Hotel Du Vin, Brighton
HOTEL DU VIN: BRIGHTON
22/05/12
BY BETH
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT:
The hotel is in a great location just off the sea front
Enjoy a drink outside in the hotel's private courtyard
Settle into the bar and enjoy a great cocktail (the Amaretto Sours are fantastic)
Make sure you are hungry to tuck into the varied breakfast offerings
I love a trip to the seaside and with Brighton only an hour from London, it’s somewhere I try to visit regularly. I normally just go for a day trip, getting an early train there and an early evening train back, but this time I was fortunate enough to stay overnight.
When I was asked to review Hotel Du Vin Brighton, I was rather excited, not only was I getting a stay in Brighton but I’d heard such positive things about Hotel Du Vin.
The hotel is in a fantastic location for exploring Brighton. Situated just off the sea front and also The Lanes (one of the best shopping areas), it’s an ideal base. The interior decor of the hotel is awash with deep chocolate brown leather sofas, dark woods and soft lighting, which created a comforting homely feel.
We were given the Rectory Suite, which was tucked away upstairs right at the end of a long hallway, and was quite the opposite of the main hotel decor. It had a relaxing seaside feel with lots of cream and blue wood and walls and natural light streamed through it’s three windows. A huge bed sat in the middle of the room with a comfy 2-seater sofa alongside. There was a big freestanding bath in the corner of the room, next to the shower room which had a powerful rain shower. The suite was a good size and had a really cosy feel to it.
The hotel has a couple of outdoor areas (one rooftop bar and a cobbled ground level seated area) that are little hidden gems and on the sunny day we were there, were perfect for catching some sun and having a nice cold drink.
We were lucky enough to have dinner at the hotel that night and after dinner, we sampled the bar for a nightcap before bed and had a delicious Amaretto Sour, which is one of my favourite drinks so I know when it’s a good one. It was pretty much perfect and instead of the usual maraschino cherry, it came topped with white foam, lemon peel and mini meringues. It was a fine way to end the evening. There is also a Pub Du Vin adjoining the hotel, which is of similar decor, and a perfect spot for an evening drink if you wanted a change from the main hotel.
After a great nights sleep in a very comfy bed, we went down for breakfast, which was served in the same dining room at the front of the hotel. Due to a very early start, as we were getting a train back to London, we opted for the continental breakfast of granola, fruit and yogurt and toast. This was all laid out with juices, cereals and yogurts and it was a good breakfast spread but I felt it missed some cheese and ham, which I feel is a nice addition to a continental breakfast. You could also order a cooked breakfast including a full english, pancakes with maple syrup and banana, kippers, smoked salmon and scrambled egg and more. There was a wide choice of hot breakfasts on offer and we were sorry we didn’t have time to sample one!
I really enjoyed my stay at Hotel Du Vin Brighton. The hotel is cosy and homely and in a fantastic location. It really feels like you’re having a luxurious night away and we were sad to leave.
Dotty Dishes was a guest of Hotel Du Vin Brighton.
Hotel Du Vin & Bistro Brighton, Ship Street, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 1AD.
