West Beach Hotel Brighton

The seafront location is handy, though the hotel sits beside two busy main roads. We heard traffic clearly through the single-glazed windows, and noise travelled through the thin room door too, so corridor sounds from staff and other guests carried in. We got very little sleep. Around 4:30 or 5 am, someone dumped a lot of glass bottles; I’m not sure whether it was the hotel or another business on the road. The room itself was a decent size, with nice decor, a big bed and bathroom, plenty of sockets, and a fairly comfortable mattress. It was clean from what we could see, apart from some scuffs and damp spots on one wall. There wasn’t a main light, just a few lamps, which left the room rather dark. The bathroom stayed freezing all night, and its extractor fan sounded like a helicopter taking off. We found that funny, though it could bother someone else. Check-in also required us to give debit or credit card details. Maybe it isn’t a security risk, but it felt sketchy, and they wouldn’t let us check in without doing it. This isn’t the best-quality hotel: it’s noisy inside, and some walls are pretty battered and scuffed. Still, I’d probably stay again if it stays this cheap, and I’ll bring earplugs next time.

Breakfast was very basic, with croissants in plastic wrappers rather than fresh ones. I regretted paying for it and ended up eating somewhere else. The photos showing ham, cheese and bread are from years ago and aren’t up to date. The room itself was great, with a lovely front sea view, colourful decor and a very comfortable bed. It did get pretty cold, though it stopped bothering me once I was under the duvet. I could hear people walking around upstairs, and heavy footsteps might wake you at night. The bathroom looked nice, but hot water took a long time to arrive. Once it did, it was very warm. All in all, it was a pretty good stay 😁

For the price, this was fantastic. It’s a budget hotel, or maybe a top-end hostel. I was in a six-bed dorm, with a large toilet and shower room right inside it, which was a big plus instead of having to go down the corridor. The shower was very clean, had decent pressure and was easy to control temperature-wise. The beds were comfortable, and staff noticed I had a disability and moved me to a lower bunk without me having to ask. The lift was working well, too. I didn’t try breakfast, so can’t comment on that. Location-wise, it’s 50 metres from both the old burnt-out pier and the 360 ride, and maybe 120 metres from the GRAND HOTEL.

I’ve had few hostel stays as good as this one. It’s close to the sea, the pier and the lanes. The rooms were clean, the beds comfortable, and there was an elevator. Reception really went out of their way to make sure we had a great stay. I’d definitely come back.