Hove Park Cafe in Brighton and Hove

Shockingly slow service. Ordered a coffee and it took 10 minutes - one coffee! Were they roasting the beans?! Have been before it was the same story. Other customers were complaining due to the slow service. It wasn't even that busy. Would be a nightmare at any sort of peak time. Hopefully it will become a Costa so there's less chance of dying of thirst.

Went today , ordered flat white tea and ham and cheese croissant . Asked if I wanted it hot so said yes. Collected tea and coffee had finished them but still no croissant so my partner went into ask .they said I hadn't ordered that but had ordered cheese and tomato sand such!!!! He said no and came out asked me so I went in and the girl said she heard me say I wanted cheese and tomato sandwich and got quite shirty when I said no. I know what I ordered as I do not eat tomatoes! We all make mistakes but no apology but she just said ' I know what I heard' so basically calling me a liar ! Fantastic location but they are always so slow and just cannot seem to get their act together also paying in cash seems to be a bit of an issue too .shame really

On Saturday 28th November, myself and my friend went for a coffee at Hove Park Cafe. My friend ordered 2 cappuccino’s but we were given the wrong drinks so I went back in and politely asked if I’d been given the wrong order. The girl (we now know as Lola) snapped at me that my friend had ordered americano’s and not Cappuccino’s so I said I’d double check with my friend which I did and then asked Lola if we could re order (regardless of who had misheard/got it wrong). I knew instantly that this was going to cause a problem by her sharp, unfriendly reaction & she said she’d have to refund the money back to my friend’s card then we’d have to go back inside and re order and pay again. I thought this was a strange & long winded way of rectifying it so we did as she said and after ignoring my friend at the counter for 10 minutes, Lola eventually told her to re queue and order again. By now, we’d been there over 20 mins. My friend asked why she had to queue and restart the order but she didn’t reply, just held the card machine out for her to pay again. A good 10 mins later, a young lad (we now know as Alex) came out with 2 coffees. We thought he was going to apologise for the inconvenience and wait but instead he launched into a huge rant in front of all the customers on the balcony that we were in the wrong & how lucky we were to get a refund!! He continually kept repeating himself, getting louder & angrier then said my friend had ordered americano’s through him which my friend said she’d ordered through his colleague Lola, he back tracked & said well that’s what Lola had told him to put through the till so it was a bare faced lie heard by all the customers who were now quiet and stunned. I said how dare he shout at us like this and not come to our table to quietly discuss what had happened and at least try and rectify the awkward situation. He then stormed back in to the cafe. We were sat in silent stunned along with the other customers who were now asking if we are ok and what appalling and aggressive behaviour he just displayed. We were upset and stunned. I walked back in to ask for their names and again he started shouting loudly my name is Alex……. call my manager/the owner, go ahead, go ahead!!! He’d obviously lost his temper and hadn’t calmed down. The 4 team members including him stood there intimidating and watched as he humiliated me. I turned and walked away mortified. I have worked in Customer Services for over 30 years and I have never witnessed or experienced such rude, aggressive, unprofessional, unnecessary behaviour. This incident was embarrassing and upsetting & I sincerely hope this is addressed

Came on a Saturday , it was busy as usual , lots of staff everywhere, but no idea what each other is doing ! Long queue out the door, people losing patience! girl on the till was taking orders and serving as well!! I stood for at least 15 mins waiting for her to cut cake and multi task a large order! Total disorganisation , and after all the waiting my order was wrong!! people will always come here! The food and coffee is great ! But maybe try make the experience more enjoyable!

4 drinks came to £12 what a rip of wouldn’t recommend this cafe. Food is over priced and not what the public want.

Great location, however that’s where it ended!! Staff always seem put out! Never over friendly , 2 coffees , as usual luke warm! Great choice of food but very expensive! £4.50 for a small slice of pizza! Big cake in the cabinet look lovely but the slice we paid for would have fed a small child! Won’t rush back!

Just had the best pastrami sandwich and cortado here, served by the loveliest people. Really great spot for a morning coffee and snack. Highly recommended!

I live nearby and use this cafe often. Don’t listen to the naysayers. The food is tasty, coffee excellent and service with a smile. Nothing nicer to sit outside on a sunny day with a coffee and a fresh pastry. Caters well for kids too.

This is such a bad plce and they can t even make coffee. Two skimmed milk flat whites turned into semi skimmed luke warm latttes , complained and had to buy a cup of tea instead as not very helpful. Blaring music coming from kitchen so doesnt make for a chilled coffee in the park.

