The Lansdowne, Eastbourne

The bathroom looked a little tired and the shower was only okay, which is why I held back a star. I'm being picky, as the rest of the sea-view room was so well presented. It was spacious, nicely decorated, clean, and well furnished. The hotel has plenty of lounge areas and a good bar. Staff were friendly and helpful, and breakfast was very good quality with lots of choice. Overall, a good-quality seaside hotel.

The sea view made our anniversary stay at The Lansdowne feel special, and we were given a complimentary room upgrade. It was huge, with effective blackout curtains and surprisingly good soundproofing. We had a lovely meal at the 1912 Restaurant. The service was great, and my partner says the chicken burger was excellent. Parking permits are available at check-in; I bought one for each day. A couple of small things: the TV was fixed to the wall facing the bay window seats instead of the bed, and it doesn’t swivel. The kettle was dated and slow to boil. Prices had climbed quite a bit for the Bank Holiday and car show, so the weekend felt expensive, though it’s good value in the off-season.

We were sorry to leave after three nights at The Lansdowne and head back to London. The welcome was warm, and the staff were helpful and smiling throughout. Our cosy double on the third floor was clean, warm and nicely furnished, with traditional wooden pieces that suited the hotel’s family history. The bathroom was roomy, which my 6-foot-2, lean fiancé and best friend appreciated. It was a comfortable place to come back to after outings and easy walks. The seafront is close by, and Beachy Head is about a ten-minute drive away. Breakfast was one of the best we’ve had in Eastbourne, with delicious hot and cold choices as well as continental options. Rose and her colleagues made us smile whenever we came in. We spent our last evening at the 1912 restaurant: a bottle of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, 10oz ribeye with fries, mushroom sauce and vine tomatoes, plus the catch of the day, salmon, with sautéed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Mango sorbet and peach and elderflower Eton Mess finished the meal. Later we sat chatting and laughing on the comfortable sofas and armchairs in one of the lounges. It felt like being in our own living room. We loved our stay and can’t wait to come back. We’d recommend the Lansdowne Hotel for a long weekend or longer in Eastbourne. Thanks to all the staff, and to the lovely guests we met and chatted with.

Breakfast and dinner at the 1912 restaurant made me feel like a queen. I had a wonderful week here. The staff were attentive and friendly, and nothing felt like too much trouble. Everything at the hotel ran so smoothly. A big thank you to everyone.