Cakes The Difference in Brighton and Hove

Lovely tea room at the back of Patcham. We go often for a simple lunch and it’s always perfect with attentive and very considerate service. My old Dad gets very well looked after.

The MOST epic cake! So well tailored to me before my travels - I cannot get over the details of the caravan and animals!! I am obsessed and was pleasantly surprised by my family with this beauty! Thank you ever so much!! X

A huge thank you to Zoe for our beautiful wedding cake! She truly is amazing, so delightful to work with. The cake was delicious and the service was absolutely flawless. Thank you. Would 100% recommend for cakes and a wonderful cooked breakfast too!

We used a cakes the difference to supply our wedding cake and were very happy with the entire experience. They met with us for a consultation and were incredibly flexible with flavours, accommodating our preferences perfectly. Their prices were reasonable, and the team was friendly and easy to work with. The cake was delicious and beautifully decorated. We highly recommend them for any special occasion!

Golden wedding Cake.Excellent and lovely

Lovely restaurant and very much enjoyed chatting with Zoe, a friendly and cute girl who supplies great scones and drinks even better than what I have tried in the National Gallery in London. By the way, sitting in front of the window admiring the great weather and the blue sky is another big gift today. Thank you and look forward to seeing you again.

Such a lovely little place, wonderful food and the staff are so friendly and attentive, will definitely be going back x

The afternoon tea was delicious and very good value! We sat in a very cute tea room and loved the relaxed atmosphere. We will be back! Thank you 🧁 ☕️

What a fantastic little gem hidden away on edge of Brighton. We enjoyed an afternoon tea and wasn't disappointed a good Varied tasty sandwiches, amble tea/coffee. The deserts were plentiful, great variety and a huge amount which we took home with us as there was so many. Also provided a savory opinion and this didn't disappoint home made cheese scones.,fsncy pastries. The staff couldn't have any more friendly, nothing was too much trouble, friendly, helpful and a great source of local knowledge Will be back avain

Very nice staff are very friendly and helpful, the cakes and food are lovely

Cakes the difference made our amazing wedding cake in September . There was great communication, and so many of our guests said how delicious it was. Fortunately it freezes well too as we were too busy on our wedding day to eat any! It was made exactly as I had asked, and delivered to our venue. The family get all their occasion cakes from here, so we will be back!

I asked for a cake for my daughters 21st,we were abroad so couldn't be with her.i asked for it to be delivered to her work place. Denise and zoes instant professionalism and friendly manner,really put my falth and confidence into cakes the difference. After a few emails,i gave them my memo of what i think my daughter would like. This afternoon as promised the cake was delivered on time and two photos sent to me. I am so happy with it,it sums my daughter up perfectly!..just wish i could have a slice!!thankyou ladys for doing a brilliant,very reasonably priced masterpiece,you two are stars xx Highly recommended

The most delicious afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones and cakes...all baked on site and so fresh. The plates and cups are beautiful and the staff are so welcoming. Came away with a box of cakes..couldn't finish everything! Cannot recommend this little tea shop more highly

The most beautiful 1st birthday cake! Tasted and looked amazing and great service :)

Had a delicious afternoon tea at this charming little tea room in Patcham The staff were so nice and welcoming, and attentive Would highly recommend Plenty of free parking which made it a more relaxing and stress free experience Well done Cakes the Difference ❤️

Good sized portions and good value for money. Staff are always friendly. Slices of cake are very large but you can always take them home to finish!

Good sized portions and good value for money. Staff are always friendly. Slices of cake are very large but you can always take them home to finish!

Superb afternoon tea. Had one in Harrods 3 days later and not a patch on Cakes The Difference food wise.

Absolutely wonderful! The food is great the staff too, it’s very pretty surroundings have been three times now can’t believe someone put a negative review! please don’t let this put you off because as you can see by the reviews and they are all positive home-made cake and quiche is excellent. 😀👏🏼😍

They did a lovely 'Birthday Tea box' for me and my mum, at short notice. Lovely finger sandwiches scones and cakes. Top notch and cheaper than M&S, where I would normally have gone. Can't go wrong.

