Its a very sad fact that a lot of Englands traditional 5 star seaside hotels are in need of serious investment to bring them in line with the competition from the very basic travel inn style set ups and the newer budget 4 star style properties like millenium and copthorne. These seaside top notch properties used to rely on a solid conference base and charge rack rates to all these guests and tick over during the lean months. However times have changed and some like the Royal Bath in Bournemouth have been prepared to lose this 5 star status to appease the shareholders of the companies represented by these delegates that there is no"fat cat" wasting of profits on frivolities like Champagne and caviar. I am pleased to say that The Grand Hotel has stuck 2 fingers up to all this and continued in the traditional style whilst modernising the facilities in a tasteful gentle way. We have stayed at the hotel twice and go for afternoon tea every 6 - 8 weeks or so and therefore this review is not one rare story of delight. The hotel had been seriously suffering of under investment until Elite hotels( a small group of 4 and 5 star hotels) bought it from De Vere,thank god they did! The hotel is at the posher end of Eastbourne which has to be said is'Gods waiting room' for many. This area is known as Meads and the hotel sits within its own well kept grounds just a roads width away from the promenade. The beautifully kept white building looks impeccable with the sun shining down on it and puts to shame the many hotels that allow their paintwork to go rusty from all the sea air. There is usually a doorman waiting to greet you and the reception area has always been helpful if not the high point of any stay. You could spend hours just wandering around the inside of the hotel with its many state rooms snooker room, gym, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hairdresser and many other things which we probably haven't discovered. The rooms are very comfortable and again traditional in style, I have had the opportunity to view most types of room and would recommend a mid priced room unless you want ludicrously large rooms with little furniture and very high ceilings. Service is usually of a very high standard especially room service and those that serve you afternoon tea mainly taken around the fire or bar where I believe the palm court orchestra plays once a month ( a tradition once broadcasted weekly on the radio ). We always choose to have our afternoon tea in the area known as the concourse, which is often used by guests wanting a cigarette after dinner. It looks out across the putting green and further ahead of course is the sea and prom with its illuminations lighting up at night( I wish seasides would all remember to check that these bulbs are working once a week or so, in Brighton more dont work than do,but from St Helier to St Aubins bay on Jersey the lights when we stayed recently were all shining shame on you England!) The usually well trained staff serve afternoon tea on a 3 tiered stand with their own label jams, dainty sandwiches cakes and warm scones, with clotted cream naturally. At our last visit, this with unlimited tea, is only ?12.50 per person it's incredible value when it can take you 2 hours to get through all those Sunday supplements! Attention to detail is so important and I love to see the care taken when placing the plates on the table (the staff are trained to place the plates with The grand hotel logo facing you at 12 o clock) also the hand placed behind the back when serving the tea (loose leaf of course). We have on occasions had more inexperienced staff nearly always foreign who instead warm you with their charm. now back to the info for overnight guests... A rareity these days is the service of early morning tea and coffee from about 6am i think, yes it costs ?3 p.p but it beats the tea you can make with the facilities they offer you in the room and its a real treat for neither you or your partner having to do it. The hotel has two restaurants the most respected being "Mirabelle" whose head chef Gerald Roser is reasonably well known in this area. Having never taken lunch or dinner I cannot comment on the quality of food and service in this area but would assume it to be of the same high standards kept in all other areas of the hotel. Built into the back of the hotel is a parade of shops and there is an almost secret back door there where once upon a time stars would sneak out when appearing at the theatres just down the road! So to conclude the Grand Eastbourne is in our opinion the best of its class anywhere, perfect for anyone who appreciates the finer things in life and you dont need to be drawing your pension,My wife is in her twenties and me just 30. Eastbourne is a nice enough town but you are best off enjoying the area immediately around the hotel and up towards beachy head to the west. I am sure you will not be disappointed.