Chase The Winter Sun At Brighton’s Newest Hotel
Sunny days and beaches go together like my Instagram feed and Paul Mescal‘s face right now. They make you feel warm and happy inside, and you never tire of seeing them. And while the sun may seem like a long-lost friend in mid-November, I woke up on a Sunday morning last week with sunlight streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my hotel.
Like anyone who has spent enough time in the UK knows, once you see a glimpse of winter sun, you do everything you can to catch it – and there’s no better place for sun-catching this season than the new No. 124 Brighton. Freshly opened this month, No. 124 Brighton is the latest launch from GuestHouse, an independent brand of hotels with locations across Bath, York and Margate. One of 2024’s most exciting new UK hotel openings, No. 124 is a lovely seaside getaway which embraces the GuestHouse’s signature laidback luxury and borrows a bit of Brighton’s quirky but cool kid personality.
First impressions
The half-Victorian, half-Georgian building pays tribute to Brighton’s history, but there’s a touch of fun everywhere you go. From the outside, you could easily be walking into someone’s home, but enter and you know it’s somewhere special.
The half-Victorian, half-Georgian building pays tribute to Brighton’s history.
Ring the doorbell, and you are ushered into a plush reception that could be called traditional except there’s a shiny disco ball hovering over the desk – like many of the other interesting features of the hotel, you don’t expect it, but it works.
What sets it apart
The sea-front location and the hotel’s dedication to celebrating the best of Brighton’s culture are what sets 124 Brighton apart. I loved waking up to a sea view in the morning without the need to trudge to the beach in chilly November (the sun only came along the next day…) The hotel is luxe without being stuffy and has the kind of personality that immediately makes you feel warm and comforted – like a posh best friend who has a stuffed peacock in her living room but invites you in with the lure of expensive wine and asks you how your day was. It’s homely but decadent and full of surprises.
The service is also impeccable – there are always friendly faces at the reception and restaurant to help with making big decisions (what’s a good place for karaoke? What’s the best fish and chips spot?) or someone to remind you that there are still plenty of sweets in the pantry.
The rooms
There are 32 rooms and suites of different sizes, some with balconies and glorious sea-facing views. The biggest suite of all is the Hideout Suite which has its own entrance, lounge, hot tub and secret passage into the hotel. The first thing that grabs your attention in the sea-facing rooms is of course, the view. The windows let the light stream in, and the room is designed for gazing outside. There are even binoculars on the little coffee table great for bird, beach or people watching. There’s no corner of the room that’s been ignored with little personal touches everywhere that make all the difference. The super king bed is the kind where you sink into the mattress just the perfect amount.
Tiny things around the room bring a bit of the town inside – there was an assortment of postcards on the bedside table left for us to take home, each with pictures of some of Brighton’s prettiest nooks and corners. One of the books on the shelf was dedicated to an explainer on Brighton’s pebbles – significant because if you spend just a minute on the beach you’ll find the most beautiful pebbles in every colour. Even the light shades in the bedrooms take inspiration from the roofline of one of Brighton’s most historic venues – the Pavilion
I also loved the turn table and vinyls placed in the room, and it was lovely to waltz into our chambers with the radio already playing some groovy 80s rock. The bathroom, in a soothing green, was fitted with Wildsmith toiletries that you can purchase from the hotel if you like.
It was lovely to waltz into our chambers with the radio already playing some groovy 80s rock.
You’ll find slippers and bathrobes from Frette that are cosy to relax in, and the room has all the amenities you’d need like a hairdryer, steamer, TV, coffee machine, kettle and mini-fridge.
The facilities
When it comes to facilities, the hotel is equipped with just what you need for a break whether it’s a midweek workation (take your laptop to the lounge) or a romantic weekend getaway (curl up on the sofa chairs near the fireplace). The ground floor of the hotel has beautifully decorated spaces to just lounge at any hour of the day, open a bottle of wine, read a book or play board games. The FieldTrip Spa is set to open shortly, but once it’s here the hotel will make the perfect spot for a spa day outside London.
One of my favourite parts of the hotel was the 24-hour pantry that’s stocked with sweets, brownies and crisps that you can help yourself to whenever you like – a real lifesaver when one returns to the hotel at 1.30 am after a night of unexpected dancing over a fabulous gig at Brighton’s Casablanca. The terrace makes a great spot for breakfast in the warmer months or to just hang out and soak in some sun whenever you get it.
