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3.5
#1 of 3 hotels in St Leonards-on-Sea
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Situated in picturesque St Leonards-on-Sea directly opposite the promenade and beach, the Royal Victoria Hotel provides high standards of comfort and hospitality. Recently redecorated both on the exterior and also inside all of the guest bedrooms, this elegant Victorian hotel has tastefully furnished bedrooms and suites, the renowned Sea Terrace Restaurant & Piano Bar with views across the English Channel and along to Beachy Head, as well as conference & banqueting facilities. The roads around the hotel are free to park on. Dogs are welcome in our standard rooms for a small daily charge - please ask. Weddings, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Wakes, Work Parties - we can host functions of all kinds for groups both large and small. The Royal Victoria Hotel has a licence for both weddings and civil partnerships. The hotel also has two honeymoon suites and a range of Suites with Sea Views, perfect to pamper yourself .
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TheAA: The Automobile Association.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Family
Languages Spoken
English, Lithuanian
Location
Marina, St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings TN38 0BD England
Royal Victoria Hotel
1,259 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
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The Royal Victoria Hotel garners mixed reviews, with many guests commending the spacious and grand rooms, often highlighting the sea views and the hotel's old-world charm. The value for money is debated; some find the pricing reasonable, while others are disappointed with high costs and food quality. While the hotel's cleanliness generally earns praise, there are mentions of hygiene issues and maintenance concerns.
The staff's friendliness is frequently noted, though professionalism and responsiveness sometimes fall short. Despite its grandeur, the hotel's atmosphere and rooms could benefit from modern updates.
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Dated
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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Stayed here as part 3 of 3 hotels on a road trip along the Kent coastline.
Good Points: This is a lovely hotel with many Victorian features, and we had a sea view large double room. Sea view was lovely. Nice bathroom. Disabled friendly, there was a side room where I could store my mobility scooter, and a lift to all floors. Receptionists were nice and friendly.
Bad Points: Mattress not very comfortable, seemed to be a bit worn out. Breakfast farcical, expected Manuel and Basil to appear! The staff do not have a good command of English and got things completely mixed up. No butter at breakfast on day 2 and 3, and only thing on offer was vegan spread, which even my partner (who eats almost anything) did not like it. Toast cold and appeared to have been made some time before serving. As breakfast is an extra "12 per person we expected a lot better, and I would advise anyone not to book this, but to go to Wetherspoons nearby and have their brekkie at a mere £3.99. Much better.
This is not a cheap or budget hotel at £105.00 per night, so we did expect better. Note to management, please put staff who have a good command of the English language on at breakfast time.
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Date of stay: September 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:It costs more for a sea view room but the views are amazing.
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.
Response from sales sales , Sales at Royal Victoria Hotel
Responded 6 Jun 2021
Dear Margaret Ball Thank you for your review , We have taken on board you comments and addressed the comments you have kindly passed on to the hotel we look forwards to welcoming you back soon to The Royal Vic Best Wishes Hotel Management
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The hotel itself is in need of some TLC, and we are led to believe this is ongoing. Check in was OK. We had a suite on the top floor and this was clean and well presented with a comfy double bed. We also had a side room with TV and not very comfy Settee, on holiday I love to chill on the bed and watch TV so this was a downer, as we couldn’t see the TV. The bathroom was OK but the shower had no power and was one of the worst we've had for a long time. Breakfast and evening meals had to be booked due to Covid 19, it wasn’t a problem and allowed us to enjoy our own space in safety. We enjoyed our breakfasts and Evening meals, however it seems the Chef changes things at a whim! Once away from the Bar/restaurant area the carpet and decor drop away slightly and the fire escape had Junk in the way (poor practice). On the plus side, the staff are fantastic and because of them the hotel grew on us over the week. All in all our visit was good, but its a case of overlooking a few faults and shortcomings and enjoying the many good points. The hotel is in a quiet location and like the hotel is looking a little run down. All in all a good and enjoyable visit.
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Date of stay: September 2020
Value
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.
