United Kingdom
Firstly, I highly recommend a trip to Brighton for anyone. It is my favourite city in the UK, mostly for its relaxed, laidback feel. This chilled out vibe is largely due to its location right beside the sea. It is therefore a real advantage to get a good hotel right by the beach when visiting Brighton; but this can be hard to get at a good price. The West Beach Hotel overlooks the sea and the beach as well as Brighton's famous promenade. The rooms are really clean and spacious. We stayed in a twin room with views of the sea, it was very reasonably priced compared to everything else we saw. The beds were comfortable and we had an en-suite bathroom that was a good size, and clean more importantly. The hotel is not only located along the seafront but is also just close enough to the city centre so that it is walking distance but not crazy noisy at night time. I found the staff really friendly with directions and stuff too.
www.westbeachhotel.co.uk/home.html
135 King's Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 2HX
+44(0)1273 323161
Google map: bit.ly/SdrbRJ
Great guest house in Brighton where the owner has also written a very funny (and interesting) book about the life of a B&B owner.
After an enjoyable stay, located perfectly just off the seafront in Kemp Town, we bought a copy of the book directly from the owner (and author). Laugh out loud funny in many places!
Aquarium Guest House
13 Madeira Place
Brighton
BN2 1TN
www.aquarium-guesthouse.co.uk
01273 605761
Brighton
Google map: tinyurl.com/yahkb4j
Boutique hotel with cocktail bar, private karaoke rooms, restuarant and plenty of history.
Just off the seafront.
Old Steine, Brighton
www.royalyorkbrighton.co.uk/
This site is great, I was scouring the internet for a good value B&B that didn't have interiors from the 70s and found this little gem.
There are three contemporary B&Bs on the site and rooms start from £65 per room per night for The Alvia Hotel. We stayed at Brighton Wave, the breakfasts were delicious. I recommend their blueberry pancakes.
brightonwave is at 10 Madeira Place, BN2 1TN just east of the pier, some rooms have sea views the website is www.boutiquebrighton.co.uk and the phone number is 01273 676794
Excellent B&B just near the seafront and pier. Modern and stylish rooms and run by an interesting ex-academic who was friendly and welcoming.
13 Madeira Place
Brighton
East Sussex
BN2 1TN
(01273) 605761
www.aquarium-guesthouse.co.uk
Small, friendly guest house in the heart of the Kemptown area of Brighton. Comfortable, contemporary rooms with DVD players and sumptuous beds. Breakfast in bed is provided for all guests, with all the attractions of one of the most exciting seaside cities just outside the door.
2 Lower Rock Gardens, Brighton;
tel: 01273 670 131;
www.amhersthotel.co.uk
This hotel does great food, fab wines (of course) and has a walk-in humidor. It is part of a chain, and a great chain too. Highly recommended, even if you just pop in to visit the bar. You won't be disappointed.
Ship Street; tel: 01273 718588;
email: info@brighton.hotelduvin.com;
www.hotelduvin.com
Great hotel located on the front with a good view out to sea. Friendly staff, nice cocktails, comfortable beds and nice touches in the rooms.
Close proximity to the centre, Lanes, etc.
44 Marine Parade, Brighton;
tel: 01273 696934;
www.drakesofbrighton.com
This not only is a brilliant hotel, tucked just around the corner on Ship Street, but a truly fabulous restaurant. Why can't the London guys learn from this, so beautifully presented, and such a nice atmosphere.
Ship Street; tel: 01273 718588;
email: info@brighton.hotelduvin.com;
www.hotelduvin.com
It was a lovely place to stay with stylishly decorated rooms and a funky bar/breakfast area. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful and the breakfast option included a feast of fresh fruit, honey and yoghurt as an alternative to the (what looked lovely) traditional English (organic) breakfast.
9 Oriental Place, Brighton.
www.orientalbrighton.co.uk
Great guest house/hotel. Exceptionally freindly and attentive owners who really make your stay enjoyable. Cool rooms, great beds and really good value for money when compared to other "trendy" Brighton Hotels.
www.amhersthotel.co.uk
Tel: 01273 670 131
A hotel in Brighton Marina is not necessarily an enticing prospect - the marina is soulless and a mile and a half out of the town centre but for a place where town centre hotels are either mediocre or often booked, the Seattle is worth considering as an alternative. It is modern, has sea and marina views (though if like me you are in a car park view room this can be positively irritating). It has a boutiquey feel - large beds with white linen, huge shower heads and bento boxes for breakfast - and a really excellent young staff, good room service and a decent restaurant and bar.Interconnecting rooms and a positive effort to attract families make it a good place to bring kids - as long as you don't mind the £6 taxi fare into town.
This hotel is perfect for a rock 'n' roll weekend of debauched behaviour. A boutique hotel with themed rooms, I had the Betty Page room (old-school glamour complete with king-sized bed and double spa bath). It was pricey, but well worth the money.
The rooms have a playstation and internet access. It is the only hotel, I think you'll find, where you can listen to Johnny Cash while you eat your breakfast. The breakfast menu is huge, and check-out time is a nicely late noon.
www.hotelpelirocco.co.uk/
10 regency square, Brighton
01273 327055
The White House is a lovely little hotel in Kemp Town, just 30 seconds from the sea front. It's run by a very friendly young couple who are very accomodating and welcoming. Each room is decorated in a different style and breakfasts are absolutely delicious (and huge!). This is a really stylish yet cosy, good value hotel.
6 Bedford Street, Brighton, BN2 1AN; Tel: 01273 626266; www.whitehousebrighton.com
The Metropole Hotel was mentioned by TS Eliot in The Wasteland. One of the very few hotels in the country to appear in the works of the 20th century's greatest poet.
Kings Road, BN1 2FU; 01273 775432; www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=BSHMETW
I've stayed at the Grand and the prices, particularly, I have found, if you book on their website, are extremely comparable with other "posh" hotels in Brighton, and generally include a full English breakfast. The leisure centre in the basement boasts a small pool but a delightful spa area. And in the Lounge they serve the best smoked salmon sandwiches I've ever tasted.
King's Road, Brighton;
tel: +44 (0)1273 224300; fax: +44 (0)1273 224321;
email: reservations@grandbrighton.co.uk;
www.grandbrighton.co.uk
It is a fun, affordable boutique hotel which is guaranteed to spice up a short break by the sea. I stayed in the Dali room, which was smaller than I expected, but the decoration was delicious and chocolate mints on the satin bed covers was definitely a bonus!
Genuinely grand, even if no one can afford to stay there.
You've got a great sight in the Grand Hotel, which was bombed while Mrs Thatcher was writing her conference speech.
King's Road, BN1 2FW; 01273 224300; www.grandbrighton.co.uk
Search Been there