Port

South East England East Sussex Eastbourne

  • From £89 a night
  • 19 Guest Rooms
  • Boutique Hotel

Cool seafront hotel and restaurant offering a chic stay in up-and-coming Eastbourne

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Looking for a boutique hotel in a cool, south-coast seaside destination, not far from London? No, not Brighton – we're talking about Eastbourne, fast shedding its former staid reputation to emerge as one of the hotter spots for a coastal weekend away. Port is a classy example of all the good things happening in the town, a Victorian seafront townhouse just across from the beach with terrific views and a keen sense of what makes for a chic weekend by the sea.

Six of the stylish rooms overlook the beach and the pier (binoculars provided, a nice touch), but the rest don't let you down either, with muted tones, plenty of natural light and views over the town and the South Downs. Top choice is the Studio Apartment, with its balcony and full-height bay window – you feel like you're almost in the sea – but even the smallest Cabin rooms have king-sized beds, smart bathrooms with a walk-in shower, plus a large TV, a bar-fridge, Nespresso machine and USB charging ports. There are two family rooms on the lower ground floor – 'below deck', ie no sea views – one with bunks, the other with a fold-out sofa bed. And three of the rooms are dog-friendly, if it's beach walkies you're thinking of. The age of the building means that it's not accessible to wheelchair users, but parking is handily available on the road in front of the hotel, using the voucher provided.

The restaurant and bar scene has also picked up in town – you can ask for recommendations – but Port has a scene of its own, in the shape of a welcoming seafront eatery that's open for continental buffet breakfast during the week and weekends, lunch and dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, and on Sundays for roasts, sourcing ingredients from Sussex producers. Expect tasty dishes like wagyu rump of beef, vegetarian Wellington and banoffee pie for dessert. There's also a bar stocked with local wines and beers and artisan spirits (open to non-residents, too).

Port is right on the promenade, with walks up to the pier and along the gardens, with the iconic chalk cliffs of Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters beyond. Or there's the contemporary Towner art gallery, bringing more modern British pizzazz into a seaside town very much on the up.

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Details

Facilities

Our townhouse hotel is situated on the Royal Parade in Eastbourne with relaxing sea views, just a stone’s throw from the beach. The building has been lovingly restored to create 19 modern bedrooms and a contemporary open-plan restaurant and bar.

The hotel interior takes inspiration from its surrounds. Sea-facing rooms draw on a pebble-like palette with putty and stone toned walls, whilst back rooms, that overlook the town and South Downs, embrace colours from nature in shades of sage and moss green.

A tranquil design treatment allows guests to escape the city and connect to the coast and countryside, with Eastbourne perfectly positioned to enjoy both the Sussex seaside and South Downs.

Tapping into the renowned local art scene, Port have partnered with Devonshire Collective, a visual arts organisation in Eastbourne, who will be curating this years exhibitions, giving a platform to emerging and mid-career local artists.

Port is an affordable, calming and creative sanctuary by the sea, with an abundance of nature to explore on its doorstep - with Eastbourne the gateway to the South Downs.

Suitable For

Well-behaved dogs are very welcome at Port Eastbourne.

We only allow Medium or Small dogs as we cannot accommodate larger dogs comfortably.  For information, a Medium / Small dog weighs under 15 kgs / 33 lbs.  We may ask the breed of your dog when you make a room reservation as we do not allow dogs that shed as we’re trying to look after Port for the comfort of all guests.

We have 2 Dog Rooms on the lower ground floor and dogs are welcome (at management’s discretion) in our 39m2 Apartment room on the First Floor with stunning sea views, or in one of our large sea-facing rooms.

The price of one dog is included in the “Dog Room” rate. An extra dog can be included in the Dog Rooms or Apartment for an additional price.  So as to ensure that we will not impact the experience for all our guests we may restrict the number of dogs visiting the hotel at one time.

Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the hotel.  Resident dogs are welcome everywhere in the hotel, and in the Restaurant and Bar area and guests with dogs will be seated at the discretion of management to ensure we don’t have dogs that don’t like each other seated together. Dogs must be on leads at all times in all public areas and supervised at all times and owners are responsible for their dog and the dog's behaviour.

Nearby

Get to know Eastbourne, described by the Guardian as “a post-card pretty town braced against the dramatic English coast – home to arty cinemas and theatre spaces, cool bars and trendy shopping quarters, away from the bustle of neighbouring Brighton.”