Food and drink
The Courtyard is a pretty spot to spend a winter afternoon and the whole ground floor serves the “House Menu” from midday to 9 pm which includes oysters, crispy ratte potatoes, wood-fired prawns, veggie burgers and an assortment of salads. Or there’s a “Treats” menu for when you want to indulge in Sussex ice cream, cheese or truffles. For the kids, there’s a “No. 124 Juniors” option which includes garlic and cheese pizza bread, fish goujons, ice cream and fruit. The star of the dining situation here is Pearly Cow, the hotel’s signature restaurant. The menu here is based on a fire and ice concept and something about this feels so apt for winter, as I cosy up in the restaurant’s plush interiors, after a chilly walk on the beach. The heat stems from the grills and meats that are served straight from the embers and the chills come from the fresh seafood that’s served on a bed of ice.
This is most definitely meat eaters paradise, with the highlight being the 45-day salt-aged steaks which are served with peppercorn, chimichurri or béarnaise sauce, glazed onion and bone marrow butter. I ordered the slow braised short rib of Sussex wagyu which comes with a silky pommes mousseline and my friend ordered the veggie main course – wild mushroom and farrow risotto with British truffles.
This is most definitely meat eaters paradise, with the highlight being the 45-day salt-aged steaks.
The meats are locally sourced from West Sussex’s Trenchmore Farm and are cooked over a roaring flame. The interiors have the glow of rustic luxury with splashes of contemporary art on the walls that break up the vintage feel of the restaurant. I loved the floral decorations that lent a warm, festive vibe to the restaurant- and I can imagine some buzzing Christmas parties happening here.
Things to do nearby
The Brighton Pier is just a stone’s throw away where you can try your luck on the slot machines, take your kids on a roller coaster ride or just enjoy the view of the coastline (especially beautiful at night when all the lights along the walkway are on). While you would probably spend hours on the beach on a summer day, there’s a certain charm about going to the beach in the winter too.
There’s a certain charm about going to the beach in the winter too.
I managed to catch some glorious winter sun on the chilly weekend that I visited and spent a lovely hour on the pebbled beach until I almost froze my face off when the clouds inevitably rolled in. Located in the historic quarter of Brighton, The Lanes are a must-visit when you’re here. The bejewelled streets are packed with quirky shops and cafes, and you’ll easily find everything from contemporary art and high street fashion to vintage treasures to take back home with you – a great place if you’re looking to do some Christmas shopping too.
If you don’t have a fear of heights (and if for some reason the view from your room isn’t good enough for you…), you’ll find the Brighton i360 on the seafront, right in front of the hotel. This giant glass pod takes off every thirty minutes and elevates you up to 138 metres in the sky, giving you a fabulous 360-degree view – and of course, you can get yourself a glass of bubbly up there too.
This giant glass pod takes off every thirty minutes and elevates you up to 138 metres.
For a little cultural immersion, trot off to The Royal Pavilion, the former seaside retreat of the royal family – especially for the season, there’s a stunning ice rink where you can go skating and there are a host of Christmas activities on over the next few weeks including a Christmas carol concert and a series of festive banquets that bring plenty of Regency era decadence to the table – Bridgerton fans, this ones for you.
The verdict
124 Brighton is the sort of place you’d visit when you want to impress and be impressed but you also want to feel at home. Take your dog, take your children, your grandmother or your partner – you’ll each find a part of the hotel you will love whether it’s the spot by the window with a view of the beach or the downstairs bar with the rose gold chairs that invite you to linger over fruity cocktails or crisp martinis.
If you’re lucky you’ll catch traces of that glorious winter sun on your face.
And if you’re lucky you’ll catch traces of that glorious winter sun on your face that’ll leave you with that comforting feeling that you’re at the right place at the right time.
How to get there
This one’s such an easy trip from London I was surprised I hadn’t visited before. The train from St Pancras will take you just over an hour, and the hotel is a 15-minute downhill walk from Brighton. The hotel is also slated to offer a luggage pickup service for guests, so someone will meet you at the station to pick up your bags and take them to the hotel in case you arrive before check-in and want to start exploring.
How to book
Make your bookings here: www.guesthousehotels.co.uk
