An upmarket seafront hotel with 226 rooms has swung open its doors for the first time.

The ribbon in front of the Maldron Hotel was cut last Wednesday with its 65 staff welcoming customers into the huge building.

It sits on the site of the former exhibition space at the back of the Metropole hotel in Cannon Place, Brighton.

The hotel is owned by the Dalata Group which is now celebrating the opening of its 56th hotel.

Inside, guests can use its bar, restaurant, gym and meeting rooms during their stay at the hotel, which has retained some of the Grade II listed facades from the old building.

General manager John Devine said: "With a dedicated meeting and events floor encompassing five meeting rooms, and with the hotel being located just 25 minutes from Gatwick Airport, we are an excellent choice for business and for corporate guests.”

(Image: Brighton Pictures) “Brighton has always been a magnet for visitors seeking fun and fresh sea air and the new Maldron Hotel has all of the city’s best attractions right on its doorstep.

“We are thrilled with our new hotel and are confident our guests will love it too."

The ground was first broken on the site at the end of 2022 and a crane was lifted into place shortly after.

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Left to right: Ben Coleman - Maintenance Manager, Jane Bateup - Revenue Manager, John Devine - General Manager, Ian Buplin- Head Chef, Taeger Coleman-McBowall- Office ManagerLeft to right: Ben Coleman - Maintenance Manager, Jane Bateup - Revenue Manager, John Devine - General Manager, Ian Buplin- Head Chef, Taeger Coleman-McBowall- Office Manager (Image: Brighton Pictures)

Dalata CEO Dermot Crowley added: “We are excited to open our first Dalata hotel in the city.

"As a prime tourist destination with a vibrant cultural scene that attracts millions of visitors annually, Brighton is an ideal location for Dalata.

"The city is also experiencing growing business demand and is recognised nationally and internationally as a leading conference centre, supported by its close proximity to London.

"I want to express my gratitude to our local team for their hard work behind the scenes in preparing the hotel to welcome guests for the summer months."