The Old Ship

United Kingdom , Brighton
BRIGHTON, Kings Road, 31-38
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100 reviews shown

8/10

Excellent

06 Mar 2026

Susan

Oblique seaview. Comfortable bed. Would have liked news channels on TV. Very helpful staff.

Self

8/10

Excellent

03 Mar 2026

Angela

Clean & spacious room , not yet upgraded in the ongoing renovation but perfectly acceptable and with proximity to the lift for my less-mobile companion. Staff attention to these needs was impressive (safety q’nnaire for evacuation needs) and Louis at front desk was charming. Great position on the seafront and walkable to the Laines (where there is secure parking)

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Mar 2026

janine

Room was tidy, breakfast was lovely, staff were welcoming.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Feb 2026

Anne

The Staff were lovely . Friendly welcome and relaxing stay .
We did a ghost walk and had a meal in hotel which was excellent value for money and would do a again

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Feb 2026

Samuel

Wonderful hotel, superb lobby, lounge, bar. Love the lift although it could do with interior refurb (wood panels perhaps).
Lovely room, 5 star, spacious and comfy.
Could do with some pictures on walls, to fit the period.
Beautiful big bathroom.
Will definitely stay again.
My only gripe is the same I have with 99% of hotels: No hat/coat hooks.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

22 Feb 2026

Julia

Appreciate hotel is old but appears run down & tired.
Ensuite definitely needs an upgrade…worn sanitary fittings, missing or grubby sealant around bath & shower fitting.

6/10

Pleasant

19 Feb 2026

Rosie

Decent price for room and location, but the hotel hasn’t been updated in a while - outside looked grungy, inside finding our room there was damp patches on ceilings, peeling paint, condensed windows in hallway that was quite dirty, inside our room there was a spring digging out of side of mattress and the mirror was dirty.

Other than the upkeep, staff were lovely and breakfast was good.

Partner

2/10

Poor

18 Feb 2026

Andrei

This is not a 4 star hotel. The hotel is dilapidated and dirty. It really is falling apart. No cups in room, a quarter size of a miniature soap. The tv was the size of a laptop screen. Do not recommend.

8/10

Excellent

15 Feb 2026

Russell

Great

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Feb 2026

Kenya

Excellent staff, very kind and understanding. Willing to check me into a different room early. Room was fairly clean. But staff made up for what the room lacked

Self

8/10

Excellent

01 Feb 2026

Jane

Overall the room was clean, however the coverlet on the bed was dirty. I did inform Reception who made a note of it. Reception staff were very amenable, however bar staff are not always pleasant. I have stayed at the Old Ship many times.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

30 Jan 2026

Jeremy

Room was clean, but the huge number of corridors were a bit musty and dusty. Staff were all very friendly and helpful. Great rooms to lounge in, sofas, chairs and tables plus a pool table.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 Jan 2026

Roger

Old-style room but perfectly comfortable. The breakfast during the week is table service, hit buffet at the weekend. The staff are very friendly. Given the price we paid, a good value hotel (I know it gets more expensive as you head towards Summer)

Business Partner

2/10

Poor

30 Jan 2026

Wayne

Very rude staff on reception!

Business

6/10

Pleasant

26 Jan 2026

Shaun

The rooms were a bit tired. The decor was a bit tired and the staff were kind and friendly.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

25 Jan 2026

Bethany

There was noisy builders next door, all you cour hear was banging, staff very lovely, the amenities very good but a bit dated, the tiles on the bathroom floor were all broken

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jan 2026

Thierry

Le personnel est adorable. De bons cocktails sont disponibles au bar

Partner

4/10

Poor

17 Jan 2026

Vanessa

Staff were great. Hotel is tired and in desperate need of a refurb. Holes in the wall and duck tape holding the carpet together.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

16 Jan 2026

Paul

All good

Self

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jan 2026

Alessandro

Just had a super refreshing stay! 🚿 The shower and room were spotlessly clean, and the bathroom was immaculate. It's so nice when everything is just *clean*! The minimalist staff setup was perfect for a quiet, anonymous visit. Feeling totally recharged! ✨ #CleanStay #MinimalistVibes #Refreshing

8/10

Excellent

15 Jan 2026

Tony

Love the place , room note as nice as previous but still nice.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

08 Jan 2026

steve

The breakfast was nice with a decent selection. Nice seaview room very close to all amenities

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jan 2026

Steven

Very friendly staff. Lovely old hotel. Great location

8/10

Excellent

07 Jan 2026

Jessy

the whole hotel was absolutely lovely! There is no temperature control in the room, otherwise fantastic!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

07 Jan 2026

David

With one exception staff were very good. Room clean but needs TLC.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

06 Jan 2026

Andrew

Clean comfy hotel if a little dated

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jan 2026

Ify

The location was perfect ,Am impressed with the maintenance been the one of the oldest hotel in Brighton kudos Everything was great to the staffs and clean rooms I loved the seaside view from the room I stayed I will sure come back again when am in Brighton

Partner

8/10

Excellent

05 Jan 2026

Sarah

Very friendly staff. Room was clean. Beautiful old building.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jan 2026

Carolle

Lovely spacious room very comfy bed
The staff were great and we enjoyed breakfast and dinner

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jan 2026

Melissa

Rooms were clean, staff were very helpful, and the location is great by the seaside.

