The Grand Brighton

The sea-view room was huge and beautiful, and the view was stunning. I’d originally booked a standard room, then surprised my fiancé with the upgrade. It was one of the best rooms I’ve stayed in and worth what I paid. The Grand’s interior is gorgeous too, and we’ll book again. The staff were great and we had a lovely stay, though we could hear our neighbours making a lot of noise in the middle of the night. I’d also tried to reserve the spa, since it was one of the reasons we chose the hotel, but kept being told it wasn’t available for our dates. I understand it’s probably popular, and hope we can get in next time.

A birthday card and bottle of red wine were waiting in our room, a lovely touch for my 40th. The room had a gorgeous sea view, and I liked the coffee selection. Breakfast was excellent, and the lounge was a nice place to sit with a drink. My son and I were also offered complimentary drinks at check-in. Everyone, including the concierge team, was lovely and made us feel welcome from the start. They really made the celebration special. I’d recommend the Grand Hotel and will certainly return.

Breakfast had loads of choice, was well prepared, and you could have an omelette made to order. Our spacious, clean room was delightful, and staff were professional, efficient and pleasant. We arrived early expecting to leave our bags, but the room was only a few minutes from being ready, which was a great surprise. It’s a historic hotel in a perfect location. My one disappointment was having to pay extra to use the pool. I’d expected access to be included in the room price. Otherwise, a very enjoyable stay.

Breakfast was a mixed bag: the egg station was good and the person running it was friendly, but the rest was about what you’d get at a local Travelodge. The food at Cyan was good and its staff were fine. The car drop-off, parking and concierge service were excellent, with a really helpful, polite and efficient team. Check-in, though, took a very long time.