£60 Artist Residence
‘Quirky, a touch scruffy, but mostly downright good fun’
If you distilled the essence of Brighton and fashioned it into a B&B, it would resemble the Artist Residence. Quirky, a touch scruffy (although considerably less so after Alex Polizzi’s brisk revamp in Channel Five’s The Hotel Inspector), but mostly downright good fun, the place was created by 22-year-old Justin Salisbury, who’s turned a greying boarding house into an eclectic, eccentric gallery-cum-B&B.
Each room is courtesy of a different artist, and thus unique. For instance, The Watchers features a mural of trees sprouting fuchsia and scarlet circles, while Alice has sherbet-pink soft furnishings and line-drawn herons parading across the walls. All rooms are ensuite, with a decent shower boxed into what could easily be mistaken for a wardrobe (don’t worry – they’re spacious enough inside).
Salisbury may call his place a boutique hotel, but it’s definitely more budget than bling – breakfast comes in a bag , and there’s no bar. Downstairs is given over to a gallery space, where temporary artists in residence exhibit and sell their work. Approached with the right attitude, AR is a real find – and with a second branch now open in Penzance, young Mr Salisbury may be on to a winning formula.
Details: Doubles from £60, including breakfast in a bag (01273 324302, www.artistresidence.co.uk).
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£80 Whitburn Lodge
‘An unpretentious yet chic B&B – with good service, too’
From drunken hens to drag queens, Brighton is all about showing off. Even its mid-range B&Bs like to get in on the act, with glitzed-up rooms and camp, arch decor. Which is why Whitburn Lodge is so refreshing: owners Louise and Phil, who bought the property in 2007 and spent most of 2008 revamping its five rooms, have created a refreshingly comfortable, unpretentious B&B.
Barely a minute’s walk from the seafront, the house has a bright, uncluttered feel, each room individually decorated with chic printed wallpaper and a palette of muted blues and browns. Room 3, a clean mix of cream and aquamarine, with a wide bay window, is light and airy; while Room 5, a quirky attic with a freestanding bath tucked into a corner, would make the perfect romantic winter bolthole. All rooms come with flatscreen TVs, Egyptian cotton bedlinen and sleek leather armchairs.
Breakfast is the full English, if desired, or home-made porridge, fruit or whatever lighter options Louise chooses to rustle up each morning. They’ll even provide fridge space to chill a bottle of wine before you head off to the beach for sunset. That’s service!
Details: Doubles from £80, B&B (01273 729005, www.whitburnlodge.com).
£170 Hotel du Vin
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‘The unapologetic sybaritism of this place is delicious’
If you know the Hotel du Vin chain, you’ll definitely want to visit the Brighton outpost –it’s one of the best, with an air of naughtiness in tune with the devil-may-care indulgence that pervades the promenade. Housed in the jumbled buildings of a former inn, its light-green clapboard exterior and pretty courtyard, dotted with sleek glass lanterns, make it an excellent summer option, while the mock-Gothic bar and restaurant are a boon on winter breaks, with snooze-inducing sofas and armchairs in which to enjoy post-walk drinks.
At first glance rooms seem a tad monastic – all white walls and nut-tone fabrics. But the squishy beds, topped with candyfloss-like duvets, feel utterly indulgent, as do the pleasingly unctuous own-brand toiletries.
In a world where a glass of wine is a sin and a cigarette practically an arrestable offence, there’s something delicious about Hotel du Vin’s unapologetic sybaritism; the wine list could rival Dostoevsky for length and depth, and the bistro does ‘hearty’ staples (such as lamb shank) with élan. The two-nights-only weekend rule means that by Sunday morning you’ll have a hangover, a guilty conscience or a large bill – possibly all three. But it will all have been worth it.
Details: Doubles from £170, room only (01273 718588, www.hotelduvin.com).
And the best of the rest...
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£70 Guest and the City
Perfect as a post-party crash pad, GATC is situated in the heart of Kemp Town, with unfussy rooms and a breakfast buffet that will see off the most ferocious hangover.
Doubles from £70, B&B (01273 698289, www.guestandthecity.co.uk).
£95 Kemp Townhouse
Affordable indulgence is the theme at Kemp Townhouse, whether a four-poster room with sea view, or chilled Perrier Jouet waiting in your room. Perfect breakfasts up the glam factor.
Doubles from £95, B&B, (01273 681400, www.kemptownhousebrighton.com).
£105 The Neo
Luxe-y, sexy, pricey (for a B&B), The Neo’s rooms include Ralph Lauren chinoiserie wallpaper and jet chandeliers. It has a cute cocktail bar downstairs, too.
Doubles from £105, B&B (01273 711104, www.neohotel.com).
£130 The Claremont
Hove may be billed as Brighton’s staid sibling, but there’s an agreeable buzz around Church Road. Close to the scene, The Claremont has a gorgeous garden.
Doubles from £130, B&B (01273 735161, www.theclaremont.eu).