Pavilion Gardens Cafe

On this blog I'm often looking at the new kids on the block, today is a bit of a change as this place has been going for 70 years. With those 70 years behind them they hardly need an endorsement from me but for what it's worth here's my humble opinion on the venue, coffee and service.






The venue 5:

It's all about location, location, location and this place takes some beating. Set in the gardens of Brighton's Royal Pavilion, the clue's in the name, and looking out across manicured greenery towards the pavilion itself it has one of the most pleasant views in the city. It's an open air venue and nestles at the back of the gardens under the shade of some large oak and beach trees, the dappled sunshine this afternoon made the whole place look as if it were bathed in gold. The tables are all rusty legged and wobbly and the chairs are plastic and of the type most commonly to be found on you've been framed. There are pigeons and squirrels galore scampering around the tables looking for crumbs, of which there are plenty. The clientele are generally of the older kind with a significant scattering of tourists, students and office types, the gardens just in front of the cafe are a hit with Brighton's bright young things.

The coffee: 3

Pleasantly surprised, my coffee being made by a young lady who I'm sure was not old enough to have ever tasted coffee. It was nevertheless nicely put together in a white coffee bowl, chocolate was added without being requested and white granulated sugar was available in sachets upon request. The bean was fairly nondescript, I was told that they buy whatever is available, and it shows. There was a strong caffeine hit and a slightly over roasted and somewhat bitter taste which I attribute to the inexperience of the barista. Having said that, there was a mild smokey aftertaste lurking in there that made me smile.

The service: 2

This place is a cafe, it's busy and it's staffed mostly by teenagers on school holidays and this shapes the service. There's a counter service that's efficient and to be fair sufficient. But the staff are mostly too busy and too young to be able to offer anything more. For a venue that's not much more than a kiosk they somehow manage to produce a decent range of nibbles, tray bakes and salads all of which are every bit as twee as they sound.

I enjoyed this place and left feeling more relaxed than when I arrived, it's not perfect, the coffee is just ok and the service is not great but it is in a great place and has charm and tweeness in abundance and is well worth a look.

Overall score: 10 out of 15

Metrodeco, 38 Upper St. James's Street, Brighton

My first visit to this place but as ever it's the coffee, the service and the venue that I look at. You know the drill by now; each is scored out of 5 (see the first post for what the scores mean) and there is an overall score out of 15.





The venue: 4

This is a quirky place, being a coffee shop set in an antique shop, though it feels like its the other way around. There are others like it, especially in Kemp Town, but I'd say this is the best of them. At least one of the sets of tables and chairs were for sale along with all of the light fittings and the whole place had an eclectic bohemian feel to it. It's a well thought out space making good use of the 20 covers inside and 8 outside. Large floor to ceiling windows on two sides gives this small space a light and airy feel and the illusion of space. The background music was very much in the background and suitably chilled. The clientele are all regulars and the staff know them by name and I think that says quite a lot about this place. There's a furniture showroom in the basement so you can have a poke about when you've had enough coffee. An unswept floor and grubby napkins wedged under my once wobbly table stopped this place from scoring top marks.

The coffee: 4

Nicely presented in a patterned habitat bowl, chocolate was lightly dusted without being requested. The antique silver plated teaspoon was a lovely touch. Rock sugar available on the table in desert glasses. There was a rich roast flavour to the coffee and the cappuccino was expertly put together with exactly the right combination of bean, milk and froth; best I've had in town. They use beans from the Small Batch Coffee Company in Hove, which I've reviewed recently. The quality is excellent, but its been a good year. The froth didn't quite make it to the half way mark and with only one size available, which is priced towards the top of the speciality coffee bracket it misses the top score; just.

The service: 5

Relaxed and very friendly is the main selling point of this place. Lovely attention to detail and a genuine welcoming atmosphere make this place a wee bit special. There is a good selection of albeit expensive cakes available and the menu is full of homely, rustic fare. I had a sandwich that was fresh and delicious and so much of it that I had to have a doggy bag. The staff know their customers and go out of their way to ensure that the service is personal. This is somewhere that you'll come back to again and again.

Overall 13 out of 15

Small Batch Coffee Company, Wilbury Road, Hove

I've known about this place for a long time and had been meaning to pop along and check them out, with a great web presence and an ethical product I was really looking forward to this one.  As ever its the Venue, Service and Coffee that I'm reviewing.




