Gourmet Toasties

 Life of Grey Gourmet Toasties in Brighton

 @lifeofgrey20

Tree Huggers

 Eye catching and attractive wooden furniture at Foodilic in Brighton.

Small Batch, Big Humour

Small Batch Coffee in Brighton

plus some toilet humour

Retro Kit

 

Utility is a fabulous shop in Brighton with everything from second-hand bakelite handle knives to those lovely enamel dishes our mums used.  Their on-line shop is at http://www.utilitygreatbritain.co.uk/shop

Unique to Brighton?

Redroaster may still be Brighton-based but just see what has happened to  Taylor Street Baristas http://www.taylor-st.com/index.html who are now taking the City of London (and Canary Wharf) by storm.  Interesting eats.

Smiling by the Sea

Humour and quirkiness abound in Brighton's cafes - Cafe Tic Toc has this quote from Napolean Bonaparte above the door plus cutlery in a lego box and odd cloakroom message  .... oh, yes and good cakes.

Naked, Secret & On-line

Naked Tea & Coffee are tucked away in Brighton's Lanes and perhaps we know why they remain Brighton's best-kept secret.  No web page and just a brief mention on Facebook.

Contrast their lack of web and social media presence with Brighton's The Manor cafe http://themanorbrighton.co.uk/ and their popular on-line High Tea offer and award-winning vegetarian cafe Idyea's daily menus on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Iydea/130698363025

If you are not using social media yet, give it a go.  We are, and as this blog demonstrates, it can grow fast.  It's free, fun and gets you noticed in a mightily competitive marketplace.

Simple Signage

Neat signage at Cafe Coho, Brighton using a roll of brown paper hanging from the wall.  Breakfast, cakes and coffee all good too.

Keeping It Simple

Coffee@33 in Brighton shows simple presentation works - no expensive counters, chiller cabinets or fancy stainless steel and glass productions here.

Cupcakery

 

Angel Food Bakery is located in Brighton's Lanes and truly deserves its cupcakery designation.

Giant cupcakes at £21.95, Baby cupcakes, Gluten-free cupcakes and every sort of cupcake course and class.

Just wait until you see tomorrow's blog and compare!

Kickarse Coffee & Life Changing Cake

Brighton has a superb range of cafes and, in my humble opinion, takes clear second place after London.

They have their own excellent Brighton & Hove Independent Cafe Guide (A.J. Evans & L.V.Price - Vespertine Press 2011) and many Brighton brands have made their way to London - Bill's Produce Store and Taylor St. Baristas to name two.

Marwood sets the tone and even the library has a local cafe operation - Temptation - amongst the books.  New places are opening all the time, recession or no, - watch out for the Small Batch Coffee Company in Jubilee Street and The Blackbird Tea Rooms in Ship Street.  Many more blog entries to come from this part of the world and I haven't checked out Hove as yet.

The whole street and shop scene is great.  Chilli lovers should check out Pete's

Going Strong Since 1941

The Pavilion Gardens Cafe is a park cafe in central Brighton and has been in family ownership since 1941.  They have even published a book 'Teatime Tales' about themselves.  Smartly dressed staff, good cakes and scones - they clearly intend to be around for their centenary.

More Recipease Please

Recipease in Brighton is a Jamie Oliver production and very good too (save for the fact they don't have wi-fi).  The cafe has great pastries and sandwiches, beautifully presented.  Sad they only have two outlets - one in Brighton and one in London - and I can only presume they are not as profitable as the fast expanding Jamies Italian concept.

Best of Brighton

Thorne's Foods shop and upstairs cafe/restaurant has just opened in Brighton tucked away in North Laines.  Great breakfast, delicious pastries and quirky table setting and bill in a pot.