We used to love this place. Set on the Promenade between the Pier and Fort Fun with it's own croquet lawn, and sun lounge area this looks like a very pleasent place to stop for a while. I got to know the place when a subscriber to the Tea Guild, which would award establishments serving Tea to a high standard, usually this would mean a good selection of teas and that it should be served in quality crockery and be loose leaf wherever possible. On my first visit maybe 10 years ago I found it to be a little stuffy and the staff a little snooty and seemingly overdressed, almost sneering at anyone wearing jeans or trainers but these days it has gone full circle and is a real grot box I'm sorry to say. Today after enjoying a Fish and Chip lunch we strolled along the seafront and fancied a pot of tea so decided to visit our old haunt, these days for good afternoon tea with cakes and such like we head to The Grand Hotel, After waiting for about 5 minutes at the sign which tells you to wait to be seated we were shown to a table, at this stage I thought I would explain that we would just like to have Tea, I was told that was fine, however, over fifteen minutes passed where we were completely ignored, no menu was brought over to either a) try and tempt us to try a cake or such like or b) choose the type of tea we might like, neither was the place busy. The Tea rooms had not changed from my first visit with floral wallpaper everywhere and the cakes covered in cling film, it did not exactly tempt anyone. There was that kind of old salad smell lingering too, difficult to explain, but it really did not appeal so as our tea or even menu didn't seem forthcoming we gave up and I proceeded to the Comments book to describe what had happened to us, the waitress saw us at this book writing our comments but still didn't even apologise or say anything at all so we just walked out shocked at how badly run this place was. The Staff really seemed to hate their jobs and judging by the horrendous Coach Driver style uniforms they are now forced to wear, I can almost understand. Eastbourne Council leases all of it's concessions I think, to this same Company so think carefully before choosing any of them in my opinion. read more