I’ve never really been a sea person. It smells a bit funny, seagulls are far too big for my liking, and there’s always a possibility of a jellyfish sting / shark bike (don’t judge me, I grew up landlocked). But, FLIPPING NORA, I finally got it last weekend when my family and I stayed at the Brighton Metropole, a hotel that’s as close to the seafront as can be.
It's a grand Victorian building, designed by Alfred Waterhouse, who was also the architect of the Natural History Museum, and so the exterior is as gloriously grand as you’d imagine. The entrance is a delight too, with huge ceilings and stylish sofas. But it was our room that brought out the Ariel in me, albeit in an admire from a distance way.
We stayed in a king room with a sea view and balcony, and the view from my bed was as spectacular as any I’ve ever seen. There’s a big bed for the grown-ups (or in our case one adult and one child as the four-year-old is going through a sleep-in-the-big-bed phase), plus a sofa bed and a fold out bed for the other two. The room was great: bright, clean, and stylish with fun lamps, and a kettle for tea and coffee.
My kids were delighted with the huge TV and loved that there were robes and slippers provided in their sizes. The bathroom came with Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries in large bottles.
Brighton Metropole spa
We didn’t get to use the spa because we have two young children. But we did take advantage of the pool. It’s large enough for a fun, splashy, hour but take note that last entry is 5pm as we were caught out by that on the day we arrived.
Dining at the Brighton Metropole
We had dinner at the Metropole Bar & Restaurant, which I’m sure has great views if you’re there early enough. The room is very stylish, with tweedy chairs and vibrant teals and oranges, like something Frankie from The Traitors would design. I’m not sure she’d have approved of the giant TV that was showing Emmerdale though – an odd touch.
We shared a grazing platter, then I went for a really good nourish bowl followed by an excellent brownie. There is a kids’ menu but I wouldn’t say the restaurant was hugely child-friendly to be honest. We waited ages for our food order to be taken, whereas anyone with experience of kids knows they need breadsticks and crudites within seconds of sitting down. And because of the wait for service and our food we were in there for two hours, which is a LOT for a four-year-old.
Breakfast the next morning in the 1890 dining room was better. It’s a buffet, which my two love, with a huge selection of cooked foods, pastries, fruit and cereal. There’s even a pancake maker. And the staff were delightful.
After the very reasonable check out time of 11am, we left our luggage with the hotel concierge and headed out for a day of fun in Brighton. We took some excellent photos in the Upside Down House, and thrilled to the sites from the mind-boggling Brighton i360.
Of course, no trip to Brighton is complete without a trip down the pier, which is now £2 entry. And we rounded off a fun-packed day with a visit to SEA LIFE which has actual sharks. See, I knew there'd be some lurking somewhere nearby.
A one-night stay for two adults and two children at DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole starts at £184.
Georgina Terry is group digital editor of Closer and has been at the title since 2018. She's a mother of two children and loves a family-friendly stay but would also take a week in an adults-only spa if anyone is offering.