Four hotels in Sussex have been recognised in a new awards scheme from the Michelin Guide.

The Michelin Keys have been created to recognise outstanding hotels around the UK which is the "culmination of countless hours of evaluation" from inspectors.

A hotel can be awarded One, Two or Three Keys, which is the equivalent of Michelin stars for a restaurant.

Discussing the Keys, the Michelin Guide explained: "These are places that significantly add to your experience as a traveller, each vetted by our hotel experts and judged excellent in five categories: architecture and interior design; quality and consistency of service; overall personality and character; value for the price; and a significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting."

The full list of the UK winners of Michelin Keys for 2024 can be found on the website here.

What Sussex hotels won Michelin Keys?

Four Sussex hotels were recognised in the new Michelin Guide awards scheme which were:

  • Gravetye Manor, East Grinstead (Two Keys)
  • Artist Residence Brighton (One Key)
  • The Gallivant, Camber (One Key)
  • The Old Rectory, Hastings (One Key)

Gravetye Manor

Gravetye Manor is located close to East Grinstead and within reasonable travelling distance of London but is described as having "an air of pastoral calm worlds away from" busy urban life.

The hotel only has 18 rooms but its "efficient" service that is "always proper but never stuffy" helps earn it acclaim.

The profile adds: "Gravetye Manor is a retreat, an escape; as such, there is not much in the way of entertainment.

"If you feel the need to flirt at the hotel bar, London has dozens of more suitable hotels — but if you would prefer an afternoon spent walking through some of England's most sumptuous gardens (courtesy of the leading landscape gardener William Robinson, one of the mansion's former owners) then this is the hotel for you."

Customers also seem to adore the hotel, with it having a 5/5 score on Tripadvisor from 1,163 reviews.

Artist Residence Brighton

The Artist Residence Brighton presents "an alternative view of what a boutique hotel" can be according to the Michelin Guide.

Its rooms are decorated by local artists in exchange for lodging which "lends them an individuality no designer could possibly have planned".

The profile adds: "So-called Tiny rooms are just that — though they’re stylish, and come with Nespresso machines — while the Bigger Balcony Sea View is exactly what it sounds like.

"The hotel’s Clubhouse, a multi-purpose space for co-working and entertaining, serves everything from breakfast first thing to drinks at last call."

Alongside that, the hotel has earned a score of 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor from 1,680 reviews.

The Gallivant

The Gallivant in Camber offers a "beachy chic" vibe that helps make it a "remarkably swanky boutique hotel, complete with a spare cabin that houses a small Bamford spa".

The profile adds: "The bedrooms incorporate splashes of bold colour alongside sober, soothing neutrals, and contrast elegant touches like custom headboards with home-style elements like well-stocked bookshelves and quirky vintage artworks.

"Some open onto the garden, others onto private decks; all feature more lounge space, and more comfort, than you’d expect from a motel conversion."

Alongside that, the hotel has earned a score of 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor from 2,398 reviews.

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The Old Rectory

The Old Rectory in Hastings has earned a perfect 5/5 score on Tripadvisor from 635 reviews and is said to be a "stylish" hotel.

The eight-room bed and breakfast is owned by a fashion designer "whose fine taste is evident in every detail."

Its profile adds: "Thanks to its small size (and its 10-and-up policy) it’s refreshingly quiet, and while every room is different they’re connected by a unified aesthetic that combines period atmosphere and contemporary visual impact.

"Spa treatments are available, as is a generous made-to-order breakfast; the location, on the edge of Hastings’ old town, places you close to any number of local restaurants."