Bonjour lecteurs! Are you looking to escape to the seaside this winter? It’s usually quieter and still so charming! We love exploring the British coast. While we usually make it to the Kentish seashore for days out, we also like travelling further to Sussex. This month, we made it back to The Grand Hotel Eastbourne and it was so beautiful! We’ve stayed there a few years back and it was sensational to come back to such a family-friendly hotel.
The Grand Hotel Eastbourne
The Grand Hotel Eastbourne is the only 5-star seaside resort hotel in England and as so, it is certainly a magnificent location.
Described as ‘The White Palace’, you can not miss its imposing white building on the town’s seafront.
The hotel features 152 bedrooms and suites and you must book one with a sea view.
Full of history and famous guests (par exemple Charlie Chaplin or Winston Churchill stayed there), The Grand Hotel Eastbourne is quintessentially British. Imagine the beauté and charms of the Victorian era in a luxurious setting.
L’Arrivée
After over an hour drive along the coast from Kent, we arrived in the evening, admiring the lights on the Parade.
It was just so beautiful in the dark like this and as soon as the valet showed us our car park space, we knew we were in for a treat!
The Grand Hotel Eastbourne is part of Elite Hotels and they certainly know how to make you welcome. You are taken care of from start to finish for a very relaxing stay.
Stanley was spoiled with a welcome pack with colouring and a wooden yoyo. We wondered around the beautiful lounge before checking in and it brought back so many fab memories. The hotel also offers some beautiful Afternoon Tea that you can savour there and it’s absolutely gorgeous!
L’Atmosphère
Overall, The Grand Hotel Eastbourne has everything you would expect from a 5-star seaside resort hotel.
You can easily sense all the history within the building. After all, the hotel will be celebrating its 150th anniversary next year and it has kept all its charm from the Victorian times.
For a foreign mum like me, this is just magique. You can sit in one of the comfy chairs in the conservatory at the front of the hotel and just take it all in.
Or enjoy a drink in the lounge by the piano while admiring the chandeliers. The boys played the piano and I could only imagine what it was like in the 19th century: people dancing in the ball room, the celebrations in full swings…
Our Master Suite
But this was only the start. We discovered our master suite and this was just incredible!
We get to stay in many hotels thanks to the blog, but out room at the Grand Hotel Eastbourne was beyond all expectations.
I don’t think I ever ever seen such a spacious room! Stanley had his own bedroom while the centre of the suite was made of a living space with a sofa, TV and drinks and snacks for us to enjoy.
You could even sit at the table and enjoy the view of the Parade! Quel spectacle!
The main bedroom was parfaite and I still believe to that day that Elite Hotels have the best beds and mattresses ever! It’s just snug and comfy, but also firm for you to have a good sleep.
La Salle De Bain
On the right side of the master suite was the bathroom with a modern shower that was so spacious!
And I must say that the seat within it was a hit with Stanley! We’ve never seen anything like that. I quite like l’idée to sit down and relax while having a shower to be honnête.
In contrast to la douche, we also had a traditional bath tube right by the window.
Bien sûr, the Molton Brown toiletries made it extra spécial while I truly loved the mix of modern and classic styles. What do you think?
Health Club
Even if we checked in quite late, we still had an hour or so before our meal. So we made it to the health club to go for a swim. Now, if you are the sporty type, the hotel also has a fully equipped fitness centre.
The receptionist was extrêmement helpful and showed us around. No way I hit la gym! Direction the indoor pool where we swam a bit and relaxed in the jacuzzi. The place was desertic so we got the pool just for us! Now, this is my kind of Friday evening…
Stanley had a blast and he practised breathing under water before we were joined by an American family and he made a new friend.
J’adore a hotel with an indoor pool; it’s always un succés. But in the summer, you can also get a tan by the bigger pool outside and it’s equally fabulous.
Food
After such an exciting start, we made it back to our room and got changed. I needed to put my princess dress on as I was in what looked like a fairy tale…
The garden grill makes such a beautiful setting for you to enjoy your food. While luxurious, it still feels relaxed, especially if you have little ones.
Au menu, prawn cocktail and mushroom on brioche.
But also a steak and a burger for mains.
You can also eat at the Mirabelle Restaurant; it won many award and is regularly featured on the Good Food Guide.
We finished our evening with some ice-cream before enjoying a band playing some live music.
The day after, the petit-déjeuner was equally a succés with a selection of pastries and some cooked breakfast freshly made for you.
Exploring Eastbourne
Before going for a walk on the parade and throwing some pebbles in the sea, we took some pics right by the same spot as 4 years ago.
Bien sûr, we had to stop by the pier and its arcade where he won a small prize.
Pour finir, I also made it to Tower Eastbourne to check out its collection of modern art. There is even a cinema and a café on the ground floor, which is lovely.
We recently got a National Art Pass that gives you access to hundreds of galleries and museums in the UK, but this is free to access and there is even what looks like a Scandinavian-inspired restaurant that seemed very welcoming!
The Grand Hotel Eastbourne – Le Verdict
And just like that, our Winter Coastal Break At The Grand Hotel Eastbourne was over. Once more, we had a fabulous time.
If you want to celebrate Christmas in style, add the Grand Hotel Eastbourne to your list.
It’s an extraordinary beautiful hotel and you will feel spoiled from start to finish. The staff is on hands to help with everything for you to feel spécial at all times.
The Grand Hotel Eastbourne is a true Victorian gem on the East Sussex coast. With its magnificent but welcoming settings, you will certainly have a treat there.
It was one of the most ravishing weekends away in a quintessentially British location.
Looking for a luxury hotel for une occasion spéciale? Book now your stay at the Grand Hotel Eastbourne.
We also like Ashdown Park Hotel and Tylney Hall from Elite Hotels.
Disclosure: We stayed at the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne for free in exchange for an honest opinion. With a spécial merci to the hotel for having us. We truly had a tremendous time.
Wow the Grand Hotel looks stunning!
Looks a great break!
The building looks magnificent and their food looks amazing!
So grand – somewhere I’d absolutely love to stay too – looks like you had an amazing time
it is great to visit coastal resorts in winter when it is much quieter, that swimming pool looks lovely too!
I haven’t visited Bournemouth for a very long time. My grandmother lived on the Isle of Wight and we would often stay in Bournemouth before visiting her. I remember it as a lovely town
Oops it pays to read properly, I mentioned Bournemouth not Eastbourne. My Mum used to love to isit Eastbourne to watch the tennis tournament held there every year
It looks like such a lovely treat and the food looks amazing x