Response from GRR GRR, Sales at Royal Victoria Hotel
Responded 3 Oct 2020
Dear Davewelly Thank you for taking the time to post your re-view of RVH So nice to read you enjoyed your stay with us we will look into the shower having no power as we a full-time team working a 7 day rota within the maintenance team Very nice to hear you had nice meals within the restaurant and breakfast offer . We have found the service has slowed down due to following the government guild lines for Covid-19 as you had said it allows our guest to enjoy your own space and time, the property is going through a update on the maintenance post lock down our team is working hard to make changes. The same with our housekeeping team we are working very hard to follow government guidelines and the team are using full PPE We look forward to you returning soon and see our improvements please call the hotel to book your next stay 01424 445544
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It's hard to know how to rate this hotel. If you expect large beds and luxurious carpets you'll be disappointed. But if you appreciate the graceful proportions of the old building and its spectacular location on the seafront you'll be delighted.
It's a grand hotel built for rich people from a very different era. Today the grandeur has faded and the decor and facilities are far below modern standards. ... And the staff know it and they compensate by being super helpful.
The owners would need to spend at least £1m on refurbishment to bring it up to date but then would anyone want to pay the increased room rates? As it is now it is reasonable value for money for a large seaview room. We stayed there for a week in the summer and loved it. St Leonards is a lovely town with plenty of places to eat and very interesting independent shops.
We will go again.
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Date of stay: August 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Book a sea view room at the front of the hotel. Don't expect clean windows.
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.
So disappointed after paying top wack for the room with no breakfast. Below the front desk there is a ledge which was thick with dust only visable when I sat in the chair by reception. Apart from the reception staff all the other staff need commending in this difficult time. In the room was a folder which contained leafed paper about the hotel, It had dirt on the outside and all the papers inside were stained. I reported it to reception but it wasn't removed or changed. This information should be given out to individuals when booking in not left in the room and treated in the same way as you do a menu, very poor hygienic practice. The book should also be removed from the rooms. Don't pay for a sea view room as you can't see through the windows they are so dirty. Also don't book a back room on a Monday night as they empty the bins at the back of the hotel Tuesday morning at 05.30 hrs.
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Date of stay: September 2020
Rooms
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.
Just spent the night here after having to stay over for work. I can not praise this hotel enough I received a fabulous welcome from reception when I checked in and the room was beautiful and very quiet nothing was to much trouble for the staff here and a friend of mine joined me for breakfast the service we received at breakfast was excellent and she was so friendly and arranged for a vegetarian breakfast to be cooked for us. I looking forward to checking back in next week when I visit
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled on business
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.
Response from mag1966a, Receptionist at Royal Victoria Hotel
Responded 15 Mar 2020
Thank you so very much for leaving such a lovely review of our Hotel. It has been an absolute pleasure having you stay with us and we look forward to seeing you again very soon! Kind regards Maggie
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I stopped here for one night as I was visiting friends. Lovely welcome from staff who also helped me with arranging a taxi. Room was really big as you would expect from a Victorian building everything was clean and fresh with good quality cotton sheets nice and quiet for a good sleep and a banquet for breakfast. One tiny niggle was the check in time 3pm I had a long trip (3 hours) so by the time I arrived it was a quick turnaround then out the door. If check in was 1pm I would have had lunch at the restaurant then a few drinks at the bar I know there is a £15 charge if you want early check-in but I can't help feeling they are missing the point here that aside I had a lovely time shame it wasn't longer
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Parking is a problem
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.
My family and I have just come back from a brief one night stay at the hotel. The hotel is right on the sea front and has uninterrupted views of the beach. Queen Victoria once stayed at the hotel and it has her signature preserved in a guest book in the reception. The hotel itself is full of wonderful old school Victorian charm and style. The building still has lots of its original features and the old fashioned vibe has been maintained. The staff were very polite and attentive, particularly at check-in, and this was much appreciated. The room was clean and comfortable. I particularly enjoyed the bar and restaurant. The restaurant served a full a la carte high standard dinner even on a quiet Sunday evening. We shall certainly come again.
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Date of stay: October 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:A sea view room is recommended, as is the bar and restaurant for dining.
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.
Response from GRR GRR, Sales at Royal Victoria Hotel
Responded 7 Nov 2020
Dear AlexLLB, Thank you very much for your beautiful review, We are very happy that you enjoyed your visit at the Royal Victoria Hotel We look forward to welcoming you back within the near future. Please email us direct on reception@royalvichotel.co.uk or call us on 01424 445544 Take care and stay safe. Mina & Team
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Stayed one night, mid-week. I was aware that parking was limited but found a space OK. There is also street parking right outside, and they can also offer discounted tickets for a nearby car park. So I would not be overly worried about parking in the future. The staff were all friendly and efficient, and our room (204) which was spacious and had sea views, was a pleasant space to relax and chill out. There was some traffic noise, so a back room may be better for some. Breakfast was pretty good - all the usual items, hot buffet rather than cooked to order, coffee decent strength. The dining room was attractive, with sea views. The entrance hall and staircases were very impressive. There are some areas that could do with a bit of attention, but this is what you should expect for a hotel of this age. We didn't eat here, but the bar and restaurant menu both looked OK. And the bar/lounge area is a pleasant area to have a snack. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here, and look forward to returning. For the price we paid it is superb value, and hence the 5 stars.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Cleanliness
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.
