The newly refurbished 4 storey Charm Hotel in Brighton’s trendy Kemptown area offers a casual yet stylish boutique environment in which to lay your head. It has a handy location close to the sea, the pier and an easy walk to the shops and the Royal Pavilion.
The hotel sprawls over three Grade II listed buildings with the third one housing a newly created and rather stylish sauna and spa with a discrete and plush hot tub in a lush courtyard for late afternoon soaks.
Who for
It is ideal for those visiting Brighton for the weekend who quite fancy a night or two in a Grade II listed boutique hotel located close to everything fun.
Accommodation
There are 34 rooms arranged over four floors. Four are doubles with a sew view, four are superior rooms also with a sea view and three are superior rooms with a sea view and a balcony. Ask for the latter – imagine sitting on the balcony watching the ebbs and flows of the sea while sipping an early morning coffee.
Charm Hotel bedroom 19
Some have a garden view or are located in the basement with no view. The rest are similar to the one I had – room 19. It was on the fourth floor and you do need some puff for that climb especially if you are carrying bags. The staircase is narrow and a little – if charmingly – rickety.
The room was well-formed, clean and decorated in breezy muted colours with colours picked out with furnishings. The bed was kingsize with a really attractive headboard. Naturally there are mod cons, such as a tv, coffee and tea, a hairdryer and a fridge.
Charm Hotel bathroom
The bathroom was attractive with a bath and huge shower head. Sadly I didn’t have much of a seaview but I could see the shore if I bent my neck a little. But there is a lovely green square which I could see from the bay window. So, be sure to ask for the kind of room you would like.
Food and drink
Charm Hotel breakfast buffet
There is no restaurant and the only meal served is breakfast but, boy they do breakfast really well! The room is bright and breezy with a help-yourself table of cereals, fruit, juices and pastries. A menu offers a lovely range of cooked breakfast dishes such as eggs Benedict and a full English breakfast, all worth waking up for.
Facilities
The Charm Spa Suite is a lovely space dressed in aqua colours, artworks and soft furnishings and offers a steam room, a manicure/pedicure room and a massage facility.
The Charm Spa
The X-factor is the Hot Tub looking luscious in a private garden surrounded by foilage and warm lights. It is especially welcome after a long day out in Brighton.
Is Wi-Fi available?
Yes, it’s free throughout.
How much
The Charm Hotel offers sensational value from £74 for a double room including breakfast for two.
Booking.com
What’s nearby
The sea is less than a minute a way. Turn left and the famous Brighton Pier beckons. Sealife is that way too. Turn right and you get to King George’s extraordinarily zany Royal Pavilion and to the BA i360 Observation Tower which gives a stunning bird’s eye view of the city and beyond. Shopping for clothes, antiques and jewellery is available in the narrow, winding cobbled streets of The North Laines. The Lanes (sounds similar but quite different) have plenty of restaurants, cafes, bistros – you name the eatery they have it. Some are the kind of creative quirky you would only find in this amazing city.
Getting there
If you’re travelling from London, simply hop on to a train from either London Bridge, London Victoria or Clapham Junction. Journey times vary but can take as little as an hour. From Brighton station it is a 15-minute walk. If you are driving, get to the hotel and the staff will furnish you with plenty of information about parking.