Queens Hotel, Eastbourne — Hotel in Eastbourne

Stayed at Queens Hotel as part of an Alfa 8 day tour from the North West to Eastbourne, bed, breakfast and dinner. There were 3 other tours also staying at the hotel during our stay, so the hotel was pretty busy (It's well drilled in checking in and out big tour groups).

Room: 409, twin, large space, side-sea view, but definitely a sea view. A bit stuffy when hot, even with windows open all day. Lacked plug sockets (room 414, which my parents stayed in, it's a double, had more plugs, so it depends on which room you get). Walking up and down the stairs never seem to get any easier even for someone who is very fit and healthy like myself (I wasn't going to take the lift because the vast majority of guests in the hotel are over 60 and needed it more than I did).

Bathroom: big bathroom with a very quirky layout, lots of wasted space.

Food: Breakfasts: Monday: grapefruit pieces good portion, full English good quality, made to order. Toast and fruit juice. Tuesday: same. Wednesday: porridge a bit small but adequate and full English Thursday: porridge and fruit salad, didn't feel like having a full English, wanted to sample the fruit salad, which contained chopped apples, grapes, orange pieces and pear slices. Friday: grapefruit pieces and full English Saturday: grapefruit pieces and full English Sunday: grapefruit pieces and full English

Dinner Sunday: Chef special: chicken curry. Melon starter, a tad small, roast beef lovely, sherry trifle delicious.

Monday: Chef special: Sausage and Mash. Cumberland sausage, different from the ones used at breakfast, very nice, good portion size. Chocolate Cheesecake, almost a blackforest gateau style, topped with cherries, the biscuit base had a hint of lemon, which added an interesting texture to the flavour.

Tuesday: Chef special: Chicken Fricassee. I didn't fancy anything on the menu so asked for ham and chips, as chips was the potato choice of the day and ham is always available on the salad choices. They happily accommodated my request. Bread and butter pudding very nice.

Wednesday: Chef special: Turkey and ham pie/fish pie (board said the former server said the latter, no idea which was accurate). Mixes melon and pineapple medley. Roasted chicken with a red wine and shallott gravy. Cherry apple pie.

Thursday: Chef special: cottage pie, which came with roasted potatoes despite having mash on it. Roast pork with stuffing and apple sauce, sticky toffee pudding. Good portion sizes, very nice pork, could have done with a bit more gravy. Sticky Toffee pudding was delicious.

Friday: Chef special: beef and potato pie. Starter: Strawberry, Kiwi and Grape salad, decent portion size, nice and fresh. Main: Beef lasagne with garlic bread, served with chips, minus the mushy peas (no, really, they put mushy peas on a lasagne) Pudding: blackcurrant cheesecake, absolutely delightful, good portion size, nice biscuit to cheesecake ratio.

Saturday: Chef special: meatballs with a tomato sauce served with mash potatoes and root veg, really nice, 3 big meatballs were soft and moist, the sauce was just the right amount with a taste flavour. Pudding Banoffe Pie, absolutely massive but delicious.

Bar: prices are reasonable for Pepsi in a bar. Entertainment is what you expect for the target audience, not my sort of thing, but not terrible. Bingo, great fun.

Staff: all really polite and worked really hard to do what they could, which, given staff shortages due to covid-19/Brexit, the staff were evidently having to work extra hard, made the occasional mistake, forgetting part of our order, but always apologised and corrected it quickly. All staff continued to wear masks after restrictions were lifted, we arrived the day before they were lifted, which certainly made us feel more comfortable and greatly appreciated.

WiFi: worked well in public areas, but didn't connect in the room as there was a problem with the router throughout the stay.

Would definitely stay again if ever I should return to Eastbourne one day...

This is a lovely, grand old hotel with a long history (most of which you can see on display around the walls when you go in. The staff are friendly (although, it would do the place justice to have a porter in some sort of uniform! I thought we were having our bags stolen by the scruffy guy in tracksuit and trainers) and they're polite. Like many hotels, they use a lot of foreign labour (in my experience, they seem to work harder than many of their native counterparts, and accept the low wages) which can mean a slight language problem at times, but nothing worth complaining about. The food, however, was worth complaing about, on my first two meals at least. Either the hotel has imposed a tight budget on the chef, or the chef needs to be strung-up by his meatballs and shot.

Sorry, but breakfast is the most important meal of the day and my first didn't do justice to a place of such a size and with such a history and reputation. In fact, it genuinely risked giving Queens Hotel a BAD reputation...