I held my 70th birthday afternoon tea party here recently and everything was amazing. There were 20 of us and I ordered 10 sweet and 10 savoury platters which really worked well. The 3 members of staff were all so lovely and couldn't do enough for us. Thank you to everyone concerned at Cakes the Difference for making my birthday celebration so special.

Had the most amazing cake made for my husband’s 50th birthday. It looked great and tasted lovely. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the lovely ladies here, thank you, we all loved it 😊

My boyfriend managed to book an igloo to celebrate our anniversary. The location was beautiful even tho they don’t tell you when you book that you will be sharing the igloo with other people and tables which makes it impossible to have a romantic/private dinner. The starters were amazing and then we got a plate of pasta which was alright but nothing special. The stuff was nice and polite. It was a beautiful location and so grateful to have experience it but I would probably never go back again.

Nice welcome, given a good table etc. Sadly three of the five dishes ordered didn't show up. Mentioned it to a member of staff who shrugged her shoulders and went to get the bill. No apologies offered. It's a shame because up until then, we were saying how good it was and the two dishes we did recieve (fried squid and prawns) were pretty good. Would we go again?....probably but they need to sharpen up their service.

What a Gem of a place! 7 of us went here, we were all so impressed with the most beautiful fresh finger sandwiches, alternatives were offered for those who couldn’t eat smoked salmon, the fillings were a perfect mixture of all those you would expect, egg, cream cheese & cucumber, ham, smoked salmon, all so tasty in the freshest of bread. Then the cakes ! We were spoilt for choice , home made meringue, warm fruit & plain scones, with fresh cream & jam on the side, mini Victoria sandwich, butterfly cakes, mini eclairs, brownies , all delicious and so beautifully presented . If you are looking for a traditional afternoon Tea you wouldn’t be disappointed, we will definitely return, Thank you so Much.

Such a wonderful afternoon we had, there was seven of us all family, sisters cousins mums and nans , and the new addition the handsome baby Frankie just 5 weeks old . A special gathering as we don’t have much time to all get together so this was long overdue , we sat at a beautiful quirky table with tea cups and saucers , pots of tea and coffee were served , then the amazing array of sandwiches for us all to dig into, delicious.. and then the cakes arrived , all presented on 3 tier cake stands , they were outstanding and tasted amazing, it was a mad hatters tea party and we laughed, chatted, relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed two and half hours of great company and a superb afternoon tea spread , thankyou to the ladies at Cakes The Difference, so friendly and they made our family afternoon together even more special , Highly recommend everyone to organize their family afternoon tea , and enjoy a really Good catch-up , perfect ! Louise x

Prices were a bit high for what was offered.

Beautiful soup, great service and a lovely atmosphere

Ordered a birthday cake for my wife's birthday to be delivered to a local restaurant where we were having dinner. We were blown away (as were the rest of restaurant) when the waiter brought it out to us. It looked unbelievable and was huge! The 2 ladies that run the shop were so helpful and accomadating, I really can't thank them enough, the cake looked stunning and was delicious. If you need a cake to impress people, this is the place. I can't rate them highly enough, thanks again!

The Afternoon Tea is totally superb. Exquisite cakes served on a 3-tier cake stand, put tea offerings from the Ritz in the shade! I've never seen such beautiful-looking cakes, which also tasted so delicious, too. The service was really first-rate and way surpassed expectations.

Had a great experience with this place, they listened to my requests (vegan cake, chocolate and coffee flavoured) and the result was amazing! Denise was also really kind and lovely, especially when helping to make arrangements for collection to make sure I got the cake in time, after finding out there would be road closures for Pride. And the cake tasted absolutely amazing !! Thank you 😁

Last minute call for a birthday cake for my grandson - 3 hrs later it was ready! And very delicious it was too! My husband and I had lunch while we waited - a gorgeous brie and red onion chutney quiche and salad for me and a sandwich and sausage roll for my husband, again with a lovely side salad. Will definitely use again! Thank you

My daughter's Mamma Mia birthday cake far exceeded my expectations! It was a work of art and tasted absolutely delicious! The customer service was warm, friendly and efficient - everything you would hope it would be. The owner was flexible and understanding when we had to defer our cake booking due to Covid. Thank you so much! We will most definitely be returning for future celebration cakes!

