Let's face it, anyone visiting Brighton especially during festival season (now to the end of June) is unlikely to be spending time in their hotel room. That's why I ditched the big, anonymous hotels that have spas and restaurants in favour of a cute four-star, 10-room bed and breakfast. It's located in a quiet corner in Kemp Town, walking distance from the beach, the ultra-busy pier, The Old Stein and the Laines (which has exceptional browsing pull for quirky shopping) and the must-see Royal Pavilion.

White is a major colour throughout and even in the dinky breakfast room, which though located in the basement, is bright in white and colourful accessories. It is well lit with daylight thanks to glass doors that lead to a small walled garden in the front where I enjoyed a delightful breakfast experience one sunny morning. A blackboard lists five options: full English, Euro (continental), fishy, wild (sautéed wild mushrooms served on toasted brioche) and veggie - a very creamy egg scramble on thick toast.

Rooms are spacious enough with an en-suite shower, full-sized Orla Kiely toiletries, fluffy robes and towels, bottled water, tea, coffee and biscuits and free wifi in the room.

There is no reception save an airy entrance area where you are met and guided to your room. And though there are no phones in the bedrooms I was able to get super-speedy service by sending a text from my iphone (how things have changed). I imagined Sean Edlin - the owner - as a robo-reception-concierge combo and admit to some surprise when I found he was actually human.

I had room five, which has a partial seaview, but those who can't climb stairs (these are pretty steep) should ask for rooms on the lower floors.

Parking in Brighton is notoriously bad; however, there is paid-for on-street parking. The hotel has parking permits for guests. I bought two (£20) which bought me a space for the weekend.

Rates: doubles from £95 including a cooked breakfast, whitehousebrighton.com