East Sussex (we mean the county outside Brighton & Hove, which has its own separate council and gets its own page) has a genuine gap in chain hotels, but a handful of independent spots and campsites do confirm dogs on their own channels.
Independent hotels
- The Grand Hotel, Eastbourne Seafront — £25 per dog per night (bed, blanket, bowl and welcome pack included), dog meals £6, ordered on the day. Dogs allowed in bedrooms only in selected rooms, not in public areas or by the pool. Guide dogs exempt from the charge and restrictions.
- Relais Cooden Beach, Cooden Sea Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN39 4TT — dogs welcome in the lounge, bar, terrace and gardens, with a complimentary arrival treat. Fee and bedroom policy weren’t published, so confirm directly before booking.
- Bannatyne Hotel & Spa, Hastings (formerly Beauport Park Hotel) — dogs permitted in the lounge, bar, terrace and gardens. No fee or overnight bedroom policy published; call ahead.
Campsites
- Bluebell Coppice Park (also listed historically as Brakes Coppice Park), Forewood Lane, Crowhurst, near Battle, TN33 9AP — described on its own site as family-orientated dog-friendly camping and glamping. No fee published on the current site; a third-party listing mentioned £2/dog/night and a 3-dog limit, but we couldn’t confirm that’s still current, so check when booking.
- Senlac Wood Caravan and Campsite, Catsfield Road, near Battle, TN33 9LN — confirmed dog-friendly via several independent campsite directories, though we couldn’t find the site’s own website to confirm a fee or dog limit. Call 01424 773969 to check.
Where we’re still looking
There’s genuinely no Holiday Inn Express, ibis, Mercure or other IHG/Accor-branded hotel anywhere in East Sussex outside Brighton & Hove — this is a real gap in the area’s hotel market, not something we overlooked. We also couldn’t verify a dog-friendly hotel, B&B or campsite in Lewes, Rye, Uckfield, Crowborough or Hailsham in this research pass. Premier Inn is excluded as usual, following our standing rule on their general no-pets policy.
A dog unsettled by somewhere new might appreciate familiar bedding and our calming collars and treats alongside your usual routine — a small aid, not a substitute for your vet’s advice if travel anxiety is a bigger problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Holiday Inn or ibis in East Sussex that takes dogs?
No chain hotel of this kind currently exists anywhere in East Sussex outside Brighton & Hove — a genuine gap in the local hotel market, not a research shortfall.
Does the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne allow dogs?
Yes, in selected bedrooms only, for £25 per dog per night including bed, blanket, bowl and welcome pack. Dogs aren’t allowed in public areas or by the pool.
Is there dog-friendly accommodation in Lewes or Rye?
We couldn’t verify one in our last research pass, so we’ve left these towns off this page rather than guess. Check with individual properties directly.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
