I think I visited the Protea Edward 20 years ago. At that time, South Africa could have been on another planet - society has transformed since then :)
The Protea at that time was an old hotel and I was pleasantly surprised at how well the Protea Group has transformed the hotel. I have stayed further up the road in another renovated 60's era hotel and by comparison, the Edward is very tastefully transformed.
There are vestiges of an era passed, which are tastefully preserved. Sometimes, one notices less tasteful reminders of the past (eg. 70's taps that are just.... well .... passed it) but generally very well done.
A good choice if you need to be located near the CBD or the ICC or perhaps even a holiday in good ol' Durbs.

After many years, I decided to go back to the recently refurbished Edward Hotel on the beachfront Durban and what a pleasant surprise. The hotel is everything it used to be. From check in to the sumptuous suite that I was booked into,everything went like clockwork.

Its a nice property right on the main section of the beach, and within walking distance of the convention center (about 15 minutes). Although the neighborhood immediately around it is a bit dodgy. The staff are nice, but seem easily overwhelmed. Rooms are good sized but simple things did not work (leaking a/c), faucets that didn't produce enough water pressure, old carpets, broken door to your enticing beach front balcony. These simple maintenance issues seem to have gone overlooked and overdressed with frilly duvets, curtains and a lot of extra linen to distract the guest. Didn't work. The breakfast is nice and hearty--no complaints there. There is no fitness center and I wouldn't go into the pool.

We stayed at the Edward for one night as a stop over for our 10 days cruise from Durban harbour. The room was clean and comfortable but the service was shocking...we had to ask three times for coffee at breakfast just to be ignored and then told they are busy! The location of the hotel is very noisy to a point where it is almost impossible to sleep at night with the noise from outside. We were called back after breakfast to "pay our outstanding account". To our surprise our room fee of R1783 did not even include breakfast!!! Shocking for what it is...rather book at the Elangeni Hotel just down the road with wonderful restaurants.