Hotel Cumberland Eastbourne
34-36 Grand Parade, Eastbourne BN21 3YT England
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Avg. C$147 /night, 8/13 - 8/14
C$152
per night
C$143
per night
C$134
per night
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3.5
#26 of 40 hotels in EastbourneLocation
Cleanliness
Service
Value
The Cumberland is one of Eastbourne’s Premier Hotels, commanding a wonderful position on the seafront overlooking the famous Flower-Decked Promenade, the Bandstand and the English Channel. In the Lounges and Wordsworth Restaurant, all of which have breath-taking sea views, you will find an ambiance of classic elegance. Entertainment is enjoyed throughout the year, including regular dancing in our Grand Cumberland Suite. Our 72 ensuite bedrooms, the majority of which have sea views, some with shared balcony, are tastefully furnished all with colour TV, Radio, direct dial telephone, tea/coffee making facilities and hair driers. We have a lift to all floors. Our friendly, helpful and efficient staff will ensure that your stay at the Cumberland is a memorable one.
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Property amenities
Paid public parking nearby
Public wifi
Restaurant
Evening entertainment
Highchairs available
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
24-hour security
Street parking
Breakfast available
Happy hour
Special diet menus
Baggage storage
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun terrace
24-hour check-in
24-hour front desk
Room features
Housekeeping
Telephone
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Private bathrooms
Flatscreen TV
Radio
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Hair dryer
Room types
Ocean view
City view
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
City View
Harbour View
Languages Spoken
English, Polish, Slovak
Location
34-36 Grand Parade, Eastbourne BN21 3YT England
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 95 out of 100
95
132 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
Reviews
3.5
370 reviews
Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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The Hotel Cumberland Eastbourne garners mixed reviews from its guests. While its prime location near the town center and transportation hubs is frequently praised, opinions on the hotel's service and value vary, with some guests commending the helpful staff and others pointing out hospitality issues and overpricing concerns.
The atmosphere is generally appreciated for its stylish decor and beachfront setting, though a few find the rooms lacking. Cleanliness is another area with contrasting views; many are satisfied, but some have raised issues, particularly with the bathrooms.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Stylish
Rooms
Dated
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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Detailed Reviews
The hotel was clad in scaffolding! I had to ask to change my room as I was allocated a bath with shower over as I was used to a walk-in shower at home and was nervous of getting in and out of the bath to shower, I asked for a walk-in shower, yes I was lucky I was able to change my room after a lot of conflab!
I was given a single room on the first floor with a sea view and a great walk-in shower only problem was the scaffolding! ( which didn’t seem to have any work going on ) the room was small but ok! The food was awful a vegetable curry one night consisted of two types of vegetables one sweet potato and the other possibly potato with curry sauce and rice! The best meal of the week was the night before we left roast beef which was nice the roast potatoes you could not cut at all and we did not see any green vegetables all week (that’s unless you had a salad!) sweets weren’t that great either unless you had ice cream! Yes meals were very very basic!
The drinks in the hotel were expensive even if you had a bottle of wine that was still £28 ! Yes there was Happy Hour but there wasn’t a lot knocked off!!
The staff were great and really really helpful you could not fault the cleanliness of the rooms or the areas where we sat. Yes the foyer was dated with lots of dark wood as was the staircases but other parts were very bright!
We walked to the pier one evening which wasn’t far, and one afternoon we went on the Big Wheel and the views were spectacular over the area. It was quite dear £8 each! But worth it…
Eastbourne is a lovely place and so very very clean!
I was given a single room on the first floor with a sea view and a great walk-in shower only problem was the scaffolding! ( which didn’t seem to have any work going on ) the room was small but ok! The food was awful a vegetable curry one night consisted of two types of vegetables one sweet potato and the other possibly potato with curry sauce and rice! The best meal of the week was the night before we left roast beef which was nice the roast potatoes you could not cut at all and we did not see any green vegetables all week (that’s unless you had a salad!) sweets weren’t that great either unless you had ice cream! Yes meals were very very basic!
The drinks in the hotel were expensive even if you had a bottle of wine that was still £28 ! Yes there was Happy Hour but there wasn’t a lot knocked off!!
The staff were great and really really helpful you could not fault the cleanliness of the rooms or the areas where we sat. Yes the foyer was dated with lots of dark wood as was the staircases but other parts were very bright!
We walked to the pier one evening which wasn’t far, and one afternoon we went on the Big Wheel and the views were spectacular over the area. It was quite dear £8 each! But worth it…
Eastbourne is a lovely place and so very very clean!
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed for 4 nights with a party from our club. The hotel is in a nice spot on the seafront opposite the bandstand. Our room was on the side next to a busy road and traffic noise, as well as night revellers, was intrusive. The room was large with a king size bed (mattress needed replacing as most uncomfortable). Bathroom was shabby but clean. Breakfast is good, buffet fruit, toast and cereal, help yourself, served with fried breakfast but choice of how its made up, kippers on request at £3 extra. Evening meal is chosen at breakfast, choice of 3 or 4 meals, starters and sweets with salads as separate choice. Beware, there is a surcharge of £3 for fresh fruit salad or cheese and biscuits. Meal portions are good and typical mains include hake in cheese sauce, chicken chasseur, beef curry, shepherd's pie. Do let them know in advance if you need vegetarian or vegan meals, they try hard to accommodate! Bar prices (as elsewhere in Eastbourne) are excessive (£5.30 for a bottle of Old Speckled hen and £15+ for a double gin), we drank in Wetherspoons! Overall, a pleasant stay with polite and helpful staff.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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We stayed at the Cumberland Hotel at the end of June for one night.
It’s an old building that has been refurbished. The exterior clearly suffers from the sea air, the window frame paintwork was in serious need of attention. The exterior is still undergoing redecoration. Our room, 218, overlooked the side road, it had been refurbished with all furniture in good condition and with tea and coffee making facilities. The opening of the window was restricted to a few inches to prevent seagulls getting in! The windows are old and only single glazed so do not keep out street noise. The bathroom was VERY small with an over-the-bath shower which was “OK”. Everything was clean although there was some black on the silicone sealer by the bath. Soap and sachets of shower gel were provided but only small towels, nothing that could be called a bath towel.
Breakfast was also “OK”, with prunes and tinned grapefruit the only available fruit, porridge, muesli type oats etc, yoghurt, toast etc, tea, coffee, fruit juice and English breakfast.
All staff were friendly and helpful.
In conclusion, an acceptable hotel for an overnight stay at a reasonable price but would not want to spend any longer there.
It’s an old building that has been refurbished. The exterior clearly suffers from the sea air, the window frame paintwork was in serious need of attention. The exterior is still undergoing redecoration. Our room, 218, overlooked the side road, it had been refurbished with all furniture in good condition and with tea and coffee making facilities. The opening of the window was restricted to a few inches to prevent seagulls getting in! The windows are old and only single glazed so do not keep out street noise. The bathroom was VERY small with an over-the-bath shower which was “OK”. Everything was clean although there was some black on the silicone sealer by the bath. Soap and sachets of shower gel were provided but only small towels, nothing that could be called a bath towel.
Breakfast was also “OK”, with prunes and tinned grapefruit the only available fruit, porridge, muesli type oats etc, yoghurt, toast etc, tea, coffee, fruit juice and English breakfast.
All staff were friendly and helpful.
In conclusion, an acceptable hotel for an overnight stay at a reasonable price but would not want to spend any longer there.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I arranged for my mother and her partner (both mobility impaired) to stay here and for my brother and his partner to have a room next door.
I found via Booking.com that this hotel is “wheelchair accessible” but ensured that I got the rooms required by contacting the hotel direct, arranging payment on arrival.
My family arrived after 7pm so it was quite dark, my mother was left outside as there was no direct access to the reception from street level, once payment was made and access was granted, my brother had to return to my mother in the street, wheel my mother to what can only be described as a poorly lit goods entrance !
Ringing a bell for access presented them with a narrow corridor with shopping trolleys and other debris left laying around, they managed to access the lift to find their rooms.
My mother’s room was tired, dated with a clunky old wardrobe, two single beds and chairs but no view (except for the inner scaffolding).
The shower had two doors which my brother had to force apart for access but my mother was too scared to use in case she couldn’t open them after use !
My brother sought an upgrade after already spending over £540 for two rooms for two nights to be told that he would have to forego the already paid expense and then pay again for an upgrade (never heard such a thing).
The breakfasts were ok but no more than that.
The location was perfect but the rooms were as stated, very tired and dated with old furniture and poor quality beds, staff also made a point that the rooms needed to be vacated by 10:30hrs.
