Drakes is the hotel of our Pinterest dreams. Set right on the seafront, it’s a design-led stay that feels made for a bride who wants her weekend to look as good as it feels. Book a 'Marvellous Room' and you’ll get floor-to-ceiling windows towards the Pier, the fluffiest towels you’ve ever felt, and a bed fit for royalty (aka the bride for the weekend). It’s intimate but quietly dramatic, very Brighton, in the best way. Downstairs, the bar does cocktails you’ll still be talking about months later. The kind that gets everyone downstairs on time. Go between 6–7pm and they’re half price (but you didn’t hear it from me). From there, it’s a hop, skip and you’re out the door and straight into the Lanes — and wherever the night takes you.

Drakes Hotel

Seafront, Kemp Town

WHY IT WORKS: It’s a sleepover, but make it luxury base. It’s the perfect hen pick for smaller groups or a bride-led splurge where the stay is part of the weekend’s main character energy. You’re right on the seafront, close enough to the Pier and the Lanes that everything is walkable, yet the hotel itself still feels like a calm, beautiful bubble to come back to. The hotel also have limited parking (a minor-miracle in Brighton) and offer a generous check-in time compared to most chains. 2pm? We'll be there with bells on. Bags dropped, two espresso martinis down and the weekend is officially underway.

INSIDER TIP: Book a the marvellous room for the bride and let her live out her Glinda-and-Elphaba fantasy in peace. It’s decked out in green and pink, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a freestanding bath that could probably fit the entire bridal party (don’t test that theory). It’s the kind of room that's perfect for slow, pampered mornings, getting ready with a drink in hand, and feeling spoiled.

From £365 for two nights.

Harbour is for the hen weekend that wants to lean into the seaside lore — nautical heaven, properly boaty in the best way, and basically begging for a She’s A Catch! theme. It’s seafront, central, and guarantees a gorgeous base to come back to. Rooms lean boutique and playful, but the real pull is how well looked-after you feel. Enter, the spa. HarSPA sits beneath the hotel with a pool, hydrotherapy set-up, sauna and steam room. It’s the kind of reset that softens the whole weekend — even if cabaret is on the cards for later.

WHY IT WORKS: Best of both worlds: slow spa morning, un-rushed getting ready, then straight onto the seafront when you’re ready. It’s central enough that everything’s walkable — Pier, Lanes, dinner, late-night drinks — but the hotel still feels calm and contained, which is exactly what you want when you’re balancing group energy with a bride who also wants to feel rested.

INSIDER TIP: Book your spa slot early — weekends fill fast and you don't want to be caught short when the bride spies the options.

Harbour Hotel & Spa

Kings Road, Seafront

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Artist Residence is the Brighton stay for hens who want their hotel to feel like it has a personality. It’s quirky in a cool way. Every room has its own artist-led feel, so it’s all mismatched charm, beautiful little details, and that I want one of everything interior mood. Location-wise, it’s exactly where you want to be for a Brighton hen: right by the seafront, with the pier and The Lanes close enough that everything happens on foot. There’s also a cosy lounge area for that first drink when everyone arrives, plus a basement games room that's perfect for low-effort pre-drinks.

WHY IT WORKS: It’s the hen hotel that feels fun without feeling chaotic. You get sea-air Brighton energy on your doorstep, but your base still feels intimate and comfy. It’s ideal for smaller groups who want a stay with character, plus the kind of communal spaces that make the in-between moments actually happen.

INSIDER TIP: If you’re driving, parking is easy but avoid the underground carpark. Instead, opt for the Regency Secure Parking at the back: it takes pre-bookings for around £25 per day.

Artist Residence

Regency Square, Seafront

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A lesser known player, Hotel Una is the Brighton's answer to a bougie B&B. It’s small, independently run, and with only 18 rooms it has that place to ourselves feeling, without the admin of an Airbnb (no key safes, no arguing over who’s on bins, no cold prosecco in a Tesco bag). Every room is different, with warm textures, modern art, and the kind of thoughtful details that make the weekend feel looked-after from the moment you arrive.

WHY IT WORKS: It’s the sweet spot between hotel and house. You get privacy, comfort, and a base that feels curated, but the ease of someone else making it all happen. You’re central and close to the seafront, but inside it's calm and intimate, which is exactly what you want for a smaller group doing quality time and a bit of mischief.  There are dedicated spa rooms, plus a Cinema Suite that’s basically made for the pyjamas on, Bridesmaids on, snacks out part of the weekend.

INSIDER TIP: If you want the bride to feel properly pampered, book Belize or Flores. Everyone else can take the less bougie doubles — still gorgeous, just without the private spa moment.

Hotel Una

Regency Square, Seafront

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