The View Hotel Eastbourne

You're walking along Grand Parade and the sea's doing that thing where it looks almost Mediterranean. The View Hotel sits right there on the front, and it's the sort of spot locals forget about until they're showing someone around. It's not trying too hard—just straightforward hospitality with the bonus of actually having something worth looking at out the window. Whether you're staying over or just popping in for a drink, there's a genuine seaside-town comfort to it that beats the chaininess of places further east.