Famous Haunted Hotels in Brighton and Hove

Night falls, and you return to your room after an exhausting day of sightseeing.

You read a-while, listening to footsteps on the stairs and the banging of doors.
There’s the running of showers, flushing of loos and the murmur of muted conversation.

At last all is quiet. You switch off your bedside lamp and snuggle down to sleep.

You’ve deliberately chosen the hotel for its atmosphere. But in Brighton, you may get more than you bargained for.

This seaside city on England’s south coast has been a tourist destination since the Prince Regent made it fashionable in the late 1700s, so it’s no surprise to discover that there are so many haunted hotels in Brighton and Hove.

There are plenty of spooky tales told about the city’s pubs, homes and little alleyways. Brighton has the reputation of being the most haunted place to live in the whole of Britain.

So here are six hotels where visitors may meet an unexpected guest.

Stay there – if you dare!

The Royal Albion

Poor old Albion, devastated twice by fire, the last in July 2023 which leaves its future uncertain. And what will happen to the ghost of its owner, Sir Harry Preston, now?

When the hotel was open, guests would tell how doors opened and closed when there was no-one there. Lifts were heard to go up and down without any passengers, and visitors often felt sudden, unexplained drops in temperature.

Nobody’s seen the figure of Sir Harry, in his smart bowler hat, lately. Will he return when the hotel is rebuilt? Only time will tell.

The Regency Hotel

This is a weird one.

Passers-by have seen a figure fall from an upstairs window, then vanish. The apparition is of a cobbler’s disabled daughter who fell to her death from that same window more than 100 years ago – a window that is now bricked up.

Frankly, we’re a bit sceptical as we couldn’t see any bricked up windows in the place, but perhaps it all happened round the back.

It’s not the only tall tale told about The Regency – people staying at the hotel report seeing a slim, grey-haired lady who walks through walls. Who is she? Nobody knows.

The Grand Hotel

Arguably Brighton’s most famous hotel and one that’s been in almost constant use since it was built in 1864.

It has surprisingly few reported paranormal sightings. But the seventh floor is said to be haunted by a spirit, although details of when they walk and why are scarce.

The Metropole

This is one spirit that doesn’t walk – because it’s too young. Staff and visitors alike have often reported hearing a baby crying, but repeated investigations have never discovered the source.

As recently as 2000 a hotel guest found himself chatting to an old man who he assumed was another guest. It was only later he learned he’d been passing the time of day with the ghost of someone who died years before.

And both a night manager and a cleaner watched astonished as glass beads dangling from the wall lights began to sway for no apparent reason.

The Old Ship

There’s a crying child here too, although she manifests herself at the bottom of the stairs.

And there have been other sightings. A cleaner apologised after disturbing a couple sitting on the bed in a room she thought was empty, at which point they simply vanished.

And night staff report seeing grey, shadowy figures in the ballroom.

The Southern Belle – Hove

Not all ghosts are human.

In this bijou little pub and hotel (formerly The Iron Duke) a man and his dog are said to hang around the bar and wander the upper floors.

People staying in rooms 2 and 5 have reported seeing a shadowy female form, others have seen a small girl on the back stairs, and staff say an angry man haunts the cellar.

Ghostly accommodation for brave travellers – would you spend the night? Or does the extra helping of spooky put you off?

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Where to next?
• Haunted Hotels in Massachusetts
• Best UK guided ghost walks
• Seaside stroll – A History Walk