Vanity Flair

Vanity Flair: East Sussex

The elegance of this five-storey townhouse along Brighton’s fashionable Portland Place evokes the glamour of the Regency era. It’s been immaculately restored, and the giant sash windows, wrought-iron balconies, soaring ceilings and marble fireplaces feel rightfully opulent. Yet this 200-year-old home is also a place of 21st-century tech. In the basement, you’ll find a home cinema with a 2.5-metre screen and Dolby Digital surround sound for brilliant movie nights in. Add to this the plush velvet sofas, cloud-like beds, roll-top baths and a sparkling kitchen finished in white marble (one of two kitchens in fact), and this home feels extremely indulgent. Families and friends will love it here, and since all beds are split kings, the sleeping arrangements are flexible. Located in fashionable Kemp Village, a pebble’s throw from Brighton Beach, the home is also excellently placed for eating out, drinking and exploring. In just 15 minutes you could be licking ice creams on Brighton’s pier, admiring more Regency architecture in town, or wandering through The Lanes in search of a lost treasure.

Home truths:
*At capacity, six people will be sleeping on sofa beds, although we think the full occupancy of sixteen guests would be a bit of a squeeze
*It is £50 per night per guest after eight guests
*You’ll need to pay for your parking – ask the host to arrange your permits in advance which cost £10 each for 24 hours
*The home is set across five floors so it may not suit guests with reduced mobility
*You may use the fireplace, but only with prior arrangement
*If you're bringing little ones along, high chairs and baby cots are provided by the host