I visited this cafe today. It was early at not too busy. I requested toast and a coffee. They could do toast with a breakfast but not on it’s own. I thought this practice died out years ago. On my previous visit they told a mum that they could not substitute fillings in a breakfast bap. The child had an allergy to one of the fillings. The staff here never go out of their way to help. It will be my last visit here as I pass the cafe everyday and used to visit regularly.

Visited this morning. Whilst I appreciate working in this environment during a pandemic must be frustrating & there are probably customers that do some silly things, but there is a female member of staff that works in the cafe that is particularly snappy (on a bit of a rules power trip maybe?!) This will be the 3rd occasion I have witnessed her snapping at customers that really aren't doing anything wrong & following guidelines. Today I was shouted at "stand there & wait for your coffee" I hadn't moved & felt like a naughty child! Also the ice cream freezer is in a ridiculous place which interferes with the one way system! Such a shame as the rest of the staff are lovely & the food is wonderful but I'm inclined to avoid now in fear of being told off!

Bought 2 coffees and 2 cakes. Coffee was mediocre at best, cake okay but expensive. Loud music so difficult for the staff to hear and not what you want in a cafe and whilst not rude they were not exactly helpful or friendly.

Lovely little cafe with some tasty sweet treats and other stuff for lunch. Always made to feel welcome. Thank you.

I used to go in here 2 or 3 times a week when I worked in the vicinity, less so now, but have always found it a very pleasurable and relaxing experience. There are always lots of food choices, with options for vegan, gluten free diets and I have always found the staff to be extremely friendly and helpful and must say I am surprised at some of the other reviews and comments.

Called into the cafe several times, on the whole everything’s been ok, today however I ordered a ham sandwich on brown young guy brought it to us, with another order for someone else. Service was quick. On his return I asked him if the bread could be buttered.... as only one side was very lightly buttered, apparently this is code of practice!! So I won’t be going again two slices of dry brown bread a a piece of packet ham slapped in the middle does not warrant a sandwich to me, Give this a wide berth

Cosy friendly easy going cafe with wide range of cakes and sandwiches made on the premises. Dog friendly, child friendly, please note the toilets are housed in a separate building. The coffee is good.

Fui segundo en una lista de lo que se construyó para ser 10 personas detrás de mí. ¡Tres chicas simplemente charlando detrás del mostrador ni una sola vez saludando a ningún cliente mientras recibía los pedidos o le agradecían nada al tomar nuestro dinero! Solo conversando entre nosotros con su espalda, ni siquiera una leve sonrisa de ninguno de ellos. Todos los clientes sentían lo mismo mirándose de un lado a otro, rodando los ojos, etc. Casi nada de comida quedaba y solo eran 12. ¡30 de domingo! Terrible servicio al cliente Me temo que es una pena ver. El personal lo hizo tener un mal ambiente real.

Terrible. Waited for ages. My smashed avocado and poached eggs on toast finally arrived as a couple of slices of avocado on some sort of rock hard 1mm dry 'toast'..couldn't even cut it. When asking them if they could re do it and provide some actual toast they took it away, then moments later brought it back again, throwing the £6 onto the table..with no word or explanation. Gave it to the dog and went without. Such a shame. Won't be eating there again.

park refreshment cafe.....lots of good cakes, coffee tea and soft drinks. heard it was being refurbished next year...hope it does not lose its rustic feel...but the toilets definitely need sprucing up.

Llevé a mi hijo a la cafetería para comprar un par de chocolates calientes como un obsequio que pedimos y decidimos tener un pedazo de pastel cada uno. El personal era bastante agradable y los pasteles parecían deliciosos. La señora que cortó el pastel con cuidado, lo puso en un plato y luego apretó unos cuantos pedacitos con sus dedos. Pensé que esto era un poco antihigiénico, pero la lógica me hizo pensar que seguramente tenía las manos limpias. El chocolate caliente era muy muy espumoso, aproximadamente el 50% de la bebida total y la leche real en el fondo no estaba muy caliente. Los bebimos muy rápido cuando normalmente tienes que tomarte tu tiempo, ya que en otros lugares el chocolate caliente está muy caliente. Tuvimos pastel de zanahoria y un pastel de naranja tipo jaffa. Estaban bien, pero no en casa. He tenido estos mismos pasteles de otras cafeterías y se producen en masa. Sabroso, pero no vale la pena el precio de 3 por porción (porción pequeña) El lugar podría renovarse y hay mucha basura por ahí. Era un regalo costoso y, en realidad, no era tanto para ser honesto. No volveremos a comer aquí, lo cual es una pena, ya que estamos en el parque todo el tiempo.

Este es un lugar tan encantador donde con eso es donde termina. La música a menudo también carga, no puedes escuchar al personal y tener una conversación razonable. Cappachino es a menudo una decepción, así que lo retiramos. Un camarero se alejó cuando entré, se negó a servirme, no muy profesional ni acogedor. El propietario es una dama encantadora pero no a menudo allí.

Vasos de plástico para jugos frescos (y a su crédito sabrosos), rodajas de aguacate (no rotas, adornadas o presentadas con ningún estilo culinario) con huevos escalfados poco cocidos y más basura alrededor de las mesas que la configuración de su mesa de camping en la parte superior local. Tanto potencial con un menú bien escrito, excelente ubicación y edificio principal rústico, pero decepcionado por la presentación de comida de la cantina del hospital, el personal miserable y una clara indiferencia por cualquier estándar estético. Nunca volvería, excepto si está reseco y mutilado

You can expect good food and a friendly welcome. Outdoor seating available as well. Free on road parking available close by.

Este café se encuentra en una zona preciosa, con muchas personas encantadoras que frecuentan Hove Park a quienes les gusta tomar un café cada cierto tiempo. ¿Cómo diablos se salgan con la suya? ? ¡Todos son muy groseros! ! He estado allí varias veces, con la esperanza de que este sea el momento en que sonrían y sean amables. Realmente no creo que sepan cómo hacer esto. Mi madre entró hoy mientras esperaba afuera. El tipo detrás de la caja aparentemente la miró con odio hasta que ella ordenó, le arrojó el té y luego pagó. Mi madre no sabía dónde estaba la leche, y cuando ella le preguntó, él solo señaló, una vez más sin siquiera pronunciar una palabra. Realmente no se necesita mucho para sonreír y hablar. ¡POR FAVOR CLICARSE! ! ! Yendo hacia adelante, ¡recibiré mi café de Waitress y trataré a los niños con helados en lugar de los pasteles de calidad inferior que tienen! !

Lovely spot, but slow with simple food and pricey maybe take picnic. Coffee had loads of grouts to so not impressed could be great as got a good vib

I love Hove Park! It’s one of the best parks in the area. As a result I generally pop into this cafe.. the staff are consistently miserable for some strange reason. On the last visit a few days ago the male member of staff was sneezing and sniffing all over the place as he was making my drink! I should have handed back my coffee there and then! I didn’t, and now I seem to have picked up his cold! How delightful!

Took half an hour to get a coffee. Only 4 people in queue. Not cheap and not great. Take a flask and avoid the wait.

Visited for the first time and after waiting twenty minutes in the queue our order was taken by staff with glum and tired looks on their faces. Cafe was packed and I remember thinking that the management were complacent as there was no element of 'pleasing' the customer to be seen. I waited for our order, took it outside and realised that I hadn't been charged. I went back in and either had to queue again or butt in and explain. I decided on the latter and faced a man on the other side of the counter who looked decidedly irritated. I quickly explained my food would be cold if I queued but I hadn't been asked to pay, at which point my money was taken off me and not a word said. How rude! He was lucky I was so honest. They will lose customers if they can't raise a smile.

Visitaremos el parque de café muy regularmente; el servicio es siempre eficaz, aunque las caras cambian a menudo. Un poco más de interacción de algunos empleados mejoraría las cosas, pero las ofrendas son variados y bien preparados; tartas caseras y un casi ilimitadas combinación de sándwiches y aperitivos; también un buen desayuno. Algunos de los equipos es un poco antiguo, pero el sitio se siente hogareño y la selección de música es bastante buena, incluso si un poco demasiado ruidoso a veces. Un fantástico entorno. . . . . . . . . . . debería estar haciendo un fortuna! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Asumo que es la mujer que lo posee?

Rally han hecho un esfuerzo con la comida interesante ensaladas y sandwiches, pasteles eran estupendos, buen ambiente, almorzamos y luego al parque infantil con los niños y volvimos para el chocolate caliente y pastel. La música era bastante ruidoso - agradable poco Radiohead - así que nos retiramos a la pequeña como el snug micro niños encontré un poco ruidoso. Hizo una excursión muy buenos con los niños. . Volveremos pronto..

I visited this morning for breakfast when they opened at 9.30am. They need to open earlier. People were queueing out the door once they had unlocked. As per previous reviews the staff were very unfriendly. Didn't smile and in fact the girl serving was constantly scowling and frowning. Sauce! -tomato and brown sauce had to be shared -2 bottles between 20 or so tables! Poached eggs were cold and avocado not mashed. Just left in chunks. They cafe is done out so beautifully it's a real shame they can't get their act together.

