Brighton is one of the most popular places to live outside of London. It’s also a popular destination for those wanting to head to the seaside for the day. But a day trip here is not always enough to lay about on the beach – not to mention all the iconic tourist attractions to head to.
With this in mind, Luxurious Magazine’s Senior Reporter, Sabi Phagura, checked herself into Hotel du Vin to make the most of a relaxing beachy weekend.
This boutique property in East Sussex is part of the Hotel du Vin chain, and is located a short walk up from the sea. With the weather on our side, this was an added bonus for our weekend. Situated in the heart of The Lanes, whose streets are home to antique shops, indie shops and a plethora of cafés and eateries, the hotel itself stands out with its shade of greens – one of which is very much pistachio toned. But what was most striking was the linking of Gothic-style buildings that are the make-up of this abode. Richard and I were to learn later, that this was because Hotel du Vin began life as a wine merchant’s store, before the nearby buildings were purchased over the years to become a hotel.
The bedrooms
After a smooth check-in and the bonus of an upgrade, we walked through weaving passageways to our superior room (there are 49 rooms and suites) named Beachy Head. A spacious room with a chic seaside feel, a lounge area, and a roll top bath at the foot of the leather trim super king-sized bed, I felt I had walked into the lap of luxury. Tired from the journey, I dived onto the bed to take the weight off my feet for a few moments.
I could have stayed there for longer had it not been for the pull to freshen up under the monsoon shower with REN Skincare toiletries and a coffee from the Nespresso machine.
Bar, pub and courtyard
The bar area has a comfortable and informal setting. It’s great for a morning coffee and pastry, a leisurely lunch or for pre and post-dinner drinks. Decked out with brown leather sofas with the backdrop of exposed brickwork and a mural, it makes for an ideal place to catch up on some work or for reading a book. There’s also an adjoining courtyard where we decided to enjoy an aperitif in the unusually warm weather for April. In addition, Hotel du Vin has the neighbouring Pub du Vin which serves decent pub-grub staples.
Restaurant and food
Hotel du Vin features an elegant Parisian-style bistro which is open to guests and non-residents alike. Located just off the bar, you are greeted with white walls adorned with carefully placed artwork, marble tables and chic brasserie furniture. Taking a seat by the large opening windows, we mulled through the menu with its offering of mouth-watering dishes such as steak, lamb, fish and pork belly.
Wanting to veer from my regular fish choice, I chose the slow cooked lamb with a side accompaniment of jasmine rice. It was delicious and so tender – I felt satisfied that I had made the right choice.
We didn’t have any wine with dinner, but I can vouch for a well-stocked wine cellar for the connoisseur.
Breakfast was also just as good as dinner. And although there’s a small selection of pastries, artisan breads, cereals and salad, there was plenty to choose from the cooked options. I couldn’t resist avocado and poached egg on sourdough bread, while Richard decided to have Eggs Benedict instead of his usual full English breakfast. Packed with protein and plenty of goodness, it certainly helped to set us up for the day – not that we needed much energy to lie on the beach for the best part of it.
Hotel du Vin – Where and How?
Rooms at Hotel du Vin start from £110 in low season. Hotel du Vin is located at 2 Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AD, United Kingdom. For more information, call 01273 855221 or visit www.hotelduvin.com.
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