8/10

Excellent

01 Jan 2026

Andrew

A lovely historic building right on Brighton seafront. We had a great stay and the staff were excellent throughout. While the hotel could benefit from a bit of TLC, this is to be expected with a building of this age.

The bar area is a real highlight, with great food and drink options and the added bonus of a pool table. The hotel has a welcoming atmosphere and is in a fantastic location.

The rooms are comfortable and with a little extra attention they could be brought up to an excellent standard. That said, the value for money is outstanding and you’d be hard-pressed to find better in this area. Overall, a very good stay and we’d happily return.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 Dec 2025

Marion

10/10

Exceptional

29 Dec 2025

Donna

Good value for money friendly staff and good breakfast

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

29 Dec 2025

Damian

Property is in a state of disrepair. Rooms are freezing , toilet and bathroom disgusting with no heating. It’s a hovel, not a hotel.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

29 Dec 2025

Stephen

staff first class , room clean and comfortable. will come again

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Dec 2025

Barry

Breakfast was great, great location for bars & restaurants

Business_and_leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

29 Dec 2025

Edward

Good value

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Dec 2025

Matthew

Checked in on Christmas Eve and was welcomed by an amazing festive aura with the staff singing and dancing. Absolutely fantastic staff, very helpful overall and great stay.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

25 Dec 2025

martin

The first room was totally unacceptable like a 1970,s budget hotel. Second room ok overall quite run down .

10/10

Exceptional

22 Dec 2025

David

Lovely staff
Clean with a rustic feel

Leisure

4/10

Poor

20 Dec 2025

Lauren

Hotel is extremely dated and rundown. Attended this hotel for a work xmas party in a large group with other companies also on other tables. Food was very average but was good value with the drinks. Room was not very clean. Bed and towels seemed ok but carpet was dirty and there was empty shampoo bottles in the bath left over from previous guest and sink was dirty. Also no soap in the room. Breakfast the next morning was set up in the same room as Xmas party the night before. There was still red wine and dirt and sticky alcohol residue all over the surfaces. The carpet was filthy with squashed food all left from night before where it had not been cleaned. The staff were helpful and friendly but overall the cleanliness of the hotel and the rooms is a massive issue. Would not recommend.

Business

6/10

Pleasant

20 Dec 2025

Adam

3 star experience across the board. £50 a night perfectly acceptable for that rate

Self

6/10

Pleasant

17 Dec 2025

Edward

Staff all fine. Friendly , Vegan option of food at bar poor. Staff did apologise for lack of proper ingredient ( more suitable vegan cheese) when ordered, and offered a complimentary drink, which was not necessary but appreciated as unfortunately the pizza was not good. Appreciated not able to offer many vegan alternatives but if horrible just please don’t bother offering.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

16 Dec 2025

Caroline

Breakfast good and room overlooked the beach

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Dec 2025

Laurie

So much history in this hotel and we enjoyed the tour we were given of the cellar.
Room was clean and comfortable. Hotel is older but we loved the location and appreciated the helpfulness of the staff.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

15 Dec 2025

martin

First room 122 terrible, but was moved to 117 nice room what i expected. Outside a bit run down with flaking paint . Overall needs money spent on it

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Dec 2025

angela

Great

Business

10/10

Exceptional

12 Dec 2025

Susan

Didn’t have breakfast. Enjoyed the stay. Large interesting hotel. Lots of separate areas each, I would think would tell a story from back in the day.
Very Christmassy in the hotel and The Lanes behind.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

12 Dec 2025

Chris

Room not very clean, broken floor tiles, no loo brush, toilet dirty around the u-bendand rim area.

Leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

11 Dec 2025

Ben

I like the hotel and the staff are generally great but I could hear people in the other rooms and the corridoors. This time I got woken up by people having a massive argument outside - shouting and swearing at each other and then a motorbkie repeatedly revving its engine.

8/10

Excellent

10 Dec 2025

Virpi

Merinäköala, siisti huone.

Business

8/10

Excellent

07 Dec 2025

alex

A bit tired and run down

Partner

8/10

Excellent

07 Dec 2025

It was like stepping back in time, in a good way.

