After my husband left for Spain on business & I had to change hotels from the original hotel I had…read morebooked because of a scheduled boiler replacement, I had two goals. I wanted a room that was (1) a good value (2) in a safe neighborhood, because I knew I'd be out wandering and shopping and eating alone until late every night. I also didn't want to spend a lot of money on an ocean view because, in my husband's absence, I knew I wouldn't spend much time in the room with my eyes open. This place fit the bill perfectly.
It's located on a little square just off the shore in a line with several other small multi-level inn type establishments. My room was a downstairs room, which felt particularly safe to me despite having a door to the outside (albeit a locked courtyard) right outside my room. My room key happened to fit the outside door, so I was able to make sure it was locked each night before bed. Hallway lights are on timers, which could last a little longer than they do per activation, but which sufficiently allow you to illuminate the way to your room when you come in after dark nonetheless. After around 8 at night, the hotel is unmanned, and entry from the street is by key only - those little timer lights become very important when you're one of only a few guests (or the only guest!) and you're coming in to a pitch black space unaccompanied! I felt completely safe there. In fact, I walked the entire area of Brighton & came in well after dark every night, and at no time did I feel the least bit worried about my safety.
The room itself was clean and cozy, and one of the very few places in Brighton where I didn't have to crank the radiator to warm the room at night - it was perfectly toasty by default and perfectly comfortable! Bathroom was clean, water pressure was good & water temp was consistent and responsive to adjustment. The manager on duty was super nice, helpful & very friendly, and met my very few requests promptly and with a smile. He always seemed interested in whether my stay was going as planned and whether they were providing all I needed there - just very accommodating.
The most outstanding thing about the room was this: a small fridge, in which they provide bottled water, beer, wine, snacks, cokes, and even milk for making your tea or coffee using the electric kettle they provide. They also provide teabags, instant coffee, and brown and white sugars. It really makes life so easy when you don't have to consider procuring these basic items every time the need for one arises, and further that you're not at risk of paying three prices for them if you actually consume them (unlike in the US, where a fridge full of goodies is a trap for the unwary hungry or thirsty traveler!). Kudos to Churchill Brighton for getting this small detail right, I view it as definite reason this place gets 4 stars from me rather than 3 (it is a very basic hotel, after all) and a good reason to pick Churchill Brighton over the many others in its class!
