Brighton Stay Over – waynealton

On Saturday 1 July 2023, Jezz and I used our complimentary voucher for an overnight stay with Afternoon Tea and breakfast at The Double Trees by Hilton Metropole in Brighton.

After using the Hilton Metropole hotel for our wedding in November 2021, our wedding planner asked us for detailed feedback on how the entire process went. We highlighted around 18 issues that just marred the experience, but thankfully, nothing ruined it. However, along with a small refund, she decided to compensate us with a complimentary overnight stay, to include afternoon tea and breakfast. We intended to use it as a one-year anniversary, but didn’t.

We arrived at 4pm on Saturday 1 July 2023 but had trouble parking. There were no spaces available and after three attempts of driving around, I had to park outside. The room was a king-size double and was excellent. I downloaded the Hilton Honours app and was able to use a digital key for the first time.

The hotel was exceptionally quiet from construction site noise, but then it was the weekend. There was an event tasking place Saturday evening, a boxing fight, which attracted around 900 testosterone-fuelled blokes, a lot of them fit and well-dressed.

We did go out early evening and decided to try a Lebanese restaurant, Al Rouche, 44 Preston Street. The food, value, and service was great.

Sunday morning, we were up for breakfast and that was all good. We checked out by 11am and went shopping in the high street of Brighton. And at 1pm, returned to the hotel for an Afternoon Tea, which was fabulous.

Here are some photos of the weekend.
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Jezz and Wayne in the hotel room
The first photo, as soon as we arrived in the hotel room.
Iced Teas
The Peppermint and Red Velvet Iced Tea.
Wayne, Phillipe and Jezz
Our waiter, Phillipe, took a selfie of the three of us.
Wayne and Jezz in a booth at the hotel
One of the staff was walking by and took a photo of us both.
Jezz and Wayne having Afternoon Tea
Selfie of us both, sitting in the booth
Three tier afternoon tea selection
A selection of sandwiches and cakes… the afternoon tea.
Afternoon Tea Menu
This is the menu for the savoury and cakes that arrive on a three-tier cake stand (see next photo).
Drinks Menu
This is the drink’s menu, and I chose a Red Velvet Iced Tea and tried the Peppermint and then the Jasmine Pearls, both as iced teas.
Reserved table for Afternoon Tea at the hotel
We were escorted to our reserved table but moved because it was by a window and too hot and sunny. We moved to a booth.
Wall art in Cannon Place
As we parked up, I noticed this guy painting this art work. The next day, when we when back to the car, he’d finished and this is it. While I was there taking photos, so did 4 others. A definite eye-catcher.
Room 505 at the hotel
Jennifer, who worked in the hotel’s admin team, selected room 505, as we requested to be somewhere quiet in the hotel… a great choice.
Wayne
Waiting for food
Jezz in the Labanese restaurant
Another of the many photos I took of Jezz, camera poised and waiting for him to look up.
A Lebanese starter
I had Fatayer Bilameh, deep-fried pastry with minced lamb, onion and spice. Jezz had Arayes, Lebanese bread filled with minced lamb, parsley and onions.
A Lebanese main dish
I had Lamb Mishwi, grilled lamb skewers, served with chips and salad.
A Lebanese main dish
Bamieh Lamb – this was Jezz’s main course. It’s Okra and lamb cooked with garlic, tomato, and coriander.
A beer in Al Rouche
I had a San Miguel beer, which was ice-cold and needed.
Wayne and Jezz – Doughnuts on the prom
We were heading for the doughnuts at the Pier’s entrance, but we stopped at the Beach Hut Café where they sold them, with cinnamon, 6 for £5.50.
Wayne and Jezz – Regency Square
On our way back to the hotel, on foot, after having dinner at the Lebanese restaurant, Al Rouche, on Weston Street.