The Twenty One

Guests appreciate the exceptionally clean and well-designed rooms, delicious breakfast, and friendly staff. The convenient location near the beach and city center is ideal for exploring Brighton's vibrant atmosphere.

This B&B is listed by many sites as the best place to stay in Brighton. After our visit, I don’t doubt it’s true. Not having a car, my first impression was that it’s far from anywhere I’d want to be except the beach. Note: the beach is all rocks. It was an easy 20-minute walk from the train station, about 15 minutes to the pier and slightly longer to the Marina. There are buses that can take you everywhere and it’s convenient to bus stops. On the walk from the train we passed a slightly unattractive section of Brighton, the Laines, the Royal Pavilion, and some charming structures. As per reviews we had read, we booked the best room. It was about 40 steps up to the top floor with a king bed and a water view if you looked to your right when at the window. I liked that they had blackout curtains and blinds. The clean room also included plenty of charging ports (including USB), 2 large soft bath towels, delicious cupcakes, cookies, bottles of water a tea kettle, a refrigerator, a tv, an iPad, and a good blow dryer. In the small bathroom, there were gym style containers of conditioner, shampoo, moisturizer, and one liquid soap (for both shower and sink). Towels are replaced every 2 days, more often if requested. The friendly and helpful owner will make either a full English breakfast or one without meat, plus juice and tea. The same each morning the 2 days we were there. Here’s some of the downside, no deal breakers: No heat our first night and i couldn't reach the owner, but the next night she provided an excellent portable heater; No washcloths and no bar soap; Mattress too firm (for me, not for my companion) and squeaky bed frame; The kettle had either scale or old milk inside, so we didn't use it; The carpet looked like it was regularly vacuumed, but had some stains and could use a cleaning; Other than some cobwebs on the ceiling above the bed – the establishment seemed very clean. The owner's recommendations for dinner were excellent.

Spend 3 fabulous days in Brighton and stayed at The 21 which is just amazing. We had room 3 which is wonderfully decorated in black gold and silver. The bed is really comfortable, 2 nice armchairs to sit in and you can see the sea from the window. Breakfast was great - it’s cooked on the range oven in the other half of the eclectically decorated breakfast room - everything was fresh and delicious. Unfortunately we couldn’t have breakfast Sunday morning as the poor owner had suffered a nasty accident- but her kindness and care already showed to all the guests previously meant no one was bothered by this and we were more concerned in making sure she was ok and looked after. I’d definitely stay here again!