Hi

Just stayed at this hotel and i wouldnt stay there again. The place hadnt been hoovered - hair everywhere! Shower tap kept falling off the wall and there was mould in the corner of the room! For a extra £10 stay at the premier in up the road!!

I stayed here for one night for a wedding & booked this b&b as it was the cheapest around & the location was ideal right next to the station. The check-in time is quite late not til 2pm but this was made clear when I booked & as I arrived earlier than this I was able to leave my bags securely with staff & check -in later.

I was worried having read other reviews on here & as it's above a pub thought it could be a noisy night but I had a very comfortable stay. The pub was quiet when I checked in at around 8pm, it was a Sunday night so maybe that was why but my room was also on the first floor quite close to the pub & couldn't hear anything at all from the pub. Very quiet. Room was an adequate size, comfortable bed all very clean & with tea/coffee making facilities. Also impressed with the bathroom which was more than just a walk-in shower but had nice large bath as well.
Had the full English breakfast & selection of orange juice, tea or coffee & drinks were topped up when asked. It was not busy so I was served very quickly, it does seem to be one person doing all the breakfast so if it was busy with people you may end up waiting longer. But it was a lovely breakfast, staff were friendly, helpful & made a real effort to make sure guests were happy.

For me the location was absolutely perfect right next to the station with a taxi rank if you need it but sea front & town centre 10 mins walk away.

What was best for me was the price I thought it was excellent value for money & a lot cheaper than similar places. I would not hesitate in staying at the Grand Victorian again.
And the reviews saying the place looks old & tired... I disagree I loved the old decor of the pub, they've managed to maintain some original features, beautiful Tiffany lamps & it had a real charm without looking tired or dusty.
Would definitely book again.

The potential that this place has is unbelievable. It retains it's character in the bar area, where you can perhaps get away with letting thing go a bit, but our room needed some attention. Saying that, we only really used it as a base to rest our heads and had a very comfortable night sleep. The breakfast did take a while, I would recommend giving yourself time in the morning, but that's a sign that it's not pre-cooked and just kept warm - things are done to order. Cannot speak highly enough of the staff as they were friendly, helpful and informative. I can see that a permanent receptionist may be a waste of money, I think it's a sensible business decision, and a quick trip round the corner into the bar area will find you a friendly face to check you in.
Overall, the issues can be pointed at the management company, not the team running it.

Possibly the worst hotel we have ever stayed in since resorting to a doss house in Antalya 30 years ago when our flight was cancelled.
No one in reception. No phone in the room. On arrival in room, tea bags left in cups with dirty teaspoon. Toilet didn't flush properly. No information in the room so we were not sure when breakfast was. But - the sheets were clean and beds comfortable. Entertainment began with a massive verbal fight in yard in front of pub, directly under our window at 6.30pm with lots of f-ing this and that. I was kept awake from 2.30am until 6.30am because the TV in the next room was playing some sex channel on a loop so 5 minutes mechanical music followed by a few minutes talking then silence for 15 minutes all repeated. At 4.30am I went to reception but there was no one there and no obvious means of contacting anyone. I banged on next door but it made no difference and I didn't want to wake others. Resorted to ear plugs made from toilet paper and put a pillow over my head.
Breakfast was in a conservatory but no tables were set ready. No table cloths or napkins. Emergency exit doors chained and padlocked in the dining room/conservatory. The guy was willing enough but had difficulty finding a 2nd cereal bowl. Watery orange juice with ice. Weetabix or cornflakes as only choice of cereal. Took a while. There was full English breakfast on offer which we declined but the kitchen was unable to produce an omelette.
I left my car in the car park behind the pub but was disconcerted by the burnt out wreck in one corner and a huge sign stating owners left cars there at own risk on the wall.
We complained. Mark said he'd speak to management and call us back about a refund later that day. He did call but had been unable to speak to 'management' and promised to call me the next day. I assume he never found the management. On reading other reviews I see he's not the only one. Lesson learned - never ever book hotel without reading trip advisor first.