Artist Residence Brighton

Rooms

The hotel occupies two townhouses and, although there's a unifying hipster feel to the ground floor, each room has its own aesthetic. Rooms are quirky and characterful, decorated with Farrow & Ball paints and vintage pieces.

For something special, the Bigger Sea View definitely had the wow-factor, with a freestanding tub overlooking the grassy square and West Pier beyond. The Balcony Bigger Sea View also brings the heat with added Regency splendour and a small balcony you can sit out on.

That said, on past visits a Cosy Double has served us well thanks to moody dark walls, comfy leather armchairs and Spanish tiles on the bathroom floor. Families and those wanting a quieter stay should request an upper floor room, as sound can travel from the busy bar and restaurants.

There are three apartments next door for couples seeking a more independent stay. Sea View Hall Apartment on the ground floor has a cosy double bedroom as well as an open-plan kitchen-dining-living space. Most recently, we stayed in the first-floor Sea View Balcony Apartment. We particularly loved the bedroom with its large in-room tub and quirky ornate furniture, and the small balcony with stupendous views of the seafront was a treat. Sea View Lookout Apartment comes with a double and a bunk room, so works well for families.

Groups of adults are well served by the Below Deck suite, a huge apartment-style space with double bedroom and palatial lounge (in which a further 4 single bunk-beds fold out from the wall).

Features include:

• Coffee / tea making
• Cots available
• Toiletries
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

The restaurant and bar, Blake's, is a cool spot to welcome the day or kickstart your evening. The cocktail bar and dining space is dark, brooding and industrial, while the coffee lounge has a cosy mishmash of vintage furniture, and colourful modern art brings them all together.

For breakfast/brunch, an enticing menu features everything from healthy granola with berry compote to a classic Full English, and there's a choice of hair-of-the-dog delights, like grapefruit and honey mimosas. We couldn't resist our old faithful, eggs Benedict, and it was up there with the best we've had.

In the evening, Blake's serves up a good selection of small plates and a few bigger dishes. We sampled a few (would be rude not to), including tasty chargrilled corn ribs with paprika aioli, and burrata with charred pear, serrano ham, radicchio and hazelnut. We also tried one of their larger dishes, roast duck with cassis sauce, poached plum and rosemary potatoes, which had good flavour but the meat was a little overdone. However, their picante margarita was outstanding - fresh, seasonal produce from the kitchen is used to create delicious concoctions.

For a more substantial meal, Brighton has a vast choice of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. We hear good things about Cin Cin (modern Italian), Burnt Orange (sharing plates) and Etch (seasonal tasting menus), but staff know plenty of other great places - just ask.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Communal dining
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Stroll along the beach, taking in the Marine Palace, the Pier and the grand promenade
  
• If you've never been to the splendid Brighton Pavilion then get a wiggle on – it really is unique
  
• Head to North Lanes for boutique shopping and vintage finds, or South Lanes for jewellers
  
• There are festivals all year. The Brighton Festival in May is the second largest arts festival in the UK
  
• Open water swimming year-round is increasingly popular

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Table tennis

Kids

Thanks to its lively bar and restaurant scene, the hotel appeals to hip couples and friends more than families. That said, kids are welcome and the city is full of fun things to do - all ages love being by the sea!

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Sea View Lookout Apartment is best for families as it has a double room and a separate bunk room. Most rooms can take a baby cot.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Artist Residence Brighton is close to the seafront in Brighton (just where the city becomes Hove), on the southeast coast of the UK.

By Rail:
We recommend taking the train, as the hotel is just a 10-minute walk from Brighton railway station. The fast trains from London Victoria or London Bridge are only an hour.

By Car:
You will not need a car to explore Brighton and parking can be difficult. However, there is an underground car park directly in front of the hotel.

By Air:
Fly to London Gatwick. The airport is 40 minutes away by car and 25-40 minutes away by train. London Heathrow is 70 minutes away by car or 90 minutes by National Express coach.

Detailed directions will be provided when you book through i-escape.

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