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Summary of reviewsThe Cumberland Hotel enjoys high praise for its unbeatable location on Eastbourne's seafront, offering easy access to the beach, pier, shops and local attractions. Guests frequently compliment the central position and scenic sea views from the rooms, contributing to a relaxing and enjoyable stay. The spacious, clean and comfortable rooms—often featuring balconies—further enhance the experience with many praising the comfort of the beds and the ample storage space. The hotel is also noted for its great value for money, providing amenities like a bar and accommodating pet-friendly policies. Its cleanliness is often highlighted with tidy rooms and well-maintained facilities being a recurring theme in reviews.
One significant highlight is the hotel's staff, who are frequently described as friendly, professional and exceptionally helpful. Their willingness to accommodate dietary needs and other guest requests contribute to a pleasant stay, solidifying the staff's role as one of the hotel's greatest assets.
The breakfast offerings receive a generally positive response with guests appreciating the variety and the accommodation of special dietary requirements. Although some guests feel there is room for improvement in terms of the selection and quality of certain items, the overall breakfast experience is considered satisfactory.
While the dinner service garners mixed reviews, the Sunday Carvery stands out as a particular favorite for its excellent value. However, diners sometimes face issues with food availability and service inconsistencies, highlighting the importance of checking meal arrangements in advance.
The rooms, while lauded for their cleanliness and comfort, do receive some criticism for dated furnishings and occasional minor maintenance issues such as non-functional hair dryers or small bathrooms. Noise from neighboring rooms and external lighting also occasionally disrupt the peace for some guests.
Accessibility is a noted concern for guests with disabilities, particularly due to the small lift and its occasional unavailability, presenting challenges for those with mobility issues. Despite these logistical hindrances, the hotel's overall comfort and cleanliness remain commendable.
In summary, The Cumberland Hotel provides a generally positive experience with its prime location, clean and comfortable rooms, exceptional staff and good value for money. While there are areas for potential improvement, particularly in dining services and accessibility, the hotel's strong points make it a desirable choice for many travelers. Show more
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Dog Friendly Hotel
The Cumberland Hotel is listed as a pet-friendly hotel.
Hotel near Nightlife Spots
Found on Grand Parade in Eastbourne, The Cumberland Hotel is within walking distance of numerous bars and entertainment venues. Its central location offers easy access to the town's nightlife.
Accessible Hotel
The Cumberland Hotel offers wheelchair access via a side entrance slope and a lift to all floors. It has one wheelchair-accessible room with a shower and grab rail, and walk-in showers in some rooms. Accessible public toilets are available on the ground and lower ground floors.
3-Star Hotel
Located on the Grand Parade in Eastbourne, this hotel offers comfortable accommodation and easy access to the seafront. It provides a convenient base for exploring the town.
Family Friendly Hotel
Cheap Hotel
Room Types
Double RoomThe double room includes a private bathroom fitted with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The double room features a flat-screen TV, a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor as well as a quiet street view. The unit has 1 bed.
Double Room with Sea ViewThe double room includes a private bathroom equipped with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The double room offers a flat-screen TV, a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor as well as sea views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Double Room with Balcony and Sea ViewThe double room includes a private bathroom fitted with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The double room offers a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor, a flat-screen TV, as well as sea views. The unit has 1 bed.
Twin RoomThe twin room includes a private bathroom equipped with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The twin room offers a flat-screen TV, a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor as well as a quiet street view. The unit offers 2 beds.
Twin Room with Sea ViewThe twin room includes a private bathroom equipped with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The twin room offers a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor, a flat-screen TV, as well as sea views. The unit offers 2 beds.
Single RoomThe single room includes a private bathroom fitted with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The single room features a flat-screen TV, a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor as well as a quiet street view. The unit has 1 bed.
Single Room with Sea ViewThe single room includes a private bathroom fitted with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The single room features a flat-screen TV, a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor as well as sea views. The unit has 1 bed.
Single Room with Shared BalconyThe single room includes a private bathroom equipped with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The single room offers a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor, a flat-screen TV, as well as sea views. The unit offers 1 bed.
King Room with Sea ViewThe double room includes a private bathroom equipped with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The double room provides a flat-screen TV, a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor as well as sea views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Superior King RoomThe double room includes a private bathroom fitted with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The double room offers a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor, a flat-screen TV, as well as sea views. The unit has 1 bed.
King RoomThe double room includes a private bathroom equipped with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The double room provides a flat-screen TV, a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor as well as sea views. The unit offers 1 bed.
King Room with Shared BalconyThe double room includes a private bathroom equipped with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The double room provides a flat-screen TV, a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor as well as sea views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
7.3
Good
Location
The Cumberland Hotel is highly praised for its prime location on Eastbourne's seafront, providing easy access to the beach, pier, shops, restaurants and local attractions. Guests frequently highlight its central position, making it an ideal choice for visitors attending events like the tennis tournament. The views of the sea and the promenade are often mentioned as a standout feature, contributing to a relaxing and enjoyable stay. In addition to the superb location, guests appreciate the spacious, clean and comfortable rooms, coupled with friendly and helpful staff. The hotel also offers great value for money with amenities like a bar and accommodating services like dog-friendly policies and efficient night porters, further enhancing the overall experience.
Breakfast
The breakfast at The Cumberland Hotel receives mixed feedback from guests. Many visitors appreciate the breakfast, noting it as good and mentioning the good variety available. Others describe the breakfast as very good or excellent and commend it for being especially accommodating for dietary needs such as coeliac diets.
However, some guests feel that the breakfast could be improved. Specific criticisms include a limited choice, lack of fresh fruit and the use of cheaper produce. Some guests found the breakfast offerings to be boring or unappetizing, particularly noting the quality of scrambled eggs and hash browns as disappointing. There’s also a notable preference expressed for a broader continental breakfast option over the basic full English served.
The spacious dining room and friendly staff at breakfast were appreciated, though there were mentions of the breakfast period being short and some logistical issues, such as not being able to have breakfast due to limited space or staffing. Despite these critiques, the overall tone suggests that the breakfast experience at The Cumberland Hotel is generally positive with room for enhancement.
Dinner
The dining experience at The Cumberland Hotel receives mixed reviews from guests. While there are some issues regarding food availability and service, particularly on weekends, there are positive highlights worth noting. Guests particularly enjoyed the Sunday Carvery, praising its excellent value at £13.50. However, some experienced frustration with the inconsistency in restaurant and bar operation hours, often due to staff shortages. The dinner menu has received criticism for being unimaginative and not particularly impressive with ordinary food quality. For families, availability of simple requests, like a bowl of cereal for a child, may also be a concern. Overall, while there are standout moments, it's advisable to check dining arrangements beforehand to ensure a smooth experience.
Rooms
The rooms at The Cumberland Hotel offer a mixed bag of experiences for guests. Several positive aspects stand out prominently: many rooms feature beautiful sea views, making them a scenic haven for visitors with some even overlooking the bandstand where guests can enjoy live music and fireworks. Rooms with balconies are especially popular, enhancing the overall stay. Comfortable beds are consistently highlighted, ensuring a restful night's sleep, along with commendable tea and coffee facilities.
Cleanliness is another strong point with numerous reviews noting the rooms are clean and well-maintained. Spaciousness is also often appreciated, especially in some of the larger rooms and those with ample storage. The professional and friendly staff further contribute to a pleasant experience, enhancing the hotel's reputation for good customer service.
However, some guests mention areas where the rooms fall short. A few reviews point out dated furnishings and a general need for modernization. There are occasional mentions of issues like small bathrooms, non-functional hair dryers and the presence of dust in certain areas. Noise from neighboring rooms and external floodlights disrupting sleep are occasional concerns.
Despite these minor drawbacks, the hotel's prime location, coupled with the comfort and cleanliness of the rooms, makes it a reliable choice for many travelers.
Beds
Guests at The Cumberland Hotel have had mixed experiences with the beds. Many visitors found the beds to be very comfortable, contributing to an overall enjoyable stay. The cleanliness of the bedding also received positive remarks with some noting that nothing was too much trouble for the staff. However, there were several reports of discomfort as well with some guests finding the mattresses too hard or experiencing issues with springs. The condition of some beds was also a point of concern, as a few reviewers mentioned older, uncomfortable beds and mattresses that needed replacing. While the hotel offers a good night's sleep for many, improvements could be made to ensure consistent comfort for all guests.
Cleanliness
The Cumberland Hotel receives numerous commendations for its cleanliness, consistently highlighted by guests in their reviews. Many reviews emphasize the hotel's clean rooms, tidy facilities and well kept spaces. The large rooms with sea views are particularly noted for their cleanliness. Additionally, the hotel staff are often described as friendly, helpful and welcoming, contributing to the overall positive experience.
However, some reviews mention that the hotel and certain amenities, such as the bathrooms, appear dated with several guests noting issues like mould and dust. The hotel is praised for being clean and comfortable overall, providing good value for the price. Despite minor inconveniences related to the age of the property and occasional lapses in cleaning thoroughness, the ambiance and attentive staff seem to ensure a pleasant stay for most visitors.
Staff
The Cumberland Hotel has garnered considerable praise for its exceptionally friendly and helpful staff. Guests frequently highlight the politeness, professionalism and willingness of the team to accommodate various needs, such as dietary requirements, often even at short notice. The reception staff, in particular, are noted for their welcoming and professional demeanor, making guests feel truly valued.
The night watchman is also singled out for commendation, enhancing the overall sense of security and care. Many reviews mention that the staff, described as lovely, caring and kind, form a fantastic team that consistently demonstrates excellent customer service. They are noted not only for their assistance but also for their pleasant interactions, which significantly contribute to a positive hotel experience.
While the occasional issue with staff performance has been mentioned, the overwhelming consensus portrays the staff as a significant asset to the Cumberland Hotel. This dedication to guest service, combined with the hotel's prime central location and impressive views, makes for a generally welcoming and comfortable stay.
Accessible
The Cumberland Hotel has received mixed feedback regarding accessibility for guests with disabilities. Despite the hotel being described as very clean, accessible and comfortable overall, there are several challenges that potential guests should be aware of. Some guests found the wheelchair access and the availability of the lift somewhat difficult, particularly noting that the wheelchair access is through the basement. The lift itself is described as very small with some wheelchair users barely fitting, which can be a critical point to consider. Additionally, there were instances where the lift was out of order, leading to significant inconvenience, especially for elderly guests who found it difficult to navigate the stairs.
Guests pointed out specific room accessibility issues, like Room 119 which was claimed to be accessible but did not meet expectations. An accessible toilet was noted, yet its door would be more functional if it opened outward.
For those needing to avoid stairs, the presence of a lift might be helpful if operational. However, if the lift is out of service, there seems to be no level access from the road, which significantly hinders the hotel's ease of access for those with mobility issues. Despite these logistical challenges, the hotel's cleanliness and overall comfort were praised by guests.
No, The Cumberland Hotel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Cumberland Hotel.
Yes, The Cumberland Hotel welcomes dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at The Cumberland Hotel.