welcome, parking and registration were friendly and efficient. Our room had a large and comfortable four-poster bed, with a two seater sofa and bathroom. All was scrupulously clean and well furnished. The indoor pool was a good size and at 8.40am on the Sunday morning had just two of us using it!
Was surprised at the breakfast which was like any other hotel buffet breakfast, very good and they did do kippers on request, but the toast and coffee service was a bit slow and disorganised. The coffee situation was odd, it was brought in a pot yet other people had cafetieres, and apparently if you wanted proper coffee you had to ask, but of course, if you didn’t know you had to ask you didn’t get it! When you pay the sort of nightly rate for a junior suite, you really should expect to get the best coffee without asking for it. A minor point but it was at odds with the rest of the service and ethos. The cocktail bar was great and the service and drinks superb. The building is superb and deserves its refurbishment.

The major disappointment was the Mirabelle restaurant, distinctly average but conspicuously overpriced. There was also an unpleasant smell around our table but luckily a large vase of lillies soon overcame this. Service was extremely slow between the starter and the main course, and we were brought the complimentary gazpacho twice. We surmised that they really wanted us to have the tasting menu and weren’t really geared up for the set menu, which seems odd. I know restaurants in the UK mark up wine to a tremendous degree, but really a bottle of Montepulciano D’Abruzzo available in Majestic for £4.49 and on the wine list for £31 is really taking the you know what. We might have been spoiled by the impeccable service and unparalled quality of food at Le Manoir but when you pay over £100 for food you should expect something special, not something average; my advice is to eat somewhere else in Eastbourne.
I’d still give the hotel 5 stars, but if I were to review the Mirabelle, I’d give it 2 out of 5.

My husband and I brought our 6 month old son and dog to this hotel for a short overnight stay. Booked the room directly with the reservations as their price was similar to any other website which they claim to beat. Lady on the phone was very polite and answered all my questions in detailed regarding our baby and dog. She explained their Baby package include a bottle steriliser, bottle warmer, baby bath, rubber ducky and cot.
Upon arrival, very smart door man came to our car, took our bags and took us straight to reception. Check in was pain free and we were taken upstairs to our room straight away. We had a third floor room with a side sea view which wasn't too bad as we didn't spend much time sitting by the windows anyway! Room was very clean and spacious but old fashioned. I believed we had one of their older rooms that were not recently rebrubish. Cot was already nicely set up in the corner of the room by our bed. Although we had a double room, the bed were made up of 2 singles that hardly had any padding to disguise the bump. So if you like snuggling in bed with your partner like me, it is not so comfortable! Bed was too soft in my opinion and pillows were odd sizes (one too low, two was too high). We dined in Mirabelle in the evening, meal was lovely and so was service. It was not spectacular but it was worth visiting if in the area.

Although the room was all good, my husband and I did not had a good night sleep. As the windows were low-ish. We could only open slightly just to let some air in in fear of my dog jumping out in the middle of the night ! Hence, it was a very warm and stuffy room. Also you could hear doors slamming on the corridor. Morning came, we were woken up at 6am by VERY noisy sea gulls that literally sat on our window sill. We tried shooing it away but it was not going anywhere. Vans were pulling up and I could hear the slamming of the van doors (deliveries of some kind i guess), people shouting to each other. As a result, our baby woke up early and messed up his routine the rest of the day. Breakfast was lovely with both continental and full english spread. Check out was also easy and by then I was also happy to leave.

In short, it is a nice hotel. Staff were lovely. Food was ok. Good for family and pets. However if you are expecting the ultra luxurious five star here, you would be a little dissapointed.

The staff were all very helpful at all times. We had a lovely room, very well appointed. The food was excellent - a lovely spread at Breakfast, dinner in the Garden Restaurant and the Mirabelle were very good.
We love Eastbourne, it is very pretty and so clean and well cared for. The gardens are most attractive.

We have just returned from another wonderful stay at the Grand. The staff were excellent especially the staff in the Garden restaurant in particular the restaurant manager and his assistant., however, we feel we must draw attention to the poor service in the hotel's other restaurant. The hotel markets the Mirabelle as something out of the ordinary and superior to the main Garden restaurant but on the evening we dined there we very extremely disappointed. We had to wait for an hour for our main course and it was obvious that staff were aware there was a problem because they went from being totally attentive to avoiding approaching our table. When we did manage to speak to one of them to enquire after our meal the waitress snapped at us and told us that the manager would be out to speak to us. The meal eventually came out of the kitchen but the manger never came to see what the problem was. We found this to be totally the opposite to our other experiences - a simple apology would have been sufficient and it really did spoil our evening because we had been looking forward to the occasion. We must point out here that later in the evening the manager of the Garden Restaurant came over to ask us about our experience in Miarbelle and attepted to put things right. One cannot compare the difference in attitude in his domain we had a wonderful meal in the Garden and cannot praise the staff there and in the rest of the hotel enough. I really think the management of the hotel should address this issue, the Grand has a good reputation but staying there is not cheap and people stay there because they enjoy the old fashioned courtesy and helpfulness that they provide. If the hotel loses this they they may find that their loyal customers feel that they can do better in more modern less expensive hotels. We had intended to book a private room for a special family occasion ther in the future but as it would have meant guests having to travel a long distance with an overnight stay we have reconsidered because we cannot risk similar poor service spoiling the occasion.

Me and my partner visted this hotel for a romantic break for one night on the 6/6/09 . Have got to say I really enjoyed it but it was very expensive. This was the fitrst time I had been to a hotel quite this old but so well kept. It is not modern in the slightest with an old box TV in your room etc. But any knid of medernisning of this hotel in my opinion would ruin it. The grad hall running down the centre of the hotel is amazing and you get the feel you are living in a grand old stately home. All the staff were very professional. The meal was very expensive in my opinion and cost the two of us with a bottle of wine a conbined £120. However it was amazing food. The atmosphere is very posh but likeable, there was a guy playing a grand piano in the resteraunt, and it did feel very rmantic. I really liked it here as it was something different. The spa facilities are really top notch and some of the beast I have ever been to. The location is fantastic and you literally walk out of the front of the hotel onto the beach. The out door pool looked great and I would have though it would have been amazing were the weather to have been suitable. However it is expensive when you get there and its the first time i have ever spent £120 on a meal so have little to compare it with.

Made a last minute booking for a bank holiday weekend.

On arrival the hotel building and setting very imposing. Greeted by very smart doorman who took our luggage and valet parked our car. Reception area and entrance hall very grand. Check in very efficient.

We were then somewhat surprised that we were left to take out own luggage and find our room by ourselves. Our good initial impressins started to dissipate as we wandered along somewhat tiring corridors and reduced further as we enterd our room. Yes it was adequate but surely not 5 star stuff.

Best part of the room was the mattress which was of a very high quality. But suprisingly no air conditioning or temperature control. Furniture was very traditional rather than functional.

The area that surprised us most was the bathroom and all its clashing colours. The floor was fully carpeted without even a splash rug around the toilet - though it appeared clean you were left wondering how hygenic it ws! Also there was practically no flat surface to store our toilet bags - again traditional rather than functional.

Went to use the indoor swimming pool only to find it was a crowded bedlam of children with their parents all splashing around. Used outdoor pool which was much quieter and fortunately heated.

Planned to spoil outselves by having dinner in the restaurant and had brought some very smart casual clothes but was barred entrance as I had neither a tie or a jacket. Same rules supposedly apply to the bar area in the evening though we did have a drink there and could see that osome thers were in the same boat as ourselves!!