I HAD not expected the Wow! factor to be quite so high at the Zanzibar in St Leonards, the somewhat run-down East Sussex seaside resort that slides into Hastings. But the Zanzibar hotel, which opened in the summer, has done an astonishing job of bringing metropolitan style and service to the seaside — at modest prices.

The Zanzibar occupies a Victorian townhouse on the seafront near Warrior Square. Its six guest rooms are themed after regions such as South America, Africa and India. I inspected every room and couldn’t find a single cheesy print, misplaced lampstand or overstyled room: all is calm, elegant, spacious and tasteful. The three rooms at the front are the biggest, with sea views: South America is the honeymoon suite, with beautiful dark wood furniture and stand-alone bathtub (but no door to the lavatory).

It’s even more astonishing to discover that the owner, Max O’Rourke, is only 34 and, although widely travelled, spends his time in £3-a-night beach huts in Asia and professes himself ignorant of stylish city hotels. “All we have done is restore a beautiful Victorian building and added some contemporary touches,” he said.

Our room, Antarctica, had a fake polar bear-skin blanket over white bed linen, an immaculate bathroom, varnished wood floor, a cream sofa, a stylish mirrored wardrobe and a wonderful view of the sea from the bed. The mini sauna attached to the shower was a little ambitious — Heath Robinson would have been proud of the control panel. Breakfast was terrific — cooked to order, delivered piping hot, and with jam and butter in proper pots, and decent coffee and toast.

You can also eat in the airy breakfast room; O’Rourke hopes to add a fish restaurant. If the Zanzibar is not in the glossy magazines’ list of hip hotels by next year, I’ll be amazed.

Bottom line: Antarctica costs £140 a night, B&B; the most expensive room is South America (£150); the cheapest, Morocco (£88). Discounts for multiple nights.

Sampling the fare: Breakfast includes scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, kippers or full English.

What we think: Terrific value; puts St Leonards on the map.

Best thing: The view.

Worst thing: The sauna.

Need to know: Zanzibar International Hotel, 9 Eversfield Place, St Leonards, East Sussex TN37 6BY (01424 460109, www.zanzibarhotel.co.uk).

Access all areas: Wheelchair access is not possible.

Room: 9 out of 10.
Food: 10 out of 10.
Service: 9 out of 10.

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