I like to go to the seaside in winter, that's just the kind of girl I am. Not one for amusement…read morearcades, candy floss, rides or paddling, I'm into bleached skies, churning water and tourist-free beaches - but I can only be completely happy if I also have a warm, cosy place to return to after being buffeted along the seafront. My recent three night stay at The Avalon was just perfect for that.
The location is great - less than 5 minutes walk to the beach in Kemp Town, right near lots of shops and restaurants and within a short walk to the centre of Brighton. Walking from the train station took less than half an hour, and my favourite coffee shop ever, Redroaster (http://www.qype.co.uk/place/123197-Redroaster-Coffee-House-Brighton) , is moments away. Mmmm, hot chocolate!
Owners Brian and Tom made us all feel very welcome, especially Benji the dog who had a fuss made of him every morning in the breakfast room. Speaking of which, the hearty breakfasts set us up very nicely for days of wandering around town, and help was on hand to tell us about good countryside walks for Benji complete with maps and bus times. It was lovely to be so well looked after, it's just a shame we didn't have time to go everywhere we wanted.
Having a really nice room to hang out in meant we didn't feel like we needed to be out and about all the time, and I can highly recommend the four poster room with its super comfy bed and sofa, perfect for reclining on and watching a movie (a DVD library in the breakfast room helped with this also). Free wifi was the icing on a very nice cake, and I'm sure we'll be going back to the Avalon very soon.