The venue: 3

I wanted so badly to like this place more, it was modern and funky but with an eye on style. With a good mahogany wooden floor and dark slate grey walls with touches of gold here and there, stylistically it was working but the floor was dirty and the whole place needed a good dusting. Not that this was putting any of the other customers off; the place seems to be doing a roaring trade. The clientèle are an even mix of office types having a break, thirty-something mums and ladies who lunch with a smattering of well to do gay guys. It is situated a mere step from busy Church Road but in a quiet oasis of peace and calm and with quality outdoor seating on a raised veranda is an idea place to soak up the sunshine and watch the world go by. The large windows however mean that the interior gets a little warm and there is no aircon. I was there at 4pm on a day when the top temperature was 18 degrees and it felt more like 25 inside. The place is roomy with about 25 covers inside and the same outside, it would be an ideal place to come for a coffee and a long chat, outside, while you bask in afternoon sunlight.

The Service: 3

Good solid service but nothing much of note. The guys behind the counter in tee shirts and jeans had a relaxed air, they were polite but the service didn't amount to much more than "what can I get ya?" and "where are ya sittin I'll bring this right over". No small chat and not much in the way of eye contact either, though the place was busy and they were working hard to keep up with the orders. Things slowed quite a bit during my stay but I didn't note any change in the service. Some very nice sweet treats on the menu and a small selcetion of lunchtime savories that were unfortunately long gone by the time I arrived.

The Coffee: 3

I was majorly disappointed with the coffee in this place as I had been expecting it to be the best in town by a country mile, however in terms of presentation and taste it really failed to deliver. This was entirely down to the barista who I doubt has ever tasted cappuccino, the froth was wafer thin and was gone by my third sip and the coffee was lost in a veritable ocean of milk, what I ended up with was a cross between a latte and a flat white. Fine if I'd ordered either but a poor show as a cappuccino. Chocolate was neither offered nor available. That said the coffee itself is a nicely put together light house blend, smooth and choclatey and there was flavour in there amongst the milk. On the plus side this place is serious about speciality coffee and about producing it in an ethical manner.  Working with a specialist importer to buy direct from the grower they ensure that more of the profits go to the communities producing the coffee and they carry a good, ever changing, range of single source beans. You're guaranteed freshness as they roast their own beans in a speciality roastery just up the road and are involved in the drop4drop scheme that provides clean water to communities in the developing world, this is coffee with a conscience. All in all it's is a great place to come and buy an excellent quality coffee, unless it's the chat you're after I'd just take the beans away and make the coffee at home.

Overall score: 9 out of 15

La Fourchette, 42 Church Road, Hove

Just to reassure myself that there is life outside of kemp town I've ventured into deepest Hove to check out this delightful patisserie.

Coffee, venue and service are scrutinised for your pleasure.








The coffee: 4

A very nicely presented cappuccino in a thick white porcelain bowl with a hefty teaspoon that screamed quality and attention to detail. The rock sugar available on the table in sealable jars was a nice touch. Unless my taste buds deceive me this place is serving red roaster's house blend coffee. Flavoursome with nicely balanced acidic top notes it's a winner. On the down side the coffee comes in one size only though equal to a double shot at £2.10 is good value. Chocolate was sparingly sprinkled without being requested.

The venue: 4

This is a quality venue with about 35 covers on the ground floor, more seating is available upstairs. Comfortable leatherette captains chairs at the windows front and back with solid wooden tables and chairs in-between. Wooden floors, brown, cream and white decor give the place a classy French coffee house feel. The music was perfectly pitched as a mood setter without interfering with conversation. Popular with ladies who lunch the clientele are a reserved and sophisticated bunch. The place understands it's customer base and the menu is well pitched at the breakfast and lunchtime market, with a few afternoon teatime treats thrown in for good measure. The pricing represents good value for money and the food I had was delicious, fresh and nicely presented. As a patisserie you will not be surprised to learn that the tarts cakes and buns available will have you salivating and thinking forlornly about your waistline. Head to the seats at the back for secluded intimacy otherwise you'll be hobnobbing it with Hove's finest at the front. I would have given the venue a higher score but the place is a tiny bit tired looking around the edges with the floor, white wooden chairs and walls in need of some TLC.

The service : 5

More restaurant than coffee house in terms of service the staff are uniformed in classic black shirts and trousers with coffee baristas aprons worn long in the French style. The service here is aimed at making you feel special and valued and it was working for me. Unhurried personal attention comes with endless courtesy and charm without ever being in your face this is the perfect place to come with your best pals for a bit of self indulgence.

Overall score 13 out of 15

Gelateria De Luca, St James's Street Brighton

This is the latest place to open up on St. James's Street in Kemp Town and I thought I'd give it the once over.

As always it's the coffee the venue and the service that I'm looking at.




The coffee: 2

The coffee here is not going to get anyone excited but it's not the worst I've had by any means. Serving Illy Italian coffee, the cappuccino unfortunately comes in only one size which equates to a single shot and at £2.50 it's the price of a decent double elsewhere. There are half a dozen places within strolling distance that offer better value. It was presented rather sloppily in a white bowl with a coffee biscuit on the side which I thought was a nice if quaint touch. Chocolate was sparingly added without being requested and there was no sugar available until I asked for it. Way too much milk and way too little froth made this a bit of a lame latte but the flavour held up and there was a decent caffeine kick. Coffee is definitely not their strong point but in fairness to them they are not claiming that it is, this place is primarily a gelato bar.

The venue: 3

A small venue with space for about 20 covers inside and another 8 outside this place offers quite a lot. Situated on a corner plot it makes the most of the views with large windows on two sides one of which opens up. There is air conditioning and it's needed as the gelato fridges generate a lot of heat. Menu-wise they have very cleverly put together four of my favourite things gelato, coffee, cake and alcohol. Ok the coffee is not great but the other three more than make up for it. This is the perfect place for a Sunday afternoon ice-cream or a quick anytime treat and I can imagine it being popular with families and first daters alike. The cakes are I predict likely to become a real selling point, they looked simply delicious, although you don't seem to be able to buy them by the slice!! With a funky modern italian ice-cream parlour feel to the place complete with Paul Smith candy stripes and red and black leather seating it's a fresh and funky addition to the street and deserves to do well.

Service: 4

Perhaps it's the eagerness to please that new places often start off with or perhaps it's the fact that its a family run business whatever it is this places is welcoming and friendly and so much so that I'll forgive them serving up pretty uninspiring coffee. The owners do that very Italian of things; they've made work seem like a day out, their friends drop in, they have coffee they chat there is a lot of laughter and endless patience as customers languish over which gelato they are going to have next. On the downside the background music is a bit in your face but to be honest it kind of suits the venue. It's a relaxed place and well worth a visit, as long as your not just coming for the coffee.

Overall 9 out of 15

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

Real Patisserie 34 St. Georges Road, Kemp Town

Although no stranger to Brighton with two other shops this is a relative new comer to Kemp Town. Not specifically a coffee house, they are serving up so I though I'd check them out.

As always it's the coffee the venue and the service that I look at.




The coffee: 3

Served in a take away cup we are not off to a good start here. The woman who made the coffee went at it with all the skill of an ox and it was somewhat roughly put together, the milk was steamed a little too long and the beans were similarly treated. Having said that the coffee is locally produced by the wonderful red roaster and was flavoursome with a decent top, in fact I've had worse served up by red roaster baristas. Chocolate was offered and sugar was available on the table.

The venue: 1

It's hard to get away from the fact that this place is a bakery and to be honest they should stick to what they are good at. It feels like they've  looked at the bit of spare floor space they have and thought "I know let's have a coffee shop" it doesn't really work. Along one side of the shop there's a single long bench with bench seating either side and that's your coffee house. The bakery is busy and rightly so as the range of breads, cakes and lunchtime treats that they do is amazing, the smell of the place has got to be one of the most satisfying smells I've ever encountered in a coffee shop. Smells aside the space is a wee bit too small and I was bumped several times by bakery customers while trying to drink my coffee. If you fancy the novelty of sitting in a working bakery to have your coffee then this is the place for you, my guess is try it once then come back for the bread.

The service: 2

Pleasant but not knowledgable about coffee and busy with making bread. Not much else to say. If the place is empty it'd do fine for a quick take away (red roaster gets the credit though) otherwise walk the extra five meters to Ground coffee house or turn around and walk the two minutes to the totally excellent Artisan.

OVERALL SCORE 6 out of 15