Fantastic service and the best cakes in Brighton

Outstanding! Best afternoon tea we have had (including Hotel du Vin and the Grosvenor). We arrived to a warm and cheery welcome and were seated with a fabulous pot of tea. Once settled we were served a lovely selection of soft, fresh finger sandwiches. Shortly after finishing, we were presented with our cake stand with some gorgeous, flavoursome and warm scones at the top, both fruit and plain with a pot each of jam and cream. Underneath sat a plate each absolutely filled with an exciting selection of beautifully made, delicious cakes. We had pink meringue nests, chocolate gateaux cones, creamy butterfly cakes, and an exceptional orange cake that still makes me salivate when I think of it! I have an allergy to cream and I was so impressed to see that my plate looked exactly the same as my partner's, just the cream had been substituted for a dairy free product. I have never been anywhere that has done this, usually I get some sad little dry vegan cakes and a brownie while she has lavish cream filled exquisite fancies! This absolutely made it for me! Cakes The Difference is tastefully decorated and just the right balance of old style kitchen and modern functionality. Fantastic! I can't wait to tell everyone I know about it!

Fabulous food, excellent staff. Best sandwiches and cakes in the area

Thankyou so much for your wonderful cake you made for my father in laws 80th birthday!!! He was thrilled with it and it tasted amazing!! Of course we have had many birthday cakes etc from you and will continue to do so!! THANKYOU ♥️

This is a gem of a place service great really cosy and tbe cakes....oh those cakes are magnificent

Although I have been using Cakes the Difference for "Special Occasions" for a while Denise & Zoe really came up trumps when I decided at very short notice to arrange "Afternoon Tea" at home for our family to help us celebrate our Wedding Anniversary & rather than phone or email I visited & although they were already busy, I was made a cup of coffee & a bacon sandwich while we discussed what was possible, which in short was nothing less than a miracle given that I wanted a "Take Away" for 12 just 48 hours after my initial visit & at the end of what I am sure was a busy Saturday. Needless to say what I collected was of superb quality & more than enough to feed a small army. In short another triumph for Cakes the Difference.

Lovely lunch with friends. Small locally run tea rooms. The cake slices are enormous and delicious. The lunch menu items are perfect and served with a lovely salad (and dressing if desired). very friendly staff. The scones arrived warmed with generous amount of jam and cream. What's not to like

Denise and Zoe did a beautiful Baby Shower for my daughter. The Afternoon Tea was delicious and more than enough so we all took cakes home. They are so kind helpful and accommodating always. I have never had a bad experience and I visit them a lot. There is always lots to choose from on the menu and the cakes are so delicious. I can’t recommend them enough 💕

I attended a lovely afternoon tea today for a hen party today. The range of Sandwiches and cakes was amazing especially as I need a gluten free option. The atmosphere in the venue was amazing. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff. Highly recommended for either a few friends or for a big event. Thank you to everyone at Cakes the difference for a really lovely afternoon.

Ordered 40th Birthday Cake for my daughter in June...Lovely communication & friendliness. Our wishes & personal ideas were taken onboard & Zoe added a few extra little touches that were super & really appreciated. Cake was stunning to look at & delicious in taste. . Would highly recommend. Thank you so much

Love the cakes from here. Loads of flavour options. They made our wedding cakes and they were just incredible. Lovely, friendly staff and team as well. Wish they weren't so out of the way, but it keeps the temptations to a minimum :P

Great service with all the covid precautions in place, and incredible food! We had an afternoon tea and savoury afternoon tea takeaway. Strongly recommend!

Fabulous, great welcome, all COVID-19 precautions in place, and best of all fantastic food and awesome coffee

Excellent. The food is delicious. The staff are very friendly & the atmosphere is delightful.

The food, when it came, was fine. Nothing exceptional, but certainly not bad. The service was a different matter. The waitress was clearly having a bad day and doing her utmost not to engage with customers. There were only three tables being used, due to Covid restrictions, and none of the customers were ordering anything complicated because nothing complicated is on offer. It's just sandwiches, sausage rolls, cakes etc. Despite this, the wait was long. Very long. We were made to feel like we were massively inconveniencing them just by being there. Hopefully, this was an off day. It must have been, given the other good reviews. But there's nothing more likely to deter a customer from returning than making them feel completely unwelcome.

