This hotel is not half as bad as all these people are making out. Okay, so it’s not the Hilton but what do you expect for the price. I am a 25 year old girl who is VERY particular about cleanliness and hygiene and have very high standards so you can understand how disappointed I was to read these reviews before I had a chance to experience it myself. I rang the hotel to complain about the reviews and was told the hotel isn’t dirty and they also have a high standard. We went on a skills bus tour which included a day trip to France and there were 8 of us ladies, ranging from early twenties to mid fifties. When we arrived, the receptionist was waiting outside the coach to give us all our room keys so there was no queuing at reception. We got to our room on the 1st floor and were quite dis-satisfied. We had no shower and the room was extremely basic and quite old fashioned. We and another pair in our group went to reception and asked to be moved (the other 4 were happy where they were). There was no fuss and we were immediately moved to the upgraded rooms on the 7th floor. Very nice but the shower didn’t work. However, we stayed. The breakfast is lovely with lots of choice - cereal, full English, toast, fruit etc. The dinner is not so great as only 1 choice each for meat eaters and vegetarians. Still, it is edible. The hotel is packed to the rafters with OAP’s but most are there for a good time and very friendly. However, since we were there for a weekend of drinking and fun, we did get a few disapproving stares! The entertainment is pitiful and very much like phoenix nights! There is a great pub to the left of the hotel called Gillespie’s with a lovely bar manager who took the time to sit down with us and brought us all a round of drinks! This pub is very much aimed at younger people as turns into a disco after 9.30pm. Overall, this hotel and location is ok and for anyone on a budget I would recommend it. The main thing to remember is if your not happy, make sure you let them know as they will do what they can to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable. Don’t these reviews ruin it for you before you even get there because it’s not that bad!

Stay one night 14oct 06,Roy Walker was on stage.Arrived at hotel
room was in need of redecoration we did complain and they moved us .We got a lot better room on 5th floor .Food not to bad,good breakfast entertainment very good,the hotel in general needs a revamp the windows are also dirty,there is a sunday market around the corner not so great and the bar prices are steep do give it a try and find out for yourself .they have a dancing competition on saturday night and me and my nan won a nice trophy .Give it a try.Lee and patti of s ockendon essex

We stayed for two nights at the end of september, we booked a twin room premier with a request for sea view and balcony also champane in room on arival. we arrived at 15.00 as suggested were dealt with quicky at reception given a key and instructions, went to the room.
The walls were dirty the general decor and cliensness was poor the window did not open fully and was coverd in something sticky. The bath was chipped and in general poor repair. we were not asked if we wanted a somking room and on the third floor appears to be complusory to smoke, the whole place smelt of stale smoke. the celings are out of a 1970s office block are dirty and in a bad state of repair.
There was no champane as requested. We went back to recieption after some confusion re our printed requestes we were offerd a similar standard room on the 8th floor.
This room was better had a balcony and smelt better it was another smoking room though. When the 'champane' arrived it was asti martini!!!.
The canteen style Harbour restaraunt served food exactly the same as my NHS staff canteen, it was ok and hot, none of the food staff appeard to speak English as their first language but did clear the formica tables promptly.
We were unable to have a shower or bath on saturday night as there was no hot water at 18.30 apparently this is a common problem at peak times of demand.
This hotel appears to cater for the over 65 age group which we were not told, a large amout of this group were drinking to excess in the evening during the organised bingo and entertainment.
listen out for the P.A. system wile in your room as they may be calling you.
This hotel is in desprate need of updating specificaly the bedrooms, we noticed on the way out that the 'Premimer' rooms with balcony were the best rooms and the ones pictured on the hotels website, I would recomend that this is the only way to stay at this hotel.
The whole place needs fully refurbishing and to be brought up to at least travellogdge standards, but for bb and evening meal is not really bad value for money.
Insist on a decient room!

We as a family of 4 stayed at the Grand Burstin Hotel for a weekend. I have to agree with the negative reports I have already read. The review which referred to Bouncers hanging around reception is exactly like it says. On my particular stay I witnessed one of the bouncers harrassing a guest and asking him to step outside!!! I found this quiet disturbing. The hotel does not cater for children and yet it advertisers itself as a 'family hotel' The standard room was very basic, dull and in need of a new bathroon. Be prepared to have cold showers as the water is on a shared immersion heater. Only one of us managed to have a warm shower during our weekend stay. Reception offerred us to use showers in the swimming pool changing room which was 5 floors below our room!! I have to say its not a place i would return to and service was not good. However the food was ok and there was a fair option to choose from