The Relais Cooden Beach and Spa

Hotels
•
Classic British Hotels
8.2 (1807 reviews)
Cooden Beach, Cooden Sea Rd , Bexhill , GB

Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Fitness center
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
Heating
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Great location
Spa amenities
Cons:
Limited dining options
Noise issues

Categories

Cleanliness
8.13
Cleanliness noted as variable, with some complaints over noise and condition.
Service
8.6
Staff were frequently mentioned as friendly and helpful, contributing positively.
Location
8.64
Great location noted, enhancing the experience despite other issues.
Room Quality
7.59
Rooms described as too small or noisy in specific cases.
Amenities
8.62
Spa facilities praised, which enhanced guests' overall experience.
Value for Money
7.58
Perceived high prices for the limited dining choices.
Food and Beverage
8.13
Food quality noted as good, but menu options were limited.
Overall Experience
8.3
Overall positive experiences mentioned, with some mixed feedback.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-08 13:11

Property Description

Directly on the Beach

The Relais Cooden Beach in Bexhill, East Sussex is a unique award-winning hotel located directly on the beach. Just take a step from the terrace to start a wonderful walk along the coastline!

Stylish Accommodation and Dining Experiences

Offering a range of accommodation and dining experiences, including the Stylish Rally Bar and Restaurant. With no roads to cross, relaxation by the beach is just steps away. Enjoy stunning views while indulging in delicious meals after a day out, a wedding, or a conference.

Luxurious Refurbished Rooms and New Dining Concepts

Following a redesign, all 45 rooms, including five new Veranda Suites with private terraces, have been entirely refurbished. The hotel now features new public spaces and dining concepts, reflecting a relaxed yet sophisticated style. The Rally Bar and Restaurant, Beach Terrace, and Cafe Bar offer various dining options for guests.

Book now to experience the perfect blend of luxury and relaxation at The Relais Cooden Beach in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex.

Important information:

Guests may only book up to 4 bedrooms at any one time. Any Bookings exceeding 4 bedrooms will not be accepted.


Gym access is complimentary for the property guests only.
Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: LGW

Location

Guest Reviews

8.2
Based on 1807 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.13
Service: 8.6
Location: 8.64
Room Quality: 7.59
Amenities: 8.62
Value for Money: 7.58
Food and Beverage: 8.13
Overall Experience: 8.3
H
Helen • solo_traveller • gb
9
Seaside luxury
Pros:

Beautifully decorated room
Seaview
Great bathroom
Staff polite
Very nice breakfast
Exceptional location

Cons:

Room a little small
Funny angle stairs to bathroom

2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Lovely location, friendly staff, good food. No complaints at all.

2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • extended_group • gb
10
Very pleasant
Pros:

Very attractively decorated guest areas

Cons:

Couldn't make phone calls from your room

2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
B
Barry • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Another good stay at the Cooden Beach.
Good service and breakfast. A pleasant dinner and atmosphere.
The reception team really helped address my changing situation during my stay
Thank you

2026-09-09 • via Nuitee
C
Cheryl • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Comfortable, welcoming.. u also put on an excellent service for my aunt's 80th birthday.. the staff were lovely

Cons:

Nothing

2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
R
Rozzy • family_with_children • gb
10
Comfortable and relaxing stay with exceptional staff and service.
Pros:

The rooms were comfortable and spacious, the staff extremely friendly and helpful and sitting on the terrace looking at the sea was just what was needed. My client and family had a lovely stay and look forward to returning.

Cons:

Nothing!

2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
D
Dianne • couple • gb
7
Wonderful location in a beautiful part of the country
Pros:

Wonderful location

Cons:

Our room was quite small and it felt cramped

2026-09-06 • via Nuitee
F
Fadumo • couple • gb
10
2026-09-04 • via Nuitee
G
Geert Vandenbon • couple • be
6
2026-09-01 • via Nuitee
M
Martin • couple • gb
8
Great weekend.didn’t look forward going to bed which wasn’t nice 😞
Pros:

The property was in a lovely location bar restaurant and staff were great….