The atmosphere was so warm and friendly. The staff were very friendly always welcoming.

The room was warm and the bed comfortable.

Thank you for a great stay. Will stay here again.

Business_and_leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

07 Dec 2025

Terence

Whilst we booked a king room and the room was styled as per the images, the bed was not king size. It was nice enough but as we paid for a king room we did expect a king bed too.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

06 Dec 2025

DAVID

The room and bathroom are clean if a little dated. If you like a bath.. they are very long,deep and there is heaps of boiling hot water to chuck into it.

Business Self

4/10

Poor

06 Dec 2025

John

I was asked to pay again by the hotel on checking-in despite the fact that I pre-paid via Hotel.com. The hotel is in need of a major re-furbishment.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

05 Dec 2025

Celia

The Old Ship is a Brighton institution. Very old hotel with old fixtures and fittings but the room was clean and comfortable. Staff were very nice and location very convenient. Thankyou!

10/10

Exceptional

04 Dec 2025

Debbie

The hotel is excellent value for money and right on the sea front

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

01 Dec 2025

Neil

Clean room but needs a bit of update friendly staff lovely view great location

4/10

Poor

30 Nov 2025

Paul

Breakfast vpoor

10/10

Exceptional

30 Nov 2025

Katie

On check in was created by Louis and he was so helpful and couldn’t do enough especially as we had arrived ahead of check in time.
The room was clean and very comfortable. The hotel reception and foyer area at Christmas was lovely and very inviting.
The breakfast was ok, food could be a little better. Overall though an excellent stay and will always try and book this hotel for my annual Christmas weekend away with friends.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

30 Nov 2025

Elizabeth

Was lovely and enjoyed

2/10

Poor

29 Nov 2025

Tim

Very tatty, dirty plates and cold coffee at breakfast, hot water was cold in room, toilet didn’t flush properly. cold corridors with drafts, bar drinks very expensive. This hotel has been neglected for years, no concept of good customer service whatsoever.
Avoid, there really are mo positives.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

29 Nov 2025

Zachariah

A Distinctive and Heartfelt Review of The Old Ship Hotel, Brighton: A true ANTIQUE property
My recent stay at The Old Ship Hotel in Brighton was nothing short of memorable, and much of that is owed to the remarkable team who breathe life into this historic property. From the moment I arrived, I was warmly welcomed by Dimitre, whose professionalism, genuine warmth, and impeccable hospitality reflect every quality expected of an outstanding Front Office Team Member. Traveling to Brighton for work, I found the hotel’s location ideal, and the room rate conveniently within my budget, which was already a promising start.
On the same shift was Luwi (not sure of the spelling), who, much like Dimitre, carried the unmistakable ‘hospitality touch’ and was armed with a sound understanding of the customer journey. Both were more than happy to store my suitcase until check-in, turning a simple gesture into a seamless and pleasant experience. This parallel courtesy was extended by Sarah and Yvonne upon check-out. Throughout my stay, I had the pleasure of encountering other members of the team. Amongst these other team members were Luke, Sarah, Dalia, David, Sarah, and Yvonne. Though each had their own personality and charm, they shared one profound quality: a genuine humanitarian spirit. Their collective warmth ensured not only my comfort but that every guest felt seen, valued, and genuinely cared for.
I would like to emphasize that the staff are, without question, the backbone.

Business Self

6/10

Pleasant

28 Nov 2025

Asha

We keep coming back to the old ship as love the location and the vibe in the bar during summer. Staff are very friendly and always helpful. We love the ancient lifts 🙂 think it needs freshening up but will be back again in the spring.

Leisure

8/10

Excellent

28 Nov 2025

Michael

All the staff from check in to the bar in the evening were super friendly and helpful.
This is an old building and so has a tiny lift which does the job.
The restaurant/bar area are really nice, warm and comfy places to sit.
The rooms i found a little out dated, with old brown furniture. The bed needs to be replaced and you need to give the pipes in the shower time to kick in. The carpet is getting very worn in places.
This being said it was a cheap hotel for our little brighton getaway and it did the job..

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

28 Nov 2025

Roger

Good

Partner

2/10

Poor

28 Nov 2025

Neil

Peeling paint, the smell of damp, thread bare carpets, mold....Extremely poor place to stay, and I'm unsure how they can rent these rooms out.
I had to change rooms as the first one smelled badly of damp and had mold around the windows.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

27 Nov 2025

William

Lovely hotel full of character. It shows its age in places, which is part of the charm

10/10

Exceptional

27 Nov 2025

Will

Really really nice staff

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

24 Nov 2025

Genie

Staff were

2/10

Poor

24 Nov 2025

Peggy

The room was uncomfortably cold and one heater was not working . It was

10/10

Exceptional

23 Nov 2025

ALISTAIR

Cool hotel and great prices.

10/10

Exceptional

23 Nov 2025

Nigel

Good size room with very comfortable bed and warm

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

18 Nov 2025

victor

Room was in need of update threaded carpet and needed painting tired furniture

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

17 Nov 2025

Dee

The food was good, the staff were great, the room was clean . The hotel itself is getting a bit in need of a lick of paint and a bit of refurbishing.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

16 Nov 2025

Becki

Staff were friendly room was clean. The bed was comfortable. The hotel is very dated but as I said it’s clean and comfortable. Breakfast buffet had loads to choose from both hot and cold and they do have gluten free bread available for those that need it. The food tasted great and the hot food was hot.
The only downside was the external noise during the night with people coming and going from pubs and clubs. Take ear plugs if you are a light sleeper.
Overal a pleasant stay with friendly helpful staff. Would recommend and would stay again.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

14 Nov 2025

Justin

super cool historic
hotel

Business

10/10

Exceptional

11 Nov 2025

Gary

Room was very good, especially liked the bathroom and the bed was comfortable.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

10 Nov 2025

Marcus

The room was very tired indeed. Shabby furniture, wallpaper coming apart , bathroom grout was black in places , bath had big water stain. Booked a deluxe room , it didn’t look or feel deluxe.
Staff very friendly and helpful

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

09 Nov 2025

Fraser

Fine

10/10

Exceptional

09 Nov 2025

Mr Luke

Had a really nice time at the hotel. Big thank you to Louis on reception, he was exceptional. See you next time.

10/10

Exceptional

09 Nov 2025

Greg

The location was ideal with the beach being just over the road. There were great restaurants all around and the pier was a couple of minutes walk.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 Nov 2025

Christopher

The staff is very kind and the location was central to most things.

4/10

Poor

08 Nov 2025

Laura

Stayed for one night and arrived in the early hours of the morning otherwise would have spoken to staff about the main issue below. Location is brilliant, staff on reception were lovely, accessibility isn’t great with lots of little staircases on way to the room and narrow doorways. Building is very tired - lots of peeling paint on the window frames and other woodwork. Main issue was a very bright and fresh spot of blood on the bedding when we pulled the duvet back, made me wonder whether sheets had been changed or not.

There are great elements of the hotel, even being tired is not an issue if you know what to expect, but I probably wouldn’t stay again despite the great location and friendly staff, sorry.

Business

6/10

Pleasant

07 Nov 2025

Dee

The hotel looks worn and tired needs a make-over
Staff were friendly and helpful

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

06 Nov 2025

Donna

Lovely stay. Very good value

8/10

Excellent

03 Nov 2025

kerry

Great location
Staff friendly
Good breakfast

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

03 Nov 2025

David

Marvellous location and great history. Sea front view is outstanding.
Overall its a story of \"faded splendour\" and some tlc is much needed. Apparently this is in the pipeline, so hopefully this will happen soon.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

03 Nov 2025

Carolyn

Staff very good. Reception very helpful. Room large, clean and comfortable with excellent mattresses.
Suerb breakfast
Very good value for money

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

02 Nov 2025

Hannah

Amazing sea view and great bar - we had such a lovely stay. Part of its charm is that it’s a bit rough around the edges - if you want brand new and shiny there are plenty of places nearby. This hotel is full of character and history - we loved it.

Partner

4/10

Poor

02 Nov 2025

Ian

Very tired and dated looking, breakfast options weren’t great, both mornings empty stations, not a lot of choice.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Nov 2025

Colin

Didn't have beach view

Partner

8/10

Excellent

01 Nov 2025

Janet

The remote to the TV needs new batteries.
The staff were very kind and friendly.
The room and bathroom was very tired looking.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

01 Nov 2025

Gustavo

its dated infrastructure really shows. It could be an old structure that simply hasn’t been taken care of over the years, peeling paint, uneven flooring, and worn out fixtures are hard to ignore. While the location is convenient, the lack of maintenance takes away from the overall experience.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

01 Nov 2025

Alex

Didn’t book a beach view but could see the sea from window, staff were super friendly and Ron had everything you would want.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

01 Nov 2025

Bernice

The room had an old musky smell to it.. the front door wouldn’t shut properly so we had to slam it shut.

The bathroom has mould in it and on the ceiling.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

31 Oct 2025

Joshua

Great location old building with old building quirks

8/10

Excellent

31 Oct 2025

Daren

Lovely old hotel,
Not square but has that lovely old hotel charme.
Been staying there for the last 20 + years ,
Dont make it square and sterile like all the reast.

8/10

Excellent

30 Oct 2025

Tony

Clean

Self