Excellent, charming hotel. Not overly grand, but comfortable, clean, beautiful and extremely friendly. It felt like a home, like I wanted to just hang out in the lounge all day looking at the sea and chatting with people. It had a kind of magic that is hard to describe. The sea view from my room was spectacular, the bed was comfy, everything was as hoped. Above and beyond was the breakfast - easily the best I've ever had, with a ton of options, all of them first class. Dinner in the restaurant was also the best dinner I had in Eastbourne. It's a really great restaurant.
The location was wonderful - west of the pier, where it's quieter and more genteel, with a gorgeous lawn right out front, and sea and promenade beyond it. You can walk to the pier in 10 minutes, but I was more impressed by the walk along the beach going the other way, towards Holywell, Italian Gardens and the South Downs. It was all much prettier than I expected.
I am already planning my next trip back to the Lansdowne. It was a really great, relaxing trip.