Checking Into Port Hotel: Eastbourne’s Boutique Hotel by the Sea
Eastbourne has no shortage of once-glorious hotels dotting its beachfront parade.
In fact, a plethora of sun-bleached, faded buildings dot the length of it, running for well over two kilometres. Part of a massive block of Victorian terraced housing, Port Hotel has been given a wash of deep, matte black that stands out in stark contrast and can be spotted from the end of the beach.
The property has been lovingly restored and transformed into guest rooms with an outdoor terrace and restaurant on the ground floor. Since opening its doors in spring 2021, its dreamy interiors have been featured in international media.
Guest Rooms
Port is a true boutique hotel with only 19 guest rooms. Six directly overlook the beach and pier, ten have views of Eastbourne town with the rolling hills of the South Downs in the background, and three larger rooms are in the basement, geared towards larger groups or guests with dogs (yes, Port is dog-friendly!)
The most stunning room type is the Studio Apartment, which is on the first floor and has access to the beautiful Victorian balcony overlooking the terrace. But given that it was a brief stay in Eastbourne, I went for the cosiest Cabin Room, which still served as an excellent base to explore the town.
Depending on the room category, the interiors feature calming palettes of either dusty green or pink, with subtle textures like the slatted wooden headboard and swirling marble tabletops. And despite minor inconveniences (the kettle would not fit under the tap in the small concrete sink, and the obscured sliding door handle was hard to grip), the compact room was beautiful.
The only downside–but perhaps the most important–is that Port does not have elevator access. It was brutal to haul our heavy suitcases (cut out for a month in the UK) up four floors on a narrow staircase with numerous fireproof doors. If you are happy to sacrifice a room view for comfort, you can specify a room preference for a lower floor in the booking notes instead.
Note that a minimum of two nights may apply to weekend stays.
Restaurant
Breakfast
Boutique hotels in smaller British towns are indeed more generous in offering complimentary breakfast with your stay, and I definitely took advantage of it.
With light plates like smoked salmon with granola, a multitude of English, vegetarian, or vegan breakfast options, and heavier brunch favourites like Wagyu burgers and pancakes, Port has it all. On warmer days, you can enjoy a bright start to the day on the outdoor terrace and lap up the incredible sea view.
Lunch, Dinner, and Sunday Roast
The modern restaurant, essentially the seating space that bleeds into the reception lobby, is also open for lunch and dinner from Friday through Sunday.
Port is committed to supporting local food artisans in Sussex, and guest chef Loic Williams has devised menus to incorporate them all, from corn-fed chicken, seasonal vegetables, regional cheeses, fresh-from-the-harbour fish, to award-winning English wines. For the indulgent, tuck into a hearty Sunday roast with Sussex Wagyu beef among a rotated display of art by local artists.
Port Lunar Bar
The Lunar Bar makes the most of Port’s location by featuring award-winning breweries, wineries, and distilleries from Sussex. The absence of dinner service during the week also means the restaurant becomes an intimate space to hang out with friends and have quiet conversations in front of the fireplace.
Thoughts
Not all beachfront hotels are created equal. Port does have a somewhat awkward location, around ten minutes upshore from the pier, and it’s not exactly fun to roll your suitcase down the residential streets, especially not when it’s raining. If you’re coming from the train station, the most straightforward way is to (ignore Google Maps and) go down Terminus Road, past The Beacon Eastbourne and the pedestrian street until you reach the promenade, then turn left and go up along the promenade.
That said, I did more on-site hotel scouting in Eastbourne; many looked like they had remained the same for several decades, many were unreasonably pricey, and some were ghastly empty. Port was the only property that aesthetically fit the bill. The exteriors and interiors have been equally well done, befitting its media acclaim, with the lobby space particularly inviting for travellers who may require a working area away from home.
It was fairly quiet when I visited mid-week in mid-May, but it also guaranteed that I got to enjoy the surroundings more and take in everything at my own pace. With the Eastbourne scene up and coming, it would be a popular choice as the British summer sets in, as it provides a lovely beachside getaway with the sea at your doorstep.
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