Review: Holiday Inn Brighton Seafront
I’ve had enough experience of the great British seaside to know sunshine is not guaranteed. Especially in January. But I had been hoping for bracing wintery walks along the beach rather than torrential bucketing rain on our trip to Brighton.
review stay – contains affiliate links*
Instead of walking into our hotel, the Holiday Inn Brighton Seafront, we squelched and dripped our dishevelled way to the unfazed welcoming smiles at Reception. Even Minnie’s wellies, still muddy despite the downpour, didn’t raise an eyebrow.
If the chain’s ‘You’re Welcome’ ethos needed testing any further, Minnie then decided to rearrange all the furniture in the lobby. Despite most of the comfy chairs being several times her size, nothing stands between a three-year-old and her determination to build a mini soft play to clamber on.
Instead of frosty stares and disapproving looks, the staff were happily admiring her perseverance in the face of large armchairs and unexpected flair for interior design/furniture fortress building.
There’s nothing worse than a ‘family-friendly’ hotel where children are only tolerated at best, feeling constantly on edge in case my enthusiastic three-year-old is too loud, too boisterous, too childlike for either staff or guests.
But here I really could relax (although I did have to prevent her from appropriating the wooden elephant sculpture from the shelves nearby).
Muddy feet, sticky fingers, messy eaters, tired parents and stroppy teenagers are all welcome, which is fortunate as we ticked off four of those five in our one-night stay.
When we headed down to dinner – spaghetti bolognaise for her, a gigantic burger for me – a remote control appeared out of nowhere so she could watch CBeebies on the nearest restaurant TV screen while she ate.
Even better, kids’ meals (and stay) are free for under 13s, which somehow meant she ended up with free chips as a bonus.
And while I loved the hotel’s location right on the seafront (right next to Brighton’s i360 viewing tower) within walking distance of the Pavilion and Sea Life Centre, it was the little touches which really made the difference.
For more of the best things to do in Brighton with kids, check out my top picks
In our room, the artwork over the bed matched our view from the window to the old West Pier.
Thoughtfully, they had provided binoculars for a better look and blankets if we did fancy heading out onto the balcony – someone else with experience of the seaside in winter.
Staying in an Executive room, there was a Nespresso machine for my morning fix, a free KitKat in the minibar, plus hot chocolate to warm us up after our wind and rainswept experiences outdoors.
And a room big enough that there was plenty of space even with Minnie’s double sofa bed folded out, even if she ended up making her way into my king size one before the morning.
Snuggled up together listening to the waves outside, and realising the rain had finally (if temporarily) stopped.
And tempting though it was to stay there under the duvet, there was a bacon sandwich with my name on, a promenade to promenade along, and Brighton on our doorstep to explore.
For more things to do in Sussex with kids, check out my top picks
Disclosure: I’m working with BritMums and Holiday Inn highlighting its warm family welcome. Holiday Inn is where you and your family can always be yourselves. Visit Holiday Inn for more information.
Images copyright MummyTravels
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Wonderful. Did this come from the Twitter afternoon we took part in? I’d love to do the Scottish version of this. What a lovely break.
It was a really nice escape to the seaside – not directly via Twitter this time (that I know of!) but through Britmums.
This sounds like a lovely break, I love how they provided binos and your artwork matched your view, it sounds very cute. I’d love a little seaside break. Xx
They were great little touches. And I do love the seaside, it’s great to get to the coast even for a day or two.
You are so right…there is nothing worse as a parent than staying at a “family-friendly” hotel and feeling constantly on edge about what others are thinking or feeling towards your children’s behaviour. I love the fact that the staff at the Holiday Inn Brighton Seafront instantly made you feel at ease, welcomed and relaxed – hearing things like that is a HUGE positive for me and would definitely make me want to stay there if i was visiting the area! Also, free kids meals for under 13’s? You can’t go wrong with deals like that! Great review xxx
Exactly – it takes all the relaxation out when you’re on permanent high alert. And the free meals and stay are great too, really adds up if you’ve got more kids (plus any way to bring down family holiday costs works for me…)
Great pics and the hotel looks really nice…dare I say not what I’d expect a Holiday Inn to look like? Fabulous views and the strategically located TV remote is the ultimate in forward thinking!!! LOOL Well done Holiday Inn!
Thanks! It’s recently refurbished and some really stylish touches now – I think that’s a fair comment though, I suspect there’s an image in most of our heads which isn’t necessarily true any more 🙂
I used to live in East Sussex and visit Brighton regularly although never in the Winter. The hotel looks lovely and cosy. I found the shops down the side streets really interesting.
Somehow I always seem to end up there in winter – I really must go back when it’s sunny! Hoping to checkout i360 when it opens which gives me a good excuse, and I love the little quirky shops.
I don’t think we have ever stayed in a Holiday Inn – and we have never been to Brighton either. I would love to do both – Brighton is just so far from us. The hotel looks lovely. Kaz x
Brighton is lovely and this hotel has been refurbished, so if you do find yourself in the South East, it’s a good one to try! Although plenty of gorgeous beaches near you (and I wish I was a bit closer to those…)
This is awesome, I love Brighton. My friend’s sister who I now live with got married in Brighton and it is lovely there.
It’s such a great town isn’t it, there’s always a real buzz there. I’m not sure why I don’t go more often!
I always wondered whether the Holiday Inn would be nice in Brighton. Ive stayed in a few others and didnt have the best time, this one looks so much better x
Oh that’s a shame about your other experiences – I haven’t stayed in one for a while, and I know this has been recently refurbished so seems a good choice, I think.
Great review Cathy. Being told that families are welcome via promotional campaigns does not always equate to parents feeling relaxed and at ease when travelling with young children. Great to hear that the staff at the Brighton Holiday Inn have got it just right and are following through with the hotel’s promise! I love the extra touches in your room and the remote control being handed over to you without needing to be asked for proves that the staff understand how challenging it can be at times travelling with young kids:)
Thanks – and absolutely! At the end of a long, wet, tiring day, being able to flick CBeebies on with tea while I had a glass of wine too was just what I wanted 🙂
This does sound like a fantastic holiday. We are hoping to go to some fabulous holidays and the seaside this year and need a hotel to stay in. I’m pleased to hear Holiday Inn was so fabulous I was wondering what they were like!
Angela from Daysinbed
It was a very fun little break – I’d definitely recommend Brighton for a seaside escape.
Looks like a nice hotel to stay in. It’s great when hotels are welcoming to children too.
Definitely – I stay in hotels a lot less now I’ve got my daughter with me as too often it’s just not a relaxing experience.
Love a day trip to Brighton! Any time of year, we use to live there so have become hardened to it, plus I think its nicer when all the tourists are not around! Haven’t stayed in this restaurant but it does sound like really are family friendly which would be enough to make me stay there if we ever needed a hotel in Brighton. After all there are so many things for kids to do theres no point if the accommodation makes you feel uncomfortable. Great review x
Definitely – I do love the beach and seaside out of season, great to have it to yourself. On a cold bright blue day like today, I can imagine it would be perfect! And definitely, Brighton isn’t short of hotels so there’s no point staying somewhere that isn’t just right. Thanks!
Glad to know it’s not just my kids that rearrange the furniture at hotels!
And I thought it was just mine! 🙂
It looks so lovely. Being able to relax when your 3-year-old one is being…a 3-year-old is such a treat in a hotel. Must schedule in a visit — perhaps when it’s not raining quite as much!
Exactly! It doesn’t matter how 5-star somewhere is, if I can’t relax, it’s not a real holiday. Definitely worth a visit (although a lot more fun in the sun, I agree!)