The Ocean Hotel Saltdean (Grand Ocean Hotel) has dominated the skyline of Saltdean from the thirties. It was designed by the architect Richard Jones who also designed the nearby Saltdean Lido. Emulating the grand designs from the Art Deco period the hotel opened in 1938. This vast hotel had 344 bedrooms and a dining hall that could seat 300 people. It was used in the war by the Auxillary Fire Service and Butlins did not reopen till 1953. Sold in July 1999 to the Grand Hotel Group the hotel remained open until January 2005. Planning permission was granted in June 2005 to convert the site into apartments.
