Crystal - Eastbourne

We were very lucky to go to the 2022 New Year's Eve Dinner Dance event held in The Crystal Restaurant of The Hydro Hotel and enjoyed it so much that we booked again to go to the 2023 event. Yet again the Hotel and its staff did not disappoint and we had a fantastic time and from start to finish it was first class. Hannah made us very welcome and kept everything running very smoothly. The evening started off with champagne and canapes before we made our way to our table, which was beautifully decorated. All of the staff were friendly, helpful, very efficient and still smiling despite it being a very long evening for them. The food was delicious, beautifully presented I couldn’t believe the size of the beef fillet, it was enormous and cooked to perfection. Full marks to the kitchen for providing such lovely food to so many people. As well as fantastic food, we were serenaded by Barney, Paula and their superb band and the music was so good that we seldom left the dance floor! It was lovely to see so many other guests joining in with the dancing. Then at midnight 2024 was welcomed by the piper. On behalf of our table of 6, a massive thank you to all of your staff (and in particular Hannah) for a superb evening. Everyone must have been exhausted after the festive period but you would never have known from their smiles!

Made a booking for Crystal room 7 weeks ago and accepted 24 hours before rung to cancel. A very rude manager Dan who should not be in a customer service role. Was constantly talking over me. Didn't have any skills . Xmas present to two elderly parents who both lost their partners this year and had many happy memories of our regular visits here. So thank you hydro.for your callous attitude As very regular visitors here you must be making huge profits to treat established customers in this way. I have written to johnathan Owen General manager. Waiting his reply

We attended a birthday lunch in the orangery room off the restaurant beautiful room. Hotel staff were excellent and also had created the menu with no prices in it which was a lovely touch. Great choices on the menu and all was very tasty. The birthday boy also got a candle in a dessert which was a lovely touch. Good choice of ice cream and sorbets. nice not to just have the basic flavours! A lovely lunch . Thank you to all staff.

I attended the hydro for Christmas lunch on the 10th Dec with family and friends. Our starters were fine, I had pork belly main, it was cold, fatty, un rendered and chewy with no crackling. Pudding was the baileys ice cream. Well it had no taste of baileys. Very disappointing meal, cold chewy and not as described.

Went with a group of ladies for our annual Christmas lunch, we also went here in 2021. Last year was fine, but this year was not! The dining room was cold, there seemed to be cold air coming across our backs, and my feet were numb with cold. We were at the same hotel two weeks ago for a wake in the Garden Room, which was also freezing, and we needed to keep our coats on. I do feel for a 4* hotel this is not acceptable. The Christmas lunch was also very disappointing, the food was barely warm, the only hot part of my meal was the hot cup of tea at the end of the meal. I will not be going there again for any meal, coffee morning, or celebration, all very poor.