One good note was that my mother left her mobile charger in the room after departure and a member of housekeeping handed it into reception where it was collected two days later, when collecting it, I asked if I could speak to the manager but was advised, “They’re busy”, I said I could wait but was again advised, “I don’t know how long they will be, they’re busy”, hence my long review instead of being able to talk face to face about this.
This is extremely embarrassing for me as I had taken the time to book a short break for my elderly and frail parents who were to be assisted by my younger brother, I had looked online, knew the location and contacted the hotel to ensure a happy stay, this was not it !
I found via Booking.com that this hotel is “wheelchair accessible” but ensured that I got the rooms required by contacting the hotel direct, arranging payment on arrival.
My family arrived after 7pm so it was quite dark, my mother was left outside as there was no direct access to the reception from street level, once payment was made and access was granted, my brother had to return to my mother in the street, wheel my mother to what can only be described as a poorly lit goods entrance !
Ringing a bell for access presented them with a narrow corridor with shopping trolleys and other debris left laying around, they managed to access the lift to find their rooms.
My mother’s room was tired, dated with a clunky old wardrobe, two single beds and chairs but no view (except for the inner scaffolding).
The shower had two doors which my brother had to force apart for access but my mother was too scared to use in case she couldn’t open them after use !
My brother sought an upgrade after already spending over £540 for two rooms for two nights to be told that he would have to forego the already paid expense and then pay again for an upgrade (never heard such a thing).
The breakfasts were ok but no more than that.
The location was perfect but the rooms were as stated, very tired and dated with old furniture and poor quality beds, staff also made a point that the rooms needed to be vacated by 10:30hrs.
One good note was that my mother left her mobile charger in the room after departure and a member of housekeeping handed it into reception where it was collected two days later, when collecting it, I asked if I could speak to the manager but was advised, “They’re busy”, I said I could wait but was again advised, “I don’t know how long they will be, they’re busy”, hence my long review instead of being able to talk face to face about this.
This is extremely embarrassing for me as I had taken the time to book a short break for my elderly and frail parents who were to be assisted by my younger brother, I had looked online, knew the location and contacted the hotel to ensure a happy stay, this was not it !
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Wheelchair access is a mission via a poorly lit goods entrance littered with shopping trolleys...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Cumberland has a great dance floor in the basement and the front rooms have good sea views. The elevator is very small but usually works and the sun lounge is pleasant on a good day. The linen is clean and the restaurant staff are friendly enough. That said, reception and bar staff are brusque and often unhelpful. I was given a parking permit (paid for) but not told that I had to clearly state name of hotel as well as date and time so parking ticket for no good reason. The restaurant staff tried their best but were massively overworked and exhausted with two people for 120 breakfast guests so long queues at buffet. Hotel popular with coach parties of older people so can be busy, many of whom have some mobility issues so more staffing needed. Reception clogged with people complaining. Food was simply terrible. My dinner was inedible and dessert was old cake. Decor and rooms could be quite good and some rooms upgraded but many just tired and very 1950s feel. Overall, a hotel that needs effective management to turn things around and make it a good place to stay.
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Date of stay: August 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The staff were generally pleasant and helpful, however our room was poor, the bed extremely uncomfortable, the carpet filthy, only one window could be opened, the en-suite was extremely cramped and the bath plug hole was jammed with hair, also our room wasn’t made up during our stay. We don’t feel that the description warranted a ‘Superior’ room rating. The public areas seemed to be recently updated. Cooked breakfast choice was basically full English or nothing, not even a choice of how we wanted our eggs cooked was offered. Very disappointing.
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were lucky to stay during a beautiful sunny weekend. The hotel was lovely with a sunny conservatory overlooking the sea where yummy afternoon teas are served. Our room was really comfortable, with crisp snowy white bed linen, balcony and great views of the sea and overlooking the bandstand. All the public rooms as well as our bedroom were immaculately clean The staff could not have been more helpful and although we can be very fussy we would not hesitate to stay here again.
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Date of stay: March 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We've stayed at the Cumberland for years but never again. The scaffolding meant we had no access to our balcony at all. I proved this by asking a staff member to try to get onto the balcony. She could not. The sea view was totally obscured by meshing, huge poles, wooden planks etc. IMPORTANT: The website stated that the scaffolding and work would be completed and gone, the date given was 8 days before we arrived. So the website was wrong, not updated. That's so unprofessional. We would have cancelled and booked elsewhere, if we'd known in advance, if the website had been accurate. Items we paid for (slippers, robes) were not in the room. We had to ask for them. Sounds petty, but it was a series of issues. I haven't listed them all. It left us so disappointed, 1st proper holiday after covid, looking forward to relaxing, sea view etc.
Reception staff said the same thing they said to others (we heard) - take a refund and go elsewhere. That's their reply. Just go. Ie sort yourselves out now, on your day of arrival. Trying to get a room on your arrival day costs hundreds more. Everywhere was full or only very overpriced rooms in other hotels left (because of high demand). I get the feeling now that they aren't bothered. We had no option but to stay at this awful hotel that has gone far downhill. No professionalism or customer care.
Reception staff said the same thing they said to others (we heard) - take a refund and go elsewhere. That's their reply. Just go. Ie sort yourselves out now, on your day of arrival. Trying to get a room on your arrival day costs hundreds more. Everywhere was full or only very overpriced rooms in other hotels left (because of high demand). I get the feeling now that they aren't bothered. We had no option but to stay at this awful hotel that has gone far downhill. No professionalism or customer care.
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Date of stay: June 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Just returned from five day coach holiday with Dunwoods, Dudley. The Cumberland was a really nice hotel, spotlessly clean with very attentive staff, especially in the dining room. The food was very good, both at breakfast (buffet style) and table service for dinner. Our room had new oatmeal carpet and was tastefully furnished; curtains, bedding and wallpaper all in harmony. Our bathroom was quite small but our friends' bathroom was twice as big. I guess all these features very from room to room. The facade of the building was in the last stages of being repainted and was covered in scaffolding. One can either take that as a slight disappointment or an indication that the owners continue to invest in it, even in these difficult and challenging times. I took it as the latter. Happy to recommend it.
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Date of stay: June 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This hotel is extremely dated, while the restaurant and bar areas were just about acceptable the room was terrible. There was a nasty musty smell in the room, the toilet seat was broken, only 2 of the four lights worked, only one plug socket by the kettle and one by the bathroom door, nothing near the beds.
The biggest issue was that every floor board creaked really badly and the noise from this above our room was awful. I can only assume that this was the same for the people below us and this problem was not just in the rooms, it was in all the corridor areas to. The furniture was really dated and poor quality and overall the room felt oppressive.
The biggest issue was that every floor board creaked really badly and the noise from this above our room was awful. I can only assume that this was the same for the people below us and this problem was not just in the rooms, it was in all the corridor areas to. The furniture was really dated and poor quality and overall the room felt oppressive.
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good morning
Parking is free if you have a Disabled Parking Ticket.
Kind regards
Dee
Sorry I don't know
We do have Single Seaview Rooms with Baths
"Try to get a room that has been recently refurbished. Dont eat in restaurant as food not good quality."Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
C$113 - C$182 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
cumberland hotel eastbourne
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandEast SussexEastbourne
NUMBER OF ROOMS
72
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Hotel Cumberland Eastbourne
Which popular attractions are close to Hotel Cumberland Eastbourne?
Nearby attractions include Boom Battle Bar Eastbourne (0.4 km), Nigel Greaves Gallery (0.1 km), and Eastbourne Bandstand (0.07 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Hotel Cumberland Eastbourne?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an on-site restaurant, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.
What food & drink options are available at Hotel Cumberland Eastbourne?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Hotel Cumberland Eastbourne?
Yes, paid public parking nearby and street parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Hotel Cumberland Eastbourne?
Conveniently located restaurants include Gr/Eat Greek Deli and Cuisine, MALAYALAM Restaurant, and Athens.
Is Hotel Cumberland Eastbourne located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.5 km away from the centre of Eastbourne.
Does Hotel Cumberland Eastbourne offer any business services?
Yes, guests have access to meeting rooms and a banquet room during their stay.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Hotel Cumberland Eastbourne?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Polish, and Slovak.
Are there any historical sites close to Hotel Cumberland Eastbourne?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Redoubt Fortress & The Pavilion (1.7 km) and East Dean War Memorial (5.9 km).
Does Hotel Cumberland Eastbourne have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the city view available here.
Is Hotel Cumberland Eastbourne accessible?
Yes, it offers reduced mobility rooms and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.