Good food friendly staff good prices

Good coffee. I often get a take away for my bus journey.

Husband ordered a Black Forest Gateau for my Birthday - wonderful, thank you so much xx

Just been to my local cafe first time since lockdown, how lovely to see Zoe and Denise and staff have worked so hard to get it up and running again!! Felt totally safe with all their ppe precautions just great to be back enjoying there lovely food again and enjoying the sunshine well done everyone😎

The afternoon tea option is just lovely! My parents & I visited today for our first venture back to a restaurant since March & it was a very enjoyable experience. We had sandwiches of our choice, as much tea as we could drink & 2 lovely scones with jam & cream. There is an option for cake also, but this was enough to fill us up. Everything was socially distanced & the staff using visors, hand sanitizers everywhere etc... We plan to go back in the near future & recommend you do the same. :)

We visited yesturday for afternoon tea ( you will need to book) it was absolutely delicious,freshly made sandwiches all beautifully presented,a selection of teas to choose from followed by the most beautiful homemade cakes. Having sampled afternoon tea at different venues...this is by far the best!

Was looking forward to visiting based on all the reviews but all three of the cakes we bought were left uneaten by the whole family - were just really dry and not that nice. Probably just got unlucky but won’t be going back in a hurry.

I took my parents & a friend for afternoon tea yesterday & it was delicious as always! We kept it simple & had a double round of finger sandwiches with fillings that we liked each, plus 2 warm scones each (with jam & cream) & unlimited tea and all for £15.00 each which is a bargain. Service was polite & friendly, parking is easy, booking advised as it's not a large place.

Visited today with a group of friends for afternoon tea. Had no idea this place even existed but will definitely be returning. Plenty of good food, attentive and friendly staff, we were made to feel very welcome. Would highly recommend.

Had a lovely afternoon here today for a friend's baby shower. The food was delicious and plentiful! We all went home with a doggie bag! Very attentive staff and they didn't hurry us.

went for afternoon tea at this cute place sandwiches and cakes were to die for. The girls were attentive and really friendly.The selection of cakes was insane we couldnt eat them all and bought some home. Well worth a visit

Lovely little tea shop!! Regularly visit, and never fails to impress, great selection of cakes! Would 10/10 recommend a visit, a really lovely atmosphere to enjoy with friends and family, as staff are super friendly and will go out of their way to make sure you have the best experience!! Will continue to visit x

What a fantastic find - reccommended to try it by friends. Service was great - staff took the trouble to stop and talk, even though they were plainly busy. The Rhubarb and Ginger cake was out of this world, a nice cold drink, and a playing field to gaze over. What more could one wish for on a hot afternoon? Some might say it is a bit out of the way at the back of Brighton, but just 5 minutes to the by-pass, and worth a little diversion. Simply a jewel in a very competitive industry

What a fantastic find - reccommended to try it by friends. Service was great - staff took the trouble to stop and talk, even though they were plainly busy. The Rhubarb and Ginger cake was out of this world, a nice cold drink, and a playing field to gaze over. What more could one wish for on a hot afternoon? Some might say it is a bit out of the way at the back of Brighton, but just 5 minutes to the by-pass, and worth a little diversion. Simply a jewel in a very competitive industry. Whoever reads this, go and try for yourself - you will not be disappointed!!!

Don’t know if they was having an off day because the reviews look good but our breakfast unfortunately was awful. Very small portions, wrong orders, all came out at different times and found it extremely overpriced. Won’t be returning

Good sized portions and good value for money. Staff are always friendly. Slices of cake are very large but you can always take them home to finish!

Just had my 60th Birthday Party and the cake that Cakes the Difference produced for the event was inspired. I gave a very brief requirement and the result was beyond expectation. Great and friendly service too. Highly recommended.

Té para 4, sándwiches frescos y un montón de tartas buena variedad de sabores bollos calientes todos horneados en la propiedad tanto té como puedas beber. Tantos pasteles que no pudimos comer, todos tuvieron que llevarse 2 cajas a casa. muy buen personal

Afternoon tea amazing value for money. Delicious sandwiches and scones. A great find in a tucked away location. Staff super friendly and they kept the tea coming.

