No.124 Brighton by GuestHouse
A spoiling seaside stay on the Sussex coast with ocean views and an unforgettable restaurant, Pearly Cow
There’s a new boutique hotel on the seafront in Brighton. The interiors are a dream, the sea views alone are worth travelling for and it has a restaurant to impress.
No.124 Brighton by GuestHouse has 32 rooms spread across four townhouses (hello, characterful Victorian and Regency architecture), with views out to the eerie ruin of West Pier.
GuestHouse is a collection of ‘one-off boutique hotels in happening hotspots’ run by three brothers, Tristan, James and Tom Guest; as well as Brighton, they also have hotels in Bath, York and Margate.
At No.124 Brighton, the walls are adorned with rich paint colours, and the décor is in part inspired by Brighton’s Grade II* listed Palace Pier. A collection of artwork from local artists has been tastefully curated for each of the rooms. There are subtle nods to the seaside, without a clichéd deckchair stripe in sight.
We checked into No.124 Brighton on a cold bright November afternoon, welcomed by the twinkle and charm of the Christmas decorations in reception and warm and friendly staff.
We booked the large guest room with a sea view, and I’d recommend you do the same – the view of the sea from the comfort of a warm, plush bed with crisp cotton sheets really made our stay. As we stepped into our luxurious room the sun was setting over the sea, casting a gorgeous glow into the room.
We’d already raided the pantry, a feature at all of the GuestHouse properties, filled to the brim with homemade treats, pick-a-mix sweets in traditional jars, posh crisps and chilled ‘Punchy’ sparking drinks.
The pantry is open 24 hours a day, so if you feel in need of a midnight snack or afternoon pick-me-up, then you can wander down and take your pick. We warmed up with a cup of tea (prepared courtesy of a little bottle of fresh milk in the mini bar) and a homemade flapjack, watching the sea rolling onto the pebbled beach and the sun disappearing beyond the sea. A fancy pair of binoculars were provided in the room with the slogan ‘happiness comes in waves’, which was a nice touch.
There are original Victorian and Georgian features throughout the hotel, with antique brass fittings and gorgeous coving and ceiling roses. The beds are beautiful and the perfect balance of firm and soft, each with a Sealy Derwent mattress, a Savoy luxury topper and 200-thread-count cotton linen.
Not only was there a Roberts radio, but there was also a turntable and selection of records to spin while relaxing in the room – so much fun, as well as nostalgic.
Although it was tempting to while away the duration of our stay gazing out to sea in our pyjamas at No 124. Brighton there are also lounges to sip cocktails in, a games room featuring wooden tables with built-in chess boards, and the vinyl library in reception to choose your next selection for the in-room record player.
On the ground floor there’s a casual dining space, where you can order light bites, sweet treats or bigger plates. The bar is dark and welcoming, painted in a deep blue with sheepskin laden armchairs and velvet stools at the bar. Being winter, we sat beside the fire and ordered a couple of signature cocktails. There’s also an intimate courtyard with a grand olive tree in the middle, filled with twinkly lights in the evening.
If you book a stay at No 124. Brighton, then I must urge you to book a table at Pearly Cow.
It’s a fantastic restaurant in its own right, serving up the finest cuts of meat and the freshest fish, cooked over open-flames or served raw, on ice. We went for the grill section.
To start, we ordered the wood-fired scallop with cauliflower and brown butter, served on a bed of seaweed to heighten the senses with the aroma of the sea
An the pig cheeks with carrots and five spice.
For the mains; A 45-day salt aged steak with glazed onion and roast bone marrow, and – the highlight – slow-braised short rib of Sussex wagyu and the creamiest pommes mousseline (silky mash with butter, cream and cheese).
With sides of charred hispi cabbage with ranch dressing and crispy onions, and beef fat chips with dijonnaise (I cannot emphasise enough just how delicious these were), layers of thinly sliced soft yet crispy potato, pressed together to form the chunkiest chip.
We were too full for pudding, but tempted by the Mirabelle plum soufflé with Mirabelle plum ripple ice cream, or the raspberry trifle with pistachio and white chocolate. Compliments to head chef Andrew MacKenzie, formerly of another fantastic Brighton restaurant, The Salt Room, and Soho House.
Well-fed, we woke after a wonderful sleep in our calm, cosy bedroom, and opened the curtains of the large bay windows to be greeted by a rather blustery day. As the waves crashed, we sat and watched the elements before jumping into the waterfall shower – fully stocked with Wildsmith Skin lotions and potions to lather ourselves in.
Before we forced ourselves to leave, breakfast was another delight. We began our day in Brighton with Eggs Neptune - a toasted English muffin, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and Sussex brown and white crab.
The Plush Life verdict: Understated, homely, everything-you-could-possibly-wish-for luxury – No 124. Brighton proved to be a remarkable seaside stay. I can't stop thinking about the beef fat chips with dijonnaise at Pearly Cow restaurant there. GuestHouse’s other properties in York, Margate and Bath are now at the top of my list for UK weekend breaks.
The details: No.124 Guesthouse, Brighton (guesthousehotels.co.uk/no-124-kingsroad-brighton/) offers double rooms from £175. 124 Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2FY; 01273 916779; no124.reservations@guesthousehotels.co.uk