No trip to the seaside is complete without an ice-cream and Eastbourne’s local institution Fusciardi's serves up the most delicious Italian ice-cream. Head there first to get into the seaside holiday mood and then stroll along the Royal Parade, towards the Victorian Eastbourne Pier and into Old Chelsea, finding your way to Grove Road which has some lovely cafes and eateries including Doc and Skylark, where you can stop for a light lunch. Bookworms will absolutely love Camilla’s Book Shop, a treasure trove of over 500,000 books, and Archie the parrot to welcome you!

Circle back to Port via the award winning Towner Gallery or a dose of art and culture, and then weave your way down Seaside Road to stop in at VOLT Gallery, with a great vintage shop just a couple of doors down for an ‘out-of-towner’ antique rummage.

Coast meets countryside in Eastbourne and we’re spoilt with The South Downs Way bordering our town - a long distance footpath that runs for 160 km from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex.

Sample the start of the South Downs with a walk from Seaford Head to Eastbourne – the full walk is approximately 14 miles in total, which will take around 7 hours, but you can choose to break it up by bus or car for those that prefer a more leisurely stroll, or consider starting a little further on at Cuckmere Haven.

The views at Cuckmere Haven are spectacular with the famed Seven Sisters Cliffs stretching out ahead of you, and the walk east towards Eastbourne returning view after view.

Food & Drink

Please ask reception for recommended restaurants. Port Hotel has an acclaimed restaurant so we always recommend booking ahead for a table.

Open

Open all year.

Pricing

Double rooms from around £89 a night.

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The Owner Says

Welcome to Port Hotel, a contemporary boutique hotel situated on the Royal Parade in Eastbourne with far-reaching sea views, just a stone’s throw from the beach. A lovingly restored Victorian Townhouse hotel, boasting 19 modern bedrooms with a relaxed restaurant and inviting cocktail bar. Six of our calming bedrooms overlook the beach and Eastbourne pier, while ten peaceful bedrooms have views towards the town and The South Downs.
Food & Drink:
The restaurant is becoming a favoured port of call with Alex Burtenshaw as Head Chef. With a pedigree of East Sussex boutique hotels to his name, Alex has worked at Hotel du Vin Brighton, Drakes and Harbour Hotel. Port’s food is proudly sourced in Sussex and the provenance of their ingredients are primarily from within a 30-mile radius of the property. The hotel continually strives to support Sussex’s businesses, putting locally sourced food at the heart of Port’s dishes.
Emphasis has also been given to the drinks experience with local artisanal brands behind the bar, including Gun Brewery beers, Ditchling Gin, Rathfinny Estate, Bolney Wines and Chilgrove spirits.
Our mixologist will muddle, smash, shake, blend and throw their way to your perfect cocktail, whether you’re in the mood for a Bloody Mary pick-me-up or a mid-week Martini, visit our Luna Bar for the best cocktails (and small plates) around.

Eastbourne:

Voted as the number one place to visit in 2023 by Time Out, Eastbourne is riding a wave of recognition having appeared on numerous 2023 hot-lists.

Discover what the buzz is all about with a stay at Port.

Take a stroll along the Eastbourne promenade and breathe in that fresh sea air whilst seeing some of our local landmarks - including the Victorian pier, Martello Tower, Eastbourne Bandstand and the award-winning Towner Gallery.

What’s more, enjoy nature on our doorstep with The South Downs and wonderful Sussex coastal walks. From coast to countryside there’s plenty to explore.

Video Tour

Location

Contact Website  01323 438 526  Port, 11–12 Royal Eastbourne Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN22 7AR

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Getting There

Port Hotel is located along the Royal Parade in Eastbourne and can't be missed due to our black facade!
Eastbourne train station is a quick 15 minute walk from Port Hotel or 5 minutes in a taxi.

Features

  • Bar
  • Coffee/Tea Facilities
  • Family Rooms
  • Hairdryer
  • Parking
  • Restaurant
  • Smart TV
  • Terrace
  • Wifi

Looking For...

  • Beaches
  • Car-free Option
  • Dog-Friendly
  • Foodies
  • Rural Retreat
  • Sea Views
  • Sensational Views
  • Walking
  • Waterside

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