Best for: seafront spoils and serious design credentials
One of the newest hotels in Brighton, No.124 is the Sussex outpost of the GuestHouse group (it has others in Margate, York and Bath). Right on the seafront, the hotel is a stitched-together row of townhouses that leans into the city’s flair for nostalgia and debonair design. Inside, it’s all candlelit corners, tapestries, sinkable sofas and a mirrored disco ball gently spinning above the lounge. No two rooms are alike, but 16 out of the 32 come with sea views – and ours, a large guest room with floor-to-ceiling bay windows, was an absolute showstopper. Think onion-dome light fixtures, cushions by local textile designer Beki Bright and a record player (plus access to the Vinyl Library downstairs). The Pearly Cow restaurant is the star of No.124’s dining show, with its ‘ice and fire’ menu of Sussex oysters, beet carpaccio and flame-cooked steaks from nearby Trenchmore farm. Afterwards? Head to the 24/7 pantry for penny sweets and bougie crisps. There’s also a garden-fringed FieldTrip Spa and a big-hearted sustainability ethos running through everything from the refillable Wildsmith products to the compostable coffee pods. This is a warm, thoughtful and brilliantly Brighton stay.
Address: 124 Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2FA
Price: From about £150 per night.