The Alexander House Hotel and Utopia Spa is a luxurious boutique hotel and spa in East Grinstead, Sussex. Being only half an hour south of London, this venue is within easy reach of almost everything. Eastbourne and Brighton are easily accessible and Gatwick airport is only 20 minutes away.
The building is a manor house affair constructed in Tudor style. It is set in glorious green grounds, behind well-manicured lawns and well-kept shrubs. Externally, the building promises a lot.
As soon as we had parked our car, we were greeted by Tom, who insisted on taking our luggage from us. He made us feel most welcome, and started by giving us a tour of the hotel. He explained that there was the original building, and a new extension to incorporate the spa facilities, which offer a wide range of treatments.
The whole tour was impressive. We particularly liked the fact that the new build had been constructed to match the traditional style of the original with exceptional attention to detail. There were also lots of different highly maintained spaces in the extensive external grounds, offering different stunning views from all parts of the hotel.
"The Alexander House Hotel and Utopia Spa and its surroundings lend themselves to a relaxing time away from the world."
The décor of the entire hotel is all about luxury. Lined wallpaper, rich furniture, decadent soft furnishings and a feeling of quality and class throughout. Everything has been done well. The colour scheme throughout the areas we saw was neutral, with flashes of colour displayed by cushions, chairs, or wall furnishings.
The exterior of the building is all old-world, the Tudor-esque design, leaded windows, cultivated grounds and topiary all give a sense of history. Inside is modern, with a real sense of quality, but modern nonetheless. The hotel has traditional furniture but done with a modern twist. But it works, the whole feeling of the place is of calm luxury. It’s an oasis from your daily life. An escape and an ideal setting for a spa hotel.
Tom escorted us to the spacious Chestnut Room. On entering, there was a sense of luxury, comfort and relaxation. Tom showed us all the facilities, which were more than adequate.
This personal service made us feel really welcome and set the tone for the rest of our stay. Staff were all friendly, accommodating and were always scurrying about looking busy. The whole running of the hotel gave the impression of a well-oiled machine.
The spa facilities are in the new wing of the building. They include a pool, two Jacuzzis, one inside, one outside, steam rooms, treatment rooms, hairdresser, manicurist and sauna. There was everything to make your time here truly relaxing.
Just like the hotel, the quality of the spa complex was exceptional. Staff were attentive and attention to detail was evident everywhere.
On returning upstairs after dinner, the staff had been in to turn down our room for the night. A note had been left, beginning with a weather forecast for the following day. Being a “weather watcher”, I thought this was a nice touch.
Our experience at Alexander House Hotel and Utopia Spa was entirely positive. The building and its surroundings lend themselves to a relaxing time away from the world. The staff are very attentive and make you feel very welcome. The facilities here are of a very high quality, and nothing we experienced got in the way of enjoyment.