I ordered smoked fish and scrambled eggs, brown toast, and tea (the waiter checked later, and I confirmed tea) but I received smoked fish and lily-white slime, brown bread that had been breifly wafted somewhere near a flame, and coffee. Granted, the toast was someone else's wrong doing (you can't tell me they never SAW it wasn't toasted) and the tea/coffee mistake is out of his hands but, for the love of Gordon Ramsay, PACKET EGG IN THE QUEENS HOTEL?!!! Where is your self respect, chef?! When I asked for poached eggs instead, they were HARD. Not a good start.

The previous evening's meal was as disappointing, fish without flavour, battered (also without flavour) with dried-up peas and very old chips. I suspect the meals were made (a LONG time) beforehand. Still, service was quick and efficient from very polite staff (but I found a more appetising meal in a nearby café) and the standard did improve. The following morning's breakfast was perfect!

A tip to all chefs- If plates return with lots of food untouched, there's a serious problem. Look into it, fix it, or get a job in a burger chain.

Moving on... Rooms are comfortable with adequate space (mine was a small single in the loft, due to the nature of my stay and the view was uninspiring, but it was sufficient for its purpose) and none of our group have voiced any concerns at the time of this review. Being an old building (with the creeks and squeeks of reliability and old age, I can relate) it isn't the most modern inside (but, this is the Queens on the seafront, with gulls and views and an average guest age of 86! Find a Premier or a Troublelodge if you're after a swanky business venue) but I was surprised there's no iron in the room (you have to ask reception), no biscuits or toiletries. I mean, there's the 'sanitary waste' paper-bag with that lady (Freddie Mercury in a frock) printed on the front as standard, and there's a bit of my grandmother's white soap wrapped in paper, but no courtesy face/body wash, no sample-pot of cucumber and camomile gel, none of that. If there had been, it'd just fall off the soap tray that hangs precariously to the wall at a 45° angle.

This is a lovely old place, fighting to stay 'grand' against language problems and progress and questionable food. Add a few little touches to compete with its cheaper rivals (maybe a new chef) and the equally lovely staff might help it...

I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Queens Hotel Marine Parade in Eastbourne, BN21 3DY, and I must say it was an absolute delight! From the moment I stepped foot into the hotel until the day I checked out, every aspect of my stay exceeded my expectations.

First and foremost, the location of the hotel is unbeatable. Situated right on Marine Parade, the breathtaking views of the English Channel were simply mesmerizing. Waking up to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore was an experience in itself, and the easy access to the beach made it even more special.

The staff at Queens Hotel Marine Parade deserve a special mention. They were incredibly friendly, attentive, and went above and beyond to ensure that my stay was comfortable. From the warm welcome at the reception to the prompt room service, their professionalism and genuine care for guests truly shone through. It was evident that the hotel values its guests' satisfaction above all else.

Speaking of the rooms, I was pleasantly surprised by the level of luxury and comfort provided. My room was spacious, elegantly furnished, and boasted a stunning view of the sea. The bed was incredibly cozy, ensuring a restful night's sleep, and the amenities provided were of top-notch quality. Everything was clean, well-maintained, and designed with the guest's comfort in mind.

The dining experience at the hotel's restaurant was exceptional. The breakfast buffet offered a wide variety of delicious options, catering to different tastes and dietary requirements. The quality of the food was outstanding, and the attentive staff made sure that every request was promptly fulfilled. It was the perfect start to my day, and I truly enjoyed every meal I had during my stay.

The hotel's facilities were also impressive. The leisure center and spa provided a wonderful retreat where I could relax and unwind. The swimming pool, sauna, and steam room were well-maintained, and the spa treatments offered were rejuvenating and invigorating. It was the ideal way to pamper myself after a long day of exploring the charming town of Eastbourne.

Lastly, the Queens Hotel Marine Parade's location made it an ideal base for exploring the local attractions. The town center, with its shops, cafes, and restaurants, was within walking distance, and the iconic Eastbourne Pier was just a stone's throw away. Additionally, the hotel's proximity to the train station made it convenient for me to explore other nearby attractions, such as the stunning South Downs National Park.

Overall, my stay at the Queens Hotel Marine Parade was nothing short of outstanding. From the unbeatable location and breathtaking views to the exceptional service and luxurious accommodations, every aspect of my experience was truly remarkable. I wholeheartedly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a memorable and rejuvenating stay in Eastbourne. I can't wait to return and create more beautiful memories at this wonderful...