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Being a big old film geek, I’m always excited to visit a place with an on-screen past. And Brighton’s luxe but affordable Grand Hotel has so many pasts, it’s almost inevitable that it has one of these too. That iconic Victorian façade, which stands sentry over Brighton beach like a grand old dame gazing watchfully out to sea, is much changed since the days of cult ’70s Brit flick Quadrophenia, but it’s still a buzz to stand in the doorway and think of Sting et al.
Much has changed at The Grand since 1979: bellboys in brimless hats are a thing of the past and the hotel welcomes the Mods inside these days. There’s even an annual Quadrophonia celebration at the hotel. Like much at this welcoming and unfussy yet ever-elegant escape, past and present mingle effortlessly – sometimes in Fred Perry, sometimes in tweed.
What are the rooms like at The Grand Brighton Hotel?
Once you’re through the entranceway once policed by Sting, and past the expansive Victoria Lounge & Bar – part conservatory-with-a-view, part salon – the seven-story Victorian cantilevered staircase will take you up the seven floors to the hotel’s 205 rooms. At the time of writing, all but a handful are freshly tzuzjed in a £16.2 million refurb.
My suite is one of the 81 rooms with a sea view. Even on a dismal south coast day, it’s an incredible vista over the famous pebble beach and out into the slate-grey beyond. There’s a roll top bath by the window for anyone who wants to gaze out towards France for an hour or two – not that there isn’t space for it in the colossal bathroom.
Victorian elegance has given way to a more contemporary kind of comfort-chic here: I love the pebble detailing beneath the bath, a touch from Northern Irish interior designer Suzanne Garuda ‘to bring the seafront into the rooms’. Never mind king or queen-sized, the bed is positively imperial. With elegant furnishing, it’s just a lovely space to be in. Oh, and there’s more on-screen lore downstairs: Room 220 is where Del Boy stayed in Only Fools and Horses.
What is the food like at The Grand Brighton Hotel?
Brighton has plenty of fine dining options – try The Little Fish Market, 15 minutes stroll along the seafront – and The Grand has gone with a classy kind of comfort food instead. The main restaurant, Cyan (named for its fairly punchy colour scheme), was a perfect spot to unwind from a day wandering The Lanes over locally sourced fillet steak and a glass of Shiraz. It’s an evening-only affair: daytime munchies are catered for at the Victoria Bar & Lounge with bar snacks, burgers, toasted sandwiches and salads. Or pop round the corner and sample the city’s booming foodie scene.
What is the service like at Grand Hotel Brighton?
The whole vibe is very welcoming, with the staff on hand to chat and share local tips. The Grand is part of a wider hotel group but there’s none of that homogenised, corporate feel here. There are a lot of long-serving staff here – Pav on the concierge desk has been here for 25 years – which speaks volumes for the way it’s run. Mauro, the effervescent maitre d’ at the breakfast service in the palatial Albert Room, is a hero in these parts. I’m not usually a fan of effervescence before 11-ish but genuinely, he’s a delight. So’s the breakfast.
What is the spa and gym like at The Grand?
I’m not a hotel gym kind of person but I can testify that the equipment looks first-rate for anyone who wants to get hench or burn a few Brighton calories. The newly opened and exceptionally zen basement spa, a partnership with a Swiss skincare brand, is more my speed. It has everything you’d expect – thermal suite, pool, treatment rooms, those nifty slippers you get – and a booking system which keeps the vibe profoundly mellow. Plus, there’s a little lounge area to unwind even further with a glass of fizz.
What’s the area like around The Grand Brighton Hotel?
The hotel is perched on the Brighton seafront, of course, which means you’re about 50 yards from prime beach real estate in the summer and nicely placed for a gusty promenade in the winter. The Grand sits at the foot of West Street, the main thoroughfare that leads up to the station, and only a short hop from The Lanes, that maze of antique shops, boutiques, pubs and cafés. The pier is a 10-minutes walk away, if you’re in the mood for the dodgems.
DETAILS
Address: 97-99 Kings Rd, Brighton BN1 2FW
Price per night: Prices start at £150 per night, room only (join Leonardo Hotels’ Advantage club for deals on bigger rooms and suites)
Closest Transport: Brighton Railway Station is a 15-minute walk or a five-minute cab ride. Hotel parking is £40.
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