4* Leonardo Royal Waterfront

West Beach Hotel is a good option if you want to stay right on Brighton’s seafront without spending the sort of money some of the larger beachfront hotels command. It sits opposite the old West Pier and i360, with the beach literally across the road. The hotel has 52 recently updated rooms ranging from compact Economy doubles to larger sea-view rooms, family rooms and dorm-style accommodation. All rooms have private bathrooms and free Wi-Fi, while private rooms also include tea and coffee facilities. There’s a 24-hour reception and co-working space too. The Lanes, Churchill Square and central Brighton are within easy walking distance, although the main gay nightlife around Kemptown is farther east. It’s perfectly manageable by bus or taxi, but this isn’t one to book specifically for being beside the bars. GayMapper tip: a useful choice when price and the seafront matter more than being in the middle of the gay village.

Queens Hotel occupies a particularly handy spot directly on the seafront beside the Lanes and only moments from Brighton Palace Pier. From here it’s an easy walk east into Kemptown for the gay bars, while the Royal Pavilion, restaurants and shopping are equally close in the other direction. The hotel has 94 generously sized rooms, many with panoramic sea views, plus a separate collection of studios and one-bedroom apartments. Rooms include private bathrooms, smart TVs and free Wi-Fi. The big attraction is the leisure club, where hotel guests get complimentary use of the heated indoor swimming pool, gym, sauna and steam room. There’s also an on-site spa for treatments and a seafront bar and bistro. It isn’t the most design-led hotel in Brighton, but the combination of room size, facilities and location makes it a very practical option. GayMapper tip: particularly useful if you want both the seafront and Kemptown close by — and a proper indoor pool is a definite bonus in Brighton.

If being right in Brighton’s LGBTQ+ heartland is the priority, the Amsterdam has a location that’s hard to improve upon. It sits directly on Marine Parade opposite Brighton Palace Pier, with the gay bars around Kemptown and St James’s Street virtually on the doorstep. There are 24 rooms ranging from straightforward singles and doubles to sea-view rooms and a penthouse suite, all with private bathrooms, free Wi-Fi and tea and coffee facilities. Some of the best rooms have balconies or panoramic views across the seafront. Downstairs, Centre Stage is a well-known LGBTQ+ bar and restaurant with a large seafront terrace, so you don’t even need to leave the building to start the evening. Massage treatments can also be booked during your stay. The Royal Pavilion and Lanes are only a few minutes away, giving you an unusually good combination of sightseeing, beach and gay nightlife. GayMapper tip: choose a sea-view room if the budget allows — the outlook across the Pier is one of the hotel’s biggest advantages.

Hotel Pelirocco could really only exist in Brighton. This small independent hotel on Regency Square has 19 individually themed rooms inspired by music, pop culture and the city’s famously eccentric personality, making it a refreshing alternative to predictable chain hotels. Every room has its own character, so it’s worth looking through the options rather than simply choosing the cheapest category. There’s free Wi-Fi throughout, a lively cocktail bar, breakfast and regular music or entertainment events, and the friendly atmosphere is very much part of the appeal. The hotel sits just off the seafront opposite the i360 and old West Pier, with the Lanes, shops and central restaurants all easy to reach on foot. Brighton’s main gay scene in Kemptown is farther along the seafront, so expect a longer walk or quick taxi when heading out. GayMapper tip: choose Pelirocco if you want something fun, individual and unmistakably Brighton — this is definitely not the place for lovers of beige hotel rooms.

The Grand is one of Brighton’s landmark hotels, and a great choice if you want a proper luxury seaside stay while still being able to reach the city’s gay scene without much effort. It sits directly on the seafront, opposite the beach and just a few minutes from the Lanes, Brighton Centre and i360. All 205 rooms have now been refurbished, mixing the hotel’s Victorian character with a much fresher contemporary look. Many sea-facing rooms add balconies and wonderful views across the Channel. There’s also the stylish Cyan restaurant, Victoria Bar & Lounge and the hotel’s famous afternoon tea. A new L.RAPHAEL spa adds a hydrotherapy pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, treatments and gym, although thermal-suite access carries an additional charge. Kemptown’s gay bars are around a 15-minute walk along the seafront, so this is better for luxury and location than having the nightlife literally outside. GayMapper tip: ideal for a special weekend when you want Brighton grandeur without being far from the action.

Leonardo Royal Brighton Waterfront is one of those hotels that gets a lot right for a Brighton weekend. It faces the beach just west of the Palace Pier, putting the Lanes, Royal Pavilion and the gay bars of Kemptown all within an easy walk. The 210 rooms are comfortable and air-conditioned, with free Wi-Fi and options including sea-view rooms and suites. One of the biggest advantages is the complimentary leisure club: there’s a heated indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room and fully equipped gym, which is particularly welcome when Brighton’s weather decides not to cooperate. Food and drinks are available in the large glass-roofed Atrium Bar and the seafront lounge, while the Lanes car park sits underneath the hotel if you’re arriving by car. GayMapper tip: a particularly good all-rounder if you want a central seafront location, proper hotel facilities and the gay scene close enough to reach easily on foot.