Travelodge Brighton Seafront

We’ve been regular guests at the Seafront Travelodge for several years, but our recent stay left us very concerned about how a fire alarm was handled. When we returned early on Monday evening, 11th May, a crowd of guests was outside. No staff or emergency services were visibly there. Another guest said the alarm had been going for around 30-40 minutes and nobody had given guests much direction, apart from saying a manager was being called to “Sort it out”. That didn’t feel like an evacuation. Guests seemed to be left to manage on their own. We eventually saw two staff inside the foyer wearing warm coats. They didn’t appear to have a plan or communicate with the people outside. One woman in the crowd was shivering and clearly distressed, so I offered her my coat. We asked the staff if she could come inside given her condition, but they ignored us. For the next ten minutes, one staff member wandered about on her phone, presumably contacting a manager, while the other went into the back office. With no fire appliance there, no manager present, and a vulnerable person getting worse in the cold, my wife brought the woman inside. We then stood in the foyer telling other guests not to enter because no one else was doing it. A vulnerable gentleman who lives at the hotel long-term joined us too. He should not have been left without information, and we shouldn’t have had to take responsibility for their welfare. The alarm eventually stopped, apparently on its own. No one announced an all-clear or addressed the group, so my wife and I simply went back in. Had the woman’s condition worsened, or had there actually been a fire, the consequences could have been serious. When we later spoke briefly with the staff, they said they didn’t know if it was safe and couldn’t shut off the alarm. They seemed out of their depth, with a lack of training and indifference both apparent. If they weren’t trained or equipped to handle an evacuation, why were they left as the only staff there? We wonder how the GM came to leave untrained staff to DM. Was it staff shortages, or a failure to address training? Why was there no emergency response on site? If an investigation was needed, surely it was required, and if it was only an alarm, why weren’t staff trained to identify the zones and stop it? Why did this require a manager who was off site? After the fires in Brighton hotels, I’d expected the situation to be handled properly.

The bed was super comfortable, and we had a lovely sea view. Even with the busy surroundings, the room stayed really quiet. It was great value, with a 24-hour bar as a bonus. The location is fantastic, close to the beach and to Brighton’s pubs and restaurants. Reception staff were exceptionally helpful, friendly, and polite, especially the lovely gentleman with blond hair.

The bar had a nice atmosphere for a drink before dinner, though I found the drinks a bit expensive compared with nearby pubs. The staff were very friendly and helpful with local suggestions. The room was clean and modern, with Travelodge’s standard no-frills setup and a comfortable “Dreamer” bed. It had what I needed for a good night’s sleep. The hotel’s location is hard to beat for convenience, right by the seafront and an easy walk to Brighton Pier and The Lanes. It’s a great base for a beach weekend or a gig at the Brighton Centre. If you’re a light sleeper, ask for a higher floor or a room away from the street, since Brighton nightlife can get lively. I’d stay again.

The room was good and the staff were really friendly, but I wish I’d known the hotel is opposite two very noisy bars. Maybe it was mentioned somewhere and I missed it. Thursday night wasn’t too bad, but on Friday the noise from the bars and street went on relentlessly until about 4 or 5 am. That’s fine if you’re there for the nightlife, but I wasn’t. Just wanted to make sure others know about the location.