Cons:

Our room which was described as a cozy double didn’t think it was gonna be that small very warm had to open all windows each night then very noisy as train station line being very close..😞could do with a few bits of furniture taken out.should be a single room 👍

2026-09-01 • via Nuitee
H
Hilary • couple • gb
8
Very helpful staff, very clean, stylish furnishings, breakfast and lunch very good
Pros:

Close to the beach and train station. Lovely outdoor terrace overlooking the beach and sea.
Excellent breakfast

Cons:

It was very hot when we were there and although we had a fan in the room, we also had to open windows which meant the room was a bit noisy

2026-08-31 • via Nuitee
E
Ed • couple • gb
8
2026-08-31 • via Nuitee
T
Thomas • solo_traveller • gb
7
Amazing spot, great spa, epic fish and chips
Pros:

Really lovely little spot, great staff, very relaxed vibe throughout.

We ate at the restaurant attached. Coming from London, prices were not bad. The fish and chips was great, as was the cured mackerel starter. The doombar was ice cold and fresh.

Cons:

The room was very hot, despite having a mechanical fan. We struggled to keep cool, and sleep, on a sweltering night.

The breakfast in bed was delivered with many jams, but no toast - tbh this may have been us missing a selection on the order.

2026-08-31 • via Nuitee
A
allisonhP3210VS • Family
4
Poor value
Pros:

Took my Grand daughter for afternoon tea but I was not impressed .
For £30 each I was expecting a far better selection and presentation.
Told the cashier I have had better and had worse. £6 already on bill for service charge but feel awkward asking for it to be removed .
I Wanted another pot of tea but gave up trying to get the attention of any staff.
I’m sure the main menu is good but I would certainly not recommend afternoon tea.

2026-08-29 • via Tripadvisor
S
Sally • family_with_children • gb
10
Great
2026-08-28 • via Nuitee
R
Robert • couple • gb
10
We enjoy the location of the hotel and its proximity to the station for trains into Bexhill, Brighton and Eastbourne .
Pros:

We liked the friendliness of the staff and the breakfasts and being beside the sea.

Cons:

The room was a bit small and the decor in the hotel is a bit tired .

2026-08-28 • via Nuitee
H
Helen • couple • gb
10
Amazing location, lovely staff
Pros:

Beautiful location and really friendly staff. Food in restaurant was excellent and good choice at breakfast, including special diets. Lovely sitting out on terrace having a drink and great spot for enjoying a swim in the sea just outside. Stayed on ground floor which had loads of room and all facilities. Really enjoyed this, my second stay, so I’ll be back.

Cons:

Shame about all the workmen and machinery drilling on beach during g our stay, but I realise no fault of the hotel. Nothing g about the hotel to fault at all.

2026-08-28 • via Nuitee
M
Mycroft52 • Couples • Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England
6
Great location, disappointing food.
Pros:

We visited the hotel for coffee and a mid-afternoon snack. The hotel is beautifully situated adjacent to the beach, with a large terrace overlooking the sea. A really great place to sit in the sun, and ideal for just chatting and chilling. Those are the plus points. The food that we ordered, however, was a great disappointment and rather sad. An old wooden platter of rather dubious heritage and possibly risky hygiene. Four small pieces of stale and toasted bread, no butter, a small portion of cheddar, a few slices of salami-like meat, some random greenery, and eight grapes. Not really ideal for two people and a price tag of £20! To be fair they offered us a free coffee when we complained. What a shame - a lovely place, let down by very average food.

2026-08-27 • via Tripadvisor
D
dspam13 • Couples • Funchal, Madeira, Madeira Islands
8
Lovely staff
Pros:

The staff here are lovely, efficient and friendly. We had a couple of issues with cold food and an extra item on the bill which wasn't ours, but both things were sorted efficiently.
We went on a Secret Escapes deal and we had what was described as a cosy double. In reality it is a single room. The very small double bed was up against the wall, so if one of us need to get out in the night, the other had to move. The bathroom door couldn't be opened fully as it banged into the bedside table.
The food was lovely, really enjoyed our stay, if we go again we wouldn't have a cosy double! Would have been 5 stars, but for the size of the bedroom.

2026-08-26 • via Tripadvisor
S
simono1958 • Friends getaway • Hertfordshire, England
8
Really good location on the beach.
Pros:

Fabulous location on the beach. Great staff and good atmosphere. Clean. Very tasty good quality food. Includes a service charge.

2026-08-25 • via Tripadvisor