The impressive Brighton Hilton has a storied past – built by Alfred Waterhouse, the Victorian architect behind London’s Natural History Museum – it’s attracted the likes of Oscar Wilde, Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Margaret. And now, rather less famously, BOTI! We checked in for the night to see what the hotel had in store for us.

Location, location, location
You can’t beat the location here. You can practically roll out of bed onto the city’s famed pebble beach – it’s literally across the road. And if you bag one of the sea-view rooms you’ll be able to contemplate the remains of the atmospheric West Pier (and perhaps less excitingly, the i360) from your room over a drink or three. Even if you opt for a cheaper room, you can still enjoy sundowners with a view from the hotel’s heated outdoor terrace. Fellow beachfront hotel grande dame, The Grand, is a short skip away and you can stroll to the heart of the lively Lanes and the Taj Mahal-esque Royal Pavilion in about 10 minutes.

The aesthetic
Thanks to its £26 million makeover in 2022 and 2023, the once-tired interior has had a swanky refresh that balances chic modern stylings with the building’s Victorian character. Soothing seaside-inspired muted blues and greys let the grand red-brick facade and period features do the talking. Think sparkling chandeliers, sweeping staircases, marble floors, intricate cornices and moulding, expansive banqueting rooms – it’s all very Bridgerton (if Bridgerton were set in the Victorian era, of course). Add in the high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with natural light and there’s plenty to admire in the gorgeous space – we perched on one of the sofas that you’ll find on every floor to soak up the aesthetic.

The vibe
It’s a huge hotel – 321 rooms if you’re counting – with a well-known name, and while it may no longer be a celebrity destination, it’s not just a hangout for corporate conference attendees, either. It attracts a real mixture of guests of all ages, from young families and loved-up couples to excited groups of tourists. The eclectic mix means the hotel feels pleasingly buzzy even in the off season. Despite the size, friendly staff are careful to create a warm and welcoming vibe, helped along by the warm chocolate cookies you’re given on arrival!

The rooms
We stayed in a spacious double sea-view room; at £130 a night, we found this surprisingly reasonable given the location, epic sea views and the inclusion of breakfast. The understated design is crisp and elegant, even if it’s unlikely to win any prizes. A jungle print wallpaper adds a touch of fun, while soft greens and greys with dashes of terracotta create a sense of calm, just what you need for a good night’s sleep. And happily, the deliberately minimalist design allows the focus to stay just where it should – that unbeatable sea view.
Our room has a good-sized desk, a huge TV, a comfy sofa(-bed) and an even comfier actual bed with a good amount of decent fluffy pillows. And we loved the little touches – cans of Brighton Gin, a box of chocolate truffles, robes and slippers to mooch around in, and bottled water for the morning after the night before.
Other plus points are the generous number of charging points and a great selection of good-quality teas and coffees (decaf, herbal, the ‘normal’ stuff too) – we’ve found that lots of hotel chains tend to neglect this. The ultra-modern bathroom is a sleek and spacious black-and-white affair stocked with Crabtree and Evelyn products and a roomy walk-in shower.
But really it’s all about those views. We immediately opened the doors to the wrought-iron balcony to enjoy those cocktails as we watched the sun go down over the West Pier. Rain or shine, it’s pretty special.

The food
We dined in the laidback Metropole Bar with its glam mirrored bar, but you’ll have breakfast in the opulent 1890 At The Met dining room with its intricate ceilings and enormous arched windows. Don’t forget to look up!
But back to the lively bar and lounge area: we were welcomed by friendly and approachable staff, who were eager to make sure we had a great evening (special shoutout to the lovely Barbara). Even if you’re not eating, with scatterings of leather furniture around well-stocked book nooks breaking up the large space, it’s a lovely spot to soak up more of those sea views with a drink.

We were shown to one of the brasserie-style leather booths and kicked off with a couple of well-made negronis from a special menu (a classic and a fruity peach version). There’s a large food menu that covers most bases, taking in small plates, salads, pizza, grilled meat, burgers and traditional mains, such as fish and chips and fishcakes. We decided to keep things simple, opting for generously topped stone-baked pizzas (you build your own from a selection of toppings), plus chips, olives, and a cheeseboard to share. Slightly chaotic choices, yes, but they tasted good, so we’ll stand by them. We finished off with a treat and a drink – a mini cake or pud with a hot drink. This excellent tradition landed in the UK from Europe a few years ago and has happily been taken up by many restaurants now.

On to the breakfast. If breakfast is your favourite meal of the day, you’ll be in heaven here. Hotel breakfasts can be very hit or miss, but this one is definitely a hit, covering most breakfast items you could think of. It’s a help-yourself buffet affair with a special egg chef, whipping up omelettes, fried eggs. poached, and whatever else you can do with an egg, to order.
It’s a buffet that offers something for you whether you’re a light breakfast kind of person or it’s-a-buffet-I-must-eat-everything type of gal. The full English is present and correct, plus you’ll find a huge selection of flaky pastries, cakes, breads and pancakes, cold meat and fish cuts, cheese, fruit, salad, cereal, yoghurt, and more – you name it, they’ve got it.

There was a small queue to get in when we arrived (note to self: always get to breakfast early), but the friendly staff seated guests rapidly and efficiently. Our only peeve was the queue to get coffee – this, too, is help yourself – and the lack of obvious decaf options, which seemed odd given what was available in the room.

The rest
Head down to the basement, and you’ll find a small gym with all the usual gear you’d expect (treadmills, free weights, etc), a spa and a 14-metre pool that’s large enough for a proper swim if you fancy working off all that food.
There are dog- and family-friendly (connecting) rooms, as well as eight accessible rooms. As is often the case if you bring your dog, there’s a surcharge: £45 here. If you’re bringing your car, parking costs £27 for 24 hours.
Room start at £96/night for a queen room, rising to a whopping £1,200 for the best room in the hotel, the three-room Topland Suite.
Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2FU
hilton.com