Response from mag1966a, Receptionist at Royal Victoria Hotel
Responded 29 Mar 2020
Thank you for leaving a 5 Star Review! It is much appreciated! We hope that you will return again, hopefully in better times and better weather, do not hesitate to phone us directly so that we can offer you the best available rates. Thank you for the lovely comments about the hotel, its 191 years old and keeping it maintained, without changing it, is an ongoing challenge but it is beautiful and we are glad you enjoyed your stay, With very kind regards,
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We stayed in the RVH for a week from the 27-04 Sep 20. RVH is situated in Saint Leonards on sea which as the locals are very proud to say in not Hastings, Hastings start near the pier. Wonderful hotel and staff. Food was excellent, the bar for afternoon drinks is limited in its alcohol but a lovely relaxing place. Any piano players can tinkle their day away if you feel the need. Parking is free if out on the road or the 4 car park spaces next to the main door of the hotel. Main beach car park opp can be used for the hotel residents and the RVH will give you a pass to park there for your stay. Suites (203) are super, high ceilings and very nicely decorated. Beds, well mine was ok. Bathroom was nice too. Shower was good pressure. Lots of space to unpack and store your stuff. Cleaned on a daily basis if you do require.
Please do remember this is not a modern day travel lodge or Premier Inn. This is a lovely 52 roomed hotel that serves excellent food in the restaurant, breakfast, bar food and room service.
To get to Hastings in a 10 min stroll along the beach front. Take your swimming stuff as a lot of people where swimming in the sea every morning.
Hotel WIFI for all you internet lovers is good.
A must hotel if you want a nice stay with excellent food and service.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip 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.
Response from GRR GRR, Sales at Royal Victoria Hotel
Responded 16 Sept 2020
Dear P3798 MNtonya Thank you for your nice review of our Hotel RVH as you have put it we are a lovely 52 large Bedroom Hotel with great local views of the area we offer a great range of food & Beverage within the hotel we are proud of our local area & our team , As you have wrote we are a period property with high ceilings we a lift to all floors which is a great-offering to such a period property in a listed area steeped with so much historical background, we look forward to seeing you soon please call the hotel direct to book your next stay with us 01424- 445544 or Email reception@royalvichotel.co.uk Best Wishes Sales Team
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In its day this was obviously a very highly styled hotel with lavish decor, high ceilings and prominent stairway.
Some parts of the hotel are tired but that’s to be expected given its overall age.
We had a meal in the restaurant which was ok.
Our room was 201 which is meant to be a suite with sea view and is fairly central to the front of the building, in reality it’s just a converted double room with an added Mez floor which provides for the bed area.
We found the double bed small and uncomfortable, but the biggest disappointment was the noise, whilst in bed it became noticeable that the soil pipe ran very close, all we could hear was the upstairs room which I assume their toilet was directly above as we could hear everything... plus you hear all the water and deposits rushing down the soil pipe, so overall probably a room to avoid.
Good easy parking which happens to free if you park on the road. Close to Hastings itself, walkable but better to jump in the car though.
The sea view was ok, again probably the worst room for a sea view as from the outside the other rooms look to have the windows better placed.
Would recommend the hotel, but would suggest a room more towards the outermost side of the hotel.
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Date of stay: August 2020
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.
Response from GRR GRR, Sales at Royal Victoria Hotel
Responded 3 Sept 2020
Dear Stewartiw Thank you for taking the time to post this review of our hotel the property has a lot of local history& our location is in the most wonderful area next to the sea. Im sorry you had the noticeable noise from our pipe work, We shall look into this and we thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We look forward to see you again soon - Please call direct on 01424 445544 Best Wishes Sales Team
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There are more places to choose from in the St Leonards-on-Sea area.
PRICE RANGE
£82 - £99 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
best western hastings, st. leonards-on-sea best western, hastings best western
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandEast SussexHastingsSt Leonards-on-Sea
NUMBER OF ROOMS
52
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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