Checking in: DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole

Brighton has been a popular seaside holiday destination in the UK since the Victorian era when several luxury hotels were built by the seafront. Hotel Metropole, as it was then called, welcomed its first guests in 1890.  Today, this grand old dame is has been renovated to its former glory, attracting leisure guests and private functions. It’s equally popular with corporate bookers looking for quality options for large conferences and events, particularly when residential options are a priority…

I had travelled to the DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole primarily to take a look at the extensive meeting and event spaces, and also to see what the accommodation is like especially wiht a view of residential events at this four-star holiday. My visit started with a tour with Alana Soboleva, Director of Sales. Alana took me to the event side of the hotel – well separated from the residential areas at the back of the long entrance lobby. There is a double sided staircase that takes you to the very large event venue, and it feels like a different world. The corridors and rooms area sleek and contemporary, unlike the Victorian interior of the magnificent main entrance and the impressive marble staircase that leads up to the hotel rooms.

I was blown away by the scale of the large conference spaces. These can all be divided to suit the size of your event as you’d expect. I total, there are 24 meeting and event spaces spanning over 6,000 square feet of space that can hold up to 3,000 guests. It’s easy to see how DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole is one of the largest conference and event spaces in the south coast.

Alana also pointed out the robots that travelled quietly up and down the vast spaces and corridors vacuuming the carpets. They can work all night cleaning after an evening event, so that the space is ready for the team to set up in the morning.

Event spaces worth a special mention

On the top floor of the hotel, with amazing 180 degree panoramic views across 30 miles of seafront is another fantastic space – The Chartwell Suite. That’s perfect for dinners, celebrations and special meetings.

The opulent and high-ceiling Clarence Room could be mistaken for being a chapel before, but it was in fact a casino in its former life.  Today it’s a perfect setting for grand dinners and awards ceremonies.

An enviable location by the seafront

DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole is less than one block from The Brighton Centre and a quick 15 minute walk form the train station. If you travel from London, it’s just an hour by train. There is also parking available should you wish to drive.

It’s conveniently located if you wish to explore Brighton’s sights, perhaps as a team-building exercise to get the delegates outside for a couple of hours. Brighton Palace Pier, the Royal Pavilion, and the boutiques and bars of The Lanes are all within a half-mile.

You can also keep up with your fitness routine at the health club, featuring a gym, indoor pool, sauna, and steam room.

The Hilton EventReady Playbook helps EAs and PAs plan events

Restaurants and bars at the Brighton Metropole

The 1890 is the main restaurant at the hotel. It’s a charming room with beautiful chandeliers and and lighting, and a great a seafront view. Breakfast is served here daily and it’s also open for lunches and dinners. The restaurant can also be booked for private use such as Le Petit Chef events which are 3D experiences whereby you watch your meal being prepared, your plate as the mini screen. Once the course has been created it’s served to the guests. And you move on to watching the the next course being cooked as the story, and your fine-dining experience evolves.

You can book the Le Petit Chef dining experience for groups of 6 to around 20 people. Ask the event team for full details when you discuss your event itinerary.

If you prefer a quick bite and The Metropole Bar serves great cocktails and all-day casual dining and afternoon tea. There is also an outdoor terrace, with unbeatable sea views.

The hotel also offers 24 hour room service.

Room and suites

There are 321 bedrooms and suites in total at the hotel, and no less than 24 different categories to choose from. I stayed at a generously sized, 30 sq meter Queen Superior Room Sea View Balcony. The views over the beach front were fantastic – the iconic West Pier to the left and the Brighton i360 tower almost directly in front of the hotel. The king size bed was super comfortable and the shower room beautifully refurbished too. There isn’t an espresso machine in the room but a kettle, and a good selection of teas and coffee was all I needed.

The suite offers unparalleled panoramic views of at least 30 miles of surrounding ocean coastline and overlooks the iconic West Pier and Brighton i360. The evening will begin with welcome drinks, followed by dinner and include a special performance from a renowned local artist.

Having served as an army base during the war, the four-star hotel needed complete renovation and now features modern interiors throughout.

Conclusion

The DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole is a all encompassing option for quality meetings and events, especially strong in its offering when you need a residential option. If your event exceeds the room capacity of around 250-280 offered for an event, out of the total of 321 rooms and suites available, Brighton has great options for you nearby.

Find out more about meetings and events at DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole.