Marwood coffee shop and studios, 52 Ship Street, Brighton

I've heard quite a bit about this place and as I happened to be in the area...

As ever it's the coffee, the service and the venue that I'm checking out.






The venue: 5

This place is working it's socks off to look like it hasn't tried too hard. A big old sprawling ramshackle student house of a place that's abundantly adorned with a mixture of art and tat all carefully and convincingly placed to convince you that it was born that way. Frequented  predominantly by students and hipsters it definitely caters for a trendy crowd with a bit of a hippy leaning in decor and atmosphere. The building is in itself interesting enough to warrant a visit. Although a pretty large venue with what I reckon is 70 plus covers the place feels small and intimate thanks to the nooks and cranny's that abound, there is a delightful surprise of a garden tucked away at the back that's worth the effort. The funky feel of the place will undoubtedly make it a firm favourite with anyone looking for something that little bit different, it's a great place to bring your friends hang out or just ruck up on your own with a novel or laptop. This place, in terms of venue, pulls it off and then some it feels like you've popped round to your quirky cool friends pad for a cuppa joe and you'll want to tell your mates about it afterwards.

The service: 3

It's a studenty place and the service is also in that vein. Unhurried with a slight air of we're cool and we don't care. When I arrived I was the only person in the queue although the place was busy and was promptly told, albeit nicely, that there is a 10 minute wait for coffee. In fairness the coffee arrived after 5 minutes and that is just about good enough for front of the queue...just!

The menu is simple and reminiscent of the student cafe's that I frequented back in the day. Homely food put together with their key markets budget in mind you can have pot noodles, toasties, buns and cake! Their website claims that the cake is life changing, I don't know about that but the chocolate cake did make me smile.

The coffee: 2

The cappuccino comes in one size approximating to a single shot and at £2.50 is the cost of a good double elsewhere. Presented in a decent white bowl I had chocolate added without being requested. Cane sugar is available in open bowls on the table. The froth was thin and the coffee in fear of disappearing in just a little too much milk. Having said that there was flavour lurking in there and an impressively heady bitter caffeine hit that will appeal to the masses, and confirms the website claim of kick-ass coffee!!

overall 10 out of 15
Check out the Marwood's super website here