Celebrate the Grand Hotel’s 150th anniversary in style with November’s three-day Festival bringing to life many of the colourful personalities who have stayed or performed here.
Day One - Friday 21st November
We open the festival journeying through the remarkable decades from 1936 to today, a time that saw three monarchs on the throne – including Britain’s longest reigning royal. These years marked The Grand’s post-war revival, as it emerged once more as Eastbourne’s treasured holiday retreat. Alongside this story, we celebrate the famous faces who graced our halls – from Charlie Chaplin to the more recent Sue Baker – perhaps the evening's soundtrack may include something inspired. Performances from festival host, Kevin Whatley, and international musicians bring the first night's concert to life before The Garden Room Restaurant greets guests for an inspired menu, including a nod to Queen Elizabeth's 1953 coronation dish.
Day Two - Saturday 22nd November
The second evening of entertainment is orchestral, reminiscing on the time when The Grand Hotel Orchestra broadcasted live on the BBC from the Great Hall. The musicians provide the sounds of Elgar’s Sea Pictures, as our hosts tell stories of how the Palm Court Orchestra was once linked to the titanic. Guests will journey through song and dance, inspired by previous residents of The Grand such as John McCormack, Feodor Chaliapin and Paul Robeson. Perhaps of the most notable performances shown, and accompanied by live musicians, is that from Anna Pavlova, as she dances to The Swan. Following the performance, guests enjoy dinner in the Garden Room Restaurant - can you spot the name of our dessert from the names above?
Day Three - Sunday 23rd November
The final night is full of scandal as we look back to the early years of The Grand Hotel’s opening. During this time, we often invites the upper classes to Eastbourne for holidays by the sea, most of whom would stay for months at a time. One of those faces? French composer Claude Debussy, who booked himself and his lover, Emma Bardac, into a seaview suite (now room 200), to hide from his messy divorce scandal. As well as a nod to his famous pieces, we enjoy Tosti, Nellie Melba and Puccini in concert, before moving through to dinner, where Nellie Melba is honoured once again with the dessert created at the Savoy Hotel in the 1890's especially for her.
DISCOVER THE FULL EVENT PROGRAMME HERE
The programme, narrated by favourite TV personalities Kevin Whately and Madelaine Newton, has been created by Artistic Directors Stephannie Williams and Christopher Morley, who have promoted successful musical events at the Grand Hotel and Ashdown Park in recent years. We are also promised a dinner menu reflecting some of these great guests. Dame Felicity Lott serves as the festival’s honorary president.
VIEW MENUS HERE
PRICES
3 Night Package - from £1,490 based on two guests sharing a classic room
2 Night Package - from £995 based on two guests sharing a classic room
Single supplements apply
Enjoy a glass of Canard Duchene before dinner each evening, a 3-course dinner with coffee, entertainment, overnight accommodation in a Classic room followed by breakfast, and access to the Health Club facilities.
Dinner and entertainment only ticket - £180.00 per person per evening
Enjoy a glass of Canard Duchene before dinner, a 3-course dinner with coffee and entertainment.
For further information and to book your space, please contact the Reservations Department on 01323 412345.
Full pre payment is required and is non-refundable.