The Grand Hotel Eastbourne Review: Timeless Seaside Luxury
- Helena
- Sep 12
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 14
Here is our review of the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne.
A Seaside Palace Steeped in History
Rising proudly above Eastbourne’s elegant seafront, The Grand Hotel, affectionately known as the White Palace, is a place where time seems to slow and elegance lingers in every detail. In 2025, the hotel will celebrate 150 years of hospitality, a milestone that feels fitting for one of Britain’s last remaining seaside grande dames. Over the decades its rooms and grand spaces have welcomed icons from Winston Churchill to Claude Debussy and Charlie Chaplin.
As part of the Small Luxury Hotels Group, you are able to book and earn Hilton Honors points. Do learn from our mistake though, make sure to add your Hilton Honors number at the time of booking as they will not add your number in after booking.
The Room: Classic Seaview Charm
We checked into Room 126, a Superior Classic Seaview Room with a balcony, and it instantly charmed us with its light, generous proportions and quiet old-world glamour. There is no air conditioning, something that might disappoint lovers of modern hotel tech, but we found the sea breeze drifting through wide-open windows and the provision of fans kept the room comfortable. The decision to preserve the building’s historic fabric rather than clutter it with modern gadgets felt, to us, absolutely right. The last full renovation took place was in 1998 and you can see that in the rooms more than anywhere else.
The bed was a super king (always a novelty) and the mattress was super squishy. The pillows, whilst huge, were a little too soft for mine and Sam’s liking. I just don’t get why hotels like to provide guests with pillows that are more air than anything and deflate as soon as your head hits it so that you’d be better off just lying your head straight onto the mattress. The linens though were crisp, clean and fresh.
My side of the bed came with a conveniently placed double socket, though Sam’s didn’t, an annoyance that even modern hotels seem to share. The room’s furnishings were simple but functional: a dressing table, a chest of drawers (though one drawer refused to open despite my efforts), a coffee and tea station well stocked with Nespresso pods and a particularly good selection of teas, plus a single armchair and table. Being really picky here, but it would have been nice to see a decaf espresso pod included in the box as not everyone can tolerate caffeine before bed. But that is a really small gripe!
The bathroom was immaculate, which is no small feat in a hotel of this age. Some might describe it as dated, but everything was spotless and beautifully maintained. There was a full bathtub with a shower above it, although Sam, at six foot two, found the height a little restrictive, aka he couldn't fit under the shower head!
What impressed me most were the Molton Brown toiletries, presented in sleek dispensers I hadn’t seen before. They worked brilliantly, looked premium, and were another sign of the hotel’s ability to marry tradition with modern touches.
The room had all the usual amenities such as safe, hairdryer etc.
Breakfast in Bed: A Rare Treat
On Sunday morning we decided to indulge in a small luxury we almost never go for: breakfast in bed. We filled out the card, hung it on the door, and requested delivery between 9:30 and 10:00. Right on time at 9:45, a beautifully presented trolley appeared at our door.
The portions of the cooked breakfast were a little modest, but they were balanced out by a spread of pastries for Sam, toast for me, and coffee that was blessedly hot. The toast had cooled, as hotel toast inevitably does, but the whole experience felt like such a treat that we didn’t mind in the slightest. It’s something we’ll remember fondly for a long time.
Dining: From Fine Cuisine to Family Tables
Dining at The Grand is an experience in itself. The jewel of the hotel is undoubtedly the Mirabelle Restaurant, regularly featured in the Good Food Guide and home to Head Chef Alex Burtenshaw’s refined, modern European cooking. His dishes draw on British ingredients but with a creative flair that elevates them beyond the expected. We didn't eat in this particular restaurant as we had two under 10's with us (one being under one).
In contrast, the Garden Restaurant, open daily for breakfast, Sunday lunch, and dinner, offers heartier, more traditional British fare. We dined there on our first evening as a party of nine, gathered around a huge round table.
The food was very good in that classic English hotel way, although there was a small hiccup when my niece’s chicken goujons turned up as fish instead. The waiter initially suggested we had ordered wrongly, but I was firm in pointing out that she doesn’t eat fish, and after a short wait the correct dish appeared, much to her delight, and with the added bonus of two ramekins of baked beans she was a very happy girl.
Breakfast was also served in this room, with a good range of cold buffet food as well as a hot menu to order.
Afternoon Tea in The Great Hall
Afternoon tea is served in both The Great Hall as well as the lounges and is almost a ritual at this hotel and it’s easy to see why it’s considered one of Eastbourne’s unmissable indulgences.
Taken in the historic lounges with silver service, it’s an occasion in itself, whether you opt for the Classic, Champagne, or Rosé Sparkling Tea versions. I loved that they also offered a savoury afternoon which came with beautiful cheese and herb scones, herb butter and a stunning looking cheese tart. More often than not afternoon tea's arrive with far too many sweet treats for my liking, so the idea of a savoury afternoon was a great one in my eyes.
The other great thing was the effort they went to on my own lactose free afternoon tea. Seriously, the range of sandwiches, cakes and scones that were provided for me was most impressive!
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Cocktails, Lounges and Evenings of Glamour
Evenings at The Grand often begin in the Cocktail Bar, or at least they did for my family.
There’s even a “Grand Hour” from Sunday to Friday where cocktails are £12 each or two for £20, making it dangerously easy to linger for more than one. A standard cocktail otherwise starts at £19.20 which is a little extortionate, rivalling swanky cocktail bars in London! Whilst the cocktails were brilliantly made, the cost really was too much!
The only minor disappointment was being served a warm Diet Coke one afternoon, an unusual slip in an otherwise flawless service offering.
Pools, Spa and Leisure
The leisure facilities extend The Grand’s appeal far beyond its dining rooms. An indoor and outdoor heated pool, spa, gym, and steam room mean relaxation is always close at hand.
The outdoor pool in particular is a suntrap in the warmer months, and the spa menu offers a wide range of treatments.
The gym had an acceptable range of machines on offer, which Sam utilised twice.
Service, Details and Quirks
One of the things that stood out throughout our stay was just how immaculate the hotel is on the ground floor. From polished silver tea strainers to spotless carpets, there wasn’t a speck of dust or a scuff to be seen in the public areas. Our room did have some interesting circular brown stains on the carpet, and said carpet didn't quite reach the door to the balcony so I did stand on the carpet grips at one point. Not ideal, however whilst the upstairs areas did look a little tired (having not been renovated since 1998) there were contractors painting and wallpapering during our stay, showing that they do take wonderful care of this grand old lady!
Service was consistently warm and professional, with staff striking the right balance of attentiveness and discretion.
That said, not everything was perfect. Parking costs £25 per day to reserve in advance, which feels steep, though it is almost essential in summer when on-street spaces are hard to find, plus there was a wedding taking place on the day of arrival so the carpark was full to the brim.
Sam also accidentally left behind a plug and some cables; despite emailing the hotel, and his request being forwarded on to housekeeping, he never heard back, which was a small disappointment given the otherwise great service. And while the lounges are beautiful, seating can be limited in poor weather, with some tables held back for reservations.
The Grand Hotel Eastbourne Review Verdict: Grandeur by the Sea
Yet these are small blemishes on what was otherwise a truly memorable stay. The Grand Hotel Eastbourne delivers exactly what its name promises: grandeur by the sea. It’s a place where history, luxury, and timeless service come together in a way that few hotels can still manage.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, planning a romantic escape, or simply craving a weekend of comfort on the coast, The Grand is an Eastbourne icon that continues to justify its reputation.
Helena
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