Slightly disappointing afternoon tea after wanting to try this place for ages... sandwich’s nothing special, huge array of cakes but all very similar and slightly dry. Lovely staff although run off their feet happy to help and unlimited hot drinks with afternoon tea is very good value but I wouldn’t be having the afternoon tea again unfortunately. Might return for normal sandwiches and cakes.

Such a lovely cafe. Good food and a really personal service from the staff making me feel very welcome even with 3 children.

Had the most amazing afternoon tea here sandwiches were great and the scones and cakes were some of the best we had. Great staff very attentive highly recommend 😃😃

I’ve been to numerous places in Brighton for afternoon tea and this was by far the best! It was a traditional afternoon tea, with fine china plates, cups and saucers, as well as everything being home made.

Very nice afternoon tea here - great cakes, friendly service plus a box for any leftovers!

Tomados como un regalo por mi familia, nos las arreglamos para comer todos los deliciosos sándwiches. Sin embargo, quedamos impresionados por la cantidad y variedad de todos los pasteles, así como los bollos, mermelada y crema habituales. Nos ofrecieron todo el té que queríamos y una jarra de agua refrescante y encantadora para regarlo. Perfecto.

Competent service plus irresistible selection of cakes .

Acabo de regresar de un delicioso té de la tarde con mi novio y mis padres. Hice la reserva con antelación, por lo que recomendaría ya que estaba bastante ocupado. Una de las razones para ir fue el hecho de que ofrecen una versión sabrosa junto con una dulce. La selección en ambos fue brillante. Después de los sándwiches, comimos quiche, rollos de salchicha, quesos, langostinos y bollos de queso en el plato salado y una gran selección de pasteles para el dulce. Esto incluía merengues, brownies, un delicioso pastel de café y un caramelo salado igualmente sabroso. Ah, y no olvides los bollos de frutas con mermelada y crema coagulada. ¡Todo fue servido en porcelana y regado con abundante té! El servicio fue estupendo, con un personal muy amable. El único comentario que haría es que los bollos de queso tenían un sabor dulce, pero aún así los comimos. ¡La ventaja añadida era que podíamos llevarnos a casa cualquier sobra!

Superb afternoon tea. Had one in Harrods 3 days later and not a patch on Cakes The Difference food wise.

Staff went above and beyond to supply me with a cake at the very last minute. Cake was amazing.

Excellent food and service. Friendly, helpful staff.

Comenzamos con los sándwiches, que estaban preordenados a nuestras solicitudes de los rellenos que preferimos. . . . . Dos de nosotros no habíamos empezado con los bollos porque estábamos tan llenos. . . . Fueron encajonados con la crema / mermelada para llevar a casa.

Mi familia y yo hemos estado viniendo a Cakes The Difference por varios años desde que originalmente lo encontramos en TripAdvisor. Un muy buen descubrimiento!

Owner is extremely rude. Food is overpriced. Steer clear.

We whet there today for my mums birthday 🍰 it was lovely food .And nice people we had a lovely afternoon

came here with my friend today really poor service sat outside no menus given then asked if we knew what we wanted was told by waitress menus on the trolley bacon sandwich cold sausages in my friends sandwiches hard waited 45 mins for these then we ordered afternoon tea jam in little jars tub of cream and most small scone ever even though it said a large fruit scone very disappointed waitresses very poor needs better customer service skills and this was at 1230 my friend even had to go in to order tea and scones and to pay has no table service at 2pm all tables was booked hate to think what it would be like then very dissapointing day

Cakes the Difference is located at the Patcham terminus of the Brighton 5 and 5A buses, in other words, at the end of the line. It's no more than a bus stop but the location is very pleasant, with an open outlook to the front over a large open space and nicely laid out tables and chairs to sit outside in the sun. I was surprised to find that, despite its remote location, the cafe was buzzing. Walkers with all the kit and nordic walking sticks descended on the place as did a number of young mums with pushchairs. The specialties of the house are, unsurprisingly a selection of the most delicious looking cakes, of varying sizes, but light lunches were on offer, with salads, sandwiches, panini and more. Service was bright, prompt and very friendly and nothing seemed to be too much trouble - the owner spotted that a client looked uncomfortable in the full sun and fetched a parasol for her. As soon as clientele got up and left, the tables were cleared and cleaned ready for the steady flow of customers. Word has certainly got around and this is a lovely place to sit and relax.