Visité este café recientemente, y la actitud del personal, me pareció muy desagradable. Me cobraron por un pequeño café y hielo piruletas. Me preguntó si tenía tres veces el precio cobrado a la derecha, y me dijeron que sí que es justo 5 libras. 10 Yo pensé que era un montón de dinero teniendo en cuenta el hielo era £1. lolly 80 y el café de £2. 30. Finalmente la señora nos dimos cuenta de su error, y prácticamente de piedra mi cambio en mí y dijo error! No siento que nunca volveremos. Ella me hizo sentir como si yo fuera el mal

Poco de cola probablemente porque la comida es tan buena y sabrosa. Estupendo para la familia, perros bienvenido en el plomo, cuenta que en el parque sería un poco de error no perros. Personal agradable trabajando muy duro para reducir las colas. Sin duda merece la pena una visita.

Que visite muchas veces durante el verano, ya que está situado justo al lado de las canchas de tenis, es relativamente seguro para los niños, con cierre de puertas a ellos mantener un poco más seguros, aseos muy básicas están en otro edificio cercano. El...

Visited the cafe last weekend when down to see family had a nice bit of frittata and salad. One recipe...

Tuve una increíble huevos revueltos por sólo 3. 50 con tostadas mantequilla adecuada y agradable. ponen música muy buena y las fotos que se muestran son dignas de preciosa cafetería

Useless, asked for a toasted Ham & Cheese sandwich at 1:45 pm and was told that the kitchen was closed. The coffee was expensive as well.

I have been here many a time and enjoyed fresh sandwiches especially smoked salmon and cream cheese. It was always freshly prepared to order came with a bit of salad and crisps. Today the sandwiches are in cling film and do not come with anything. I was told that this was to speed up the service but judging by the queue it's not working.I really don't mind waiting a bit for a freshly made sandwich. If I want a wrapped sandwich I'll go to sainsburys It's sad to see a place go downhill so much. Will not be rushing back.

Gone are the wonderful fresh made to order sandwiches...i was told a new system was in place to speed up service?...i stood for ages behind 3 6 foot men that wanted to check the price of everything before ordering ...it certainly hadn't sped up order timeSandwiches are now made and stored in the chiller...huge great bap rolls with no fillingI am really sad to say we used to always look forward to going and having lunch...We will not be back and wouldn't recommend

The breakfast we had here was really lovely, all fresh home cooked food. The staff were all very helpful and the food came out quite quickly.

Visited Hove Park yesterday with the family and decided to have a cuppa which we took back to where we were sitting it the park. The quality was very good and also the quantiy for a good price.Recommended

Great choice of breakfast, lunch and be beverages . Dog.and.family.friendly ,lovely.staff, lots.of seating, lovely.staff.

Doesn't open until 9.30am, should be 8 or 8.30. Attitude of staff is appalling and hot drinks are low quality. Needs new management and better staff, better drinks choice, better prices. It's very overpriced. We won't be back and we used to go several times a week . It's been going downhill for some time and is now right at the bottom of that hill. Needs a total overhaul in every way.

Visited Hove Park and decided to try the cafe and we were not disappointed. Yes it was busy but the queue moved quickly and the staff were very friendly. The sandwiches were delicious and the cakes and coffee yummy. We will definitely return.

At last people that know how to serve good fresh food & quality coffee. A lovely little haven after a walk round the park. Opens at 9.30am & 10am weekends with really happy helpful staff.

We visit hove park regularly and often take a picnic however having eaten st hove park cafe I think it's prob better to have their food! It's all so healthy with meat, veggie, gluten free and even vegan options! Everything is fresh and delicious tasting and looking. The coffee is proper barrister quality (essential for hoveittes!) An example :Today our sandwichs were amazing value a bacon and 2!egg sandwich on quality brown bread just £4 and my avacardo and 2poached egg on sourdough £4. The first time they forgot to put the boys eggs in ! So they quickly (less than 5mins) put them in and gave us two comp drinks! Amazing service xxx we weren't even complaint because everything was delicious X well done hove park cafe you rock!

This is almost a hidden gem in the middle of Hove Park. Were it not for the sign posts around the park perimeter you might miss it and that would be a shame.This is not just a tea/coffee café - it has an excellent range of cooked meals ans snacks and some amazing cakes and biscuits.For those that don`t know Hove Park has one of the best children`s play grounds for all ages - climbing frame, junior zip wire, swings (