Less than two years ago, Keith Allison called in the decorators to transform a traditional B&B into a minimalist celebrity bolt-hole.

Now his Brighton hotel has been awarded the coveted title of one of six notable newcomers in Which? magazine's Hotels of the Year awards.

Which? described Nineteen as "soothing minimalist chic in a townhouse hotel just off Brighton seafront".

The wooden floorboards and white walls of the hotel, in Broad Street, Kemp Town, have replaced patterned carpets and chintzy wallpaper.

In recent months, Nineteen has been a haven for celebrities attracted by its privacy and space. Keith though, is far too discreet to mention names.

After 17 years travelling the world working for a hotel chain, he knows what makes a guest feel comfortable. He has stayed in everything from mud huts in Bora-Bora in the South Pacific to faceless corporate hotels on the Continent.

Keith said: "This hotel is a grown-up home from home. I don't want people to be intimidated by staff knocking on their doors every five minutes and putting chocolates on the pillow.

"We're not intrusive here. It's the most annoying thing to have someone banging on your door to clean your room first thing in the morning."

All rooms have CD players, videos and vases of flowers but there's not an in-room kettle or sachet of powdered milk in sight.

Keith said: "I'm getting away from places where you have to pay 50p for a plug in the bath. Guests can help themselves here to drinks in the kitchen and tins of biscuits. We give them what they want."

The hotel is filled with the work of Brighton-based designers and artists. The innovative beds, which are made of glass bricks and glow in the dark, were made by his friend and designer, Fergus Gilman.

A modern kitchen and breakfast room are open to guests and on Sundays champagne is served for breakfast. It can be quaffed in the wooden-decked garden.

A spokesperson from Which? said: "Nineteen is a breath of fresh air in up-and-coming Kemp Town. The generous bursts of fresh flowers that scent the rooms would make Sir Elton John blush."