Came down after hearing about it in the Argus. Very impressed. Yummy food, friendly staff, nice atmosphere. Will definitely be returning.

I took a friend for her birthday for the afternoon tea, it was....as usual...wonderful. fresh homemade sandwiches of ham, salmon, egg, cucumber and cream cheese.

We visited for my girlfriends birthday for afternoon tea, been here many times and see the afternoon tea so needed a opportunity to try, and did not disappoint! Had the usual warm welcome cakes the difference is known for and when the food arrived were explained what we had, and certainly lived up to expectations, one of the best afternoon teas I’ve had, and even compared to some of the London hotels, it’s so fresh and made with time and care you cannot find better in Brighton for sure!

Very clean and lovely place. Lovely breakfast and tea. So much variety of food and drink. If you love cakes it’s a must. They made my wife’s 40th birthday cake as well.

Visited for afternoon tea with my mother in law sister and baby girl. Absolutely amazing. Warm scones fresh out of the oven. Beautiful & delicious cakes. Staff were lovely and nothing seemed like too much trouble. Didn’t even mind when my baby girl made a big mess of the table cloth. Will certainly be returning!

We popped in here for lunch for a little treat for my partner’s mum.

Just wanted to say a big Thank you for making such an amazing cake for my birthday.

My 2nd visit within four weeks for a friends Birthday. We had an Afternoon Tea, which I have to say again was excellent.

Just returned from the most amazing afternoon tea at “cakes the difference”! I cannot recommend this place enough, it’s so cosy and has great decor throughout. We had the Alice in Wonderlands Afternoon tea with 4 adults and 3 children (5,6&10) and all enjoyed it. The service was brilliant and the food was fantastic! A great selection of sandwiches and then more cakes than you can imagine. We even took 2 boxes back with us. So much choice and all beautifully made!

Well where do I start, from the time I walked into the shop all the staff were very helpful and nothing was to much trouble, I ordered a cake and cupcakes for my event, when I picked it up Zoe and staff were very nice and offered cakes stands to use which made the cakes look even better the cake was just what I had ordered and looked brilliant,

This is an amazing place run by the owner who has her bakery attached to the tea room. She bakes every single thing on site. Old fashioned beautiful china and table cloths, lovely silver tea and coffee pots and even bone handled silver cutlery, just like going back to the fifties. Excellent service too and the owner came out in her flour covered apron to say hello to us. There was so much food: finger sandwiches, scones and a huge selection of cakes. Boxes were provided so we could take the remaining cakes home. It was all delicious. All of the staff are very friendly and courteous and we felt like we were sitting in Grandmas front room. This is a wonderful place to spend a few hours with friends.

My wife did a surprise party , with a delicious birthday cake , wonderful design and taste to match lemon drizzle sponge . Could not believe the price. Go on pay the extra ,you will defiantly appreciate the difference.

What a fantastic afternoon we all had. The Tea was wonderfully presented and tasted amazing.

Popped in to grab a takeaway selection of cake, however nothing much left to buy!! I bought the last 3 pieces of white chocolate and raspberry gateau, although I struggled to cut it into two!! So an expensive treat for my parents, also had the last fruit scone at 12.30 !!! Asked if they were fresh today as a baker and confectioner by trade I know the difference,I was told yes,as hard as rock no onset you offer to warm them through. Been a while since I came in, I’m not sure il be rushing back!

Delightfully quirky little spot for proper afternoon tea - taking cakes to an art form. As gorgeous to look at as they are to eat.

Had a brilliant family afternoon tea here...one of the best we have experienced anywhere. We chose to have one sweet and one savoury tier and both were amazing. Everything seems very fresh, individually made and the sweet tier in particular...wow! Great variety and not one thing that wasn't delicious. Beautiful presentation of everything, along with lovely comfy Beatrix Potter chairs and cute old fashioned crockery. This place is a must for afternoon tea or just a delicious lunch and cake, off the beaten track but well worth it.