Our Verdict: “A tired old gem clinging to Brighton’s seafront charm.”
The Grand Brighton Hotel has seen things. Once a pinnacle of Victorian luxury, it still lords it over the seafront with swagger – but look a little closer and the cracks (sometimes literal) are starting to show. Now under the Leonardo Hotels umbrella, it mixes ornate original architecture with mixed-bag modernisation. You’ll get some big sea views and a decent night’s sleep, but you’ll also contend with patchy service and fraying edges that scream for a refurb. Here’s our review of The Grand Brighton.
In this review:
- Hotel Summary
- Location
- Check-in
- Our Room
- Facilities & Services
- Food and Beverage
- Check-out
- BG1 Verdict
Hotel Summary
Name: The Grand Brighton
Location: Kings Rd, Brighton Seafront, UK
Hotel Class: ☆☆☆☆
Chain: Leonardo Hotels
Loyalty Programme: Leonardo Advantage Club
Room Type: Superior King Sea View
Room #: 417
Price bracket: £££
Competing brands: Malmaison, Hotel du Vin, Hilton
Good for: Couples, Groups
Location
You’d struggle to do better for location. The Grand Brighton is planted squarely on the promenade, just a flip-flop shuffle from the beach and the Lanes, and next door to the Brighton Centre for anyone mixing conferences with cocktails. If you’re arriving by train, it’s a straightforward 20-minute stroll downhill from the station – longer if you stop for chips on the way.
Check-in
It wasn’t busy when we arrived, with two staff working the front desk. Efficient, if not exactly enthusiastic. Our room wasn’t ready, so we loitered in the lobby bar with a drink and got a call about 45 minutes later when it was. There’s no hotel parking, which feels like a miss for a property of this size, though nearby paid car parks fill the gap – for a price.
Room
We booked a Superior King Sea View, and honestly? Worth every penny. The room was spacious, bright, and newly refurbished – a rare Brighton combo. It had direct, head-on views of the promenade and the sea, which looked especially dramatic in the early evening light. We think they’ve done a good job with the styling of the refurbed rooms – complementing the old with the new additions.
The bed was comfy, the room was quiet (higher floor helps), and the aircon and Wi-Fi worked without issue. It felt solidly good value compared to a friend’s non-refurbished room down the hall, which looked tired and wasn’t much cheaper.
The bedside bluetooth speaker alarm clock and modern USB sockets on both sides of the bed were welcome upgraded amenities.
The bathroom was huge, and while it had a large double shower, it didn’t have a bathtub or double sink. Noble Isle shampoo, shower gel, conditioner, and moisturisers were supplied in small bottles. The art deco design with the gold trim felt classy.
There are 201 rooms in the hotel, including 8 singles, 115 standard twin and standard double rooms, 31 sea view twin and sea view double rooms, 42 superior sea view rooms, and 4 sea view suites.
Facilities & Services
This is where things wobble. One of the lifts was out of action, meaning a detour involving stairs that would have been impossible with a wheelchair or buggy. We often take the stairs, so wasn’t a big issue for us, but it will be important to mention your accessibility requirements when booking this property.
Around the common areas, there were visible cracks in ceilings, worn carpets taped down in places, and a general sense of faded grandeur. You could feel the bones of something grand, but they creaked a bit too loudly.
Bars & Dining
This was also wobbly. The Grand Brighton had two bar areas – one also functions as a restaurant – but service was inconsistent during our visits. Drinks were forgotten, or arrived so slowly we wondered if they were distilling the gin from scratch. The bar food was decidedly average.
Late that same the evening, we had a very attentive and friendly lady serving us cocktails at our table. General service standards should be raised to that level.
Breakfast
Continuing our review of the food and beverage, breakfast at The Grand Brighton was à la carte and served in the atrium bar. Sounds grander than it was. Lighting in much of the room was dim and dreary, so unless you scored a table near the window, you were treated to a view of your croissant under a tungsten glow. The food itself was fine, but not memorable – and when Brighton has so many good breakfast spots within walking distance, it didn’t feel like a must-do.
Check-out
Standard check-out at 11am. Smooth enough and no surprises – which is what you want at that point in a hotel stay.
BG1 Verdict
Our review of The Grand Brighton found a heritage property clinging to its glory days with a poorly manicured Victorian fist. The bones are good, the sea views are glorious, and our refurbished room delivered – but the building needs attention, and service needs sharpening. If you can snag a newly redone sea-view room, it’s worth a stay, and we would go back for that. But for breakfast? Go elsewhere. Brighton’s got better.
Leave a Reply