I have not stayed there actually, but my Mum, the Dutchman, Sister No 1 & Bother-in law No 1 have. They stayed there at Christmas 2006 after discovering that Blanche House was closed that year for the Christmas period.
As it says above, drakes (with a small 'd') pitch themselves as a luxury boutique hotel and they are indeed, right on the seafront on the east side of Brighton.
There are approx eleven luxury rooms (one of 25 sq meters), many with free standing baths (some in the rooms) and each with a unique luxury design.
The hotel also houses the Gingerman Restaurant, a high class affair (starters at around £10, mains at around £22) featuring such delight as 'Wild mushroom with poached quails eggs', fresh fish of the day and 'Rib eye of Scotch beef' (not sure what the latter is!), but generally 'posh nosh' ; )
I have visited the cocktail bar (open 24hrs to geusts) where I sampled their rather good drinks and where my family managed to run up a very large bill with champaign at £100 a bottle (Hmmm!) I did not find it had quite the same 'vibe' as the Blanche House Hotel bar (my fave) but it was in the middle of the day and they did a very decent Marguerita.
My Mum loved it!
They also have facilties for meetings and you can even get married there (see their website for details).
Perfect for a romantic or indulgent short stay and a visit to the cocktail bar (keep an eye on the prices if you are ordering champagne!) and many have sea views through large Georgian windows
Alot of natural wood (all floors) and light and airy rooms in an old building of personality. All superior rooms have sea views, chairs from Noblins' in Paris. electronic silent gliss curtains, flat screen lcd tvs and dvd players and free broadband.
Standard rooms (city view) have "queen size beds, a small shower wetroom and a free standing bath set within a frosted bay window and make these secluded rooms ideal for an intimate liaison".
