Brighton's attraction as a perfect weekend destination, particularly amongst young people looking for some fun, as well as it's gay friendly reputation, remains undiminished, but as far as hotels are concerned it's also meant that an endless stream of so-called hip new places keep cropping up, only to turn out as tired and distinctly un-hip as their many neighbours. Kemp Town, with its quirky shops and tight grid of little streets leading to the seafront, is the usual location of these townhouse start-ups, as well as for a plethora of tired-looking b&bs and boarding houses. Here, we pick out the best and ignore the rest. We also highlight the best of Brighton's larger hotels, while we hope patiently for a revamp of the iconic 19th century Grand Hotel, in prime position overlooking the sea and the famous pier. The lack of classy hotels in Brighton is demonstrated by  our inclusion of Premier Inn's Brighton branch... choosing a budget chain hotel is a good option when truly alluring alternatives are thin on the ground. The order by which the hotels are listed bears no reflection on our preference.

Written by Fiona Duncan, Marcus Waring