The Old Ship

The Christmas dinner in the Paganini ballroom was lovely, and the room itself is beautiful. It was decorated for Christmas, which added to the atmosphere. The dining room had also clearly been refurbished and redecorated recently, and was a nice place to eat. Our bedroom was clean, with a comfortable bed and decor that looked recently redone. There were a few rough patches on the wall below the window and on the ceiling, and a gap beneath the bathroom door, but neither was a bother. The shower was powerful and the water hot. All the staff were kind, helpful and lovely. My mother-in-law booked our Christmas 2025 stay at The Old Ship. I was nervous after reading the Google reviews, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as they made it sound. The hotel is old, and some of that shows around the edges and in non-public areas. At the same time, it’s clear the current management are putting time and money into maintenance and restoration.

The location is second to none, right by The Lanes and ideal for walking along the prom. We were lucky to get an upgrade to a Seaview room, which really added to our stay. The bedroom was tired, but exceptionally clean, and the bed was extremely comfortable. The hotel needs quite a bit of TLC in places, though its age gives it some character. The staff were brilliant. Louis at reception was kind and helpful, and clearly takes pride in his work. The young women at the bar were lively and fun, and the busy breakfast team were helpful. There was everything we needed at breakfast. It’s a lovely old building with plenty of charm, and I sincerely hope the planned investment goes ahead. We’ll definitely return.

We stayed for a show at The Dome and had great fun playing Pool and having cocktails before bed. The hotel is right on the front, in the middle of the main shopping and restaurant area. Just avoid parking next door at The Lanes Car Park, as it’s the most expensive in Brighton. It’s a heritage hotel, so look past the exterior paintwork and quaint fittings if you’re after genuine history, a warm welcome, lovely staff, and a clean, warm, comfortable night with a great restaurant meal. We loved it.

The location is excellent, and the staff were friendly and helpful. But I’m afraid it wasn’t good value for me. Breakfast was £18 each, and there are plenty of places in Brighton where you can eat for half that. You wouldn’t pay that at the Ritz. This may have been a four-star hotel many years ago, but it doesn’t feel like one now. It’s tired and worn out, and badly needs a major refurbishment. There’s too much to list, and it’ll take a significant investment inside and out. Hopefully they’ll bring it back to the four-star standard they believe it has.