Seagulls scream as they dip and dive through the wind above us as we stroll down the Victorian pier of Eastbourne on the south coast of England. Beams of light shine through the heavy clouds above like a searchlight across the rocky ocean as I glimpse down through the cracks in the walkways floorboards. Having played around in the arcade we slowly strolled back in the direction of our mid-week getaway at the newly opened The Port Hotel. Breathing fresh air into Eastbourne's hospitality scene The Port offers boutique rooms, beach views and a restaurant that focuses on locally sourced produce within a 30-mile radius.

The bar overlooks the restaurant which adds to the atmosphere as you watch waiters shake up cocktails to order and crack open bottles of wine. It was great to see on the drinks menu had such a large selection of British-produced products from Sussex and Kent from beers to spirits displaying a clear passion for supporting smaller businesses. I would note that my cocktail, which was the daily special, was £15 so you are looking at London pricing in the heart of Eastbourne.

Breakfast is included in the room rate and guests can select a hot dish and drink. Again a small menu but all bases have been covered with a classic full English for carnivores through to a vegan version as well as pastries, pancakes and smoked salmon. I thought the portion size was perfectly filling and flavoursome despite there not being a self-service continental section for guests, quality over quantity here.

Fun Fact: The post-war ideology for Scandinavian design was that homes should be beautiful, functional and attainable for all demographics. However, mass production didn't become available in northern Europe until post-WWII which is why they held onto traditional craftsmanship and easily attainable materials such as timber for so long.

All these materials, colours and design features are then replicated in the hotel's 19 guest rooms. We opted for the sea view room and requested in advance the room with a bathtub for that extra special touch. The attention to detail is fluid throughout the hotel and rooms have quality touches such as kettles from HAY and Hypnos mattresses.

Service + Atmosphere 3/5

There is no reception area as such but we were greeted straight away at the door and shown to our room in person by a chatty and personable member of staff. During our stay, the staff were always attentive and sociable and wanted guests to have a fun and memorable time. The service however did drop during dinner as our drinks order was forgotten and our starters took 45 minutes to arrive however the manager was very apologetic and I will put this down to being newly opened with a fresh set of staff.

During restaurant hours the atmosphere is bustling and during summer this overflows nicely onto the outdoor terrace. Outside of this, the hotel is relaxed, welcoming and unpretentious which is refreshing for a boutique property.

The Port Hotel is breathing a new sense of life into Eastbourne's hospitality scene and delivers a boutique city experience to it's hotel guests. I loved the genuine focus on local produce and design from the dishes in the restaurant, the art on the wall and the hotels of custom joinery units all created by local artisans and suppliers. I would say this hotel is best for a one-night stay to enjoy the town and the seven sisters national park.

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