Paskins

It's about a ten-minute walk to the beach, and shops, bars and restaurants are also ten minutes away. A great base for a beach day and then dinner or a pub in the evening. The staff were lovely and so helpful. I'd happily stay again.

The place felt shabby and poorly maintained, and cleanliness left a lot to be desired. Noise was bad both inside and outside, and we ended up taking sleeping pills. Our room wasn't serviced during the stay: no fresh towels, the beds weren't made, and tea and coffee weren't replenished. That really surprised us. We booked a couple of days as a birthday treat for my daughter and me. We've stayed a few times over the years and used to love it, especially the exceptional breakfasts. We hadn't realised breakfast was no longer offered, and were disappointed. They emailed suggestions for two nearby places with a discount deal, but one link led to a website that no longer worked and the other place was temporarily closed. Our email about this got no reply, so we had to find somewhere ourselves. We used to praise the hotel and recommend it, and it was the only place we'd stay in Brighton. It now feels like nobody cares about the business or its customers, so sadly we won't return.

For the price, this seems like a decent choice for a short visit. I stayed two nights for a conference. The hotel was generally clean and lived up to its art deco style. My single en-suite room was a reasonable size, and although some parts needed maintenance, everything worked. Service is fairly self-service, with staff not always at reception, which didn't bother me. The staff I spoke with at check-in were very friendly. There's no lift, so stairs may be difficult for anyone with mobility or accessibility needs. Breakfast is no longer available at the hotel, which was a little disappointing. I'd consider staying again for a short trip.

There were no towels apart from a small hand towel, and neither the sink nor shower had soap or gel. I left a note at reception asking for towels and soap, then sent a text in the morning. Both were ignored, which was very disappointing. The room felt hot and stuffy, with no air moving unless you opened the large window. That brought in road noise from the fairly busy street in the morning. A fan was supplied, but its knob was missing, so it would only oscillate and couldn't be fixed on the bed. The bed was clean and comfortable, which helped me sleep. The wallpaper was very busy and overbearing, though it did suit the art deco look shown in the photos. The hotel was easy to find and well presented, and it's well placed for walking into town. Parking nearby can be difficult. We arranged a very late arrival, and the keys and parking pass were left at reception. The residents' parking pass was pricier than at other places, £15 compared with £8. It felt like a once-good place that's now a bit forgotten, so I can't recommend it, though I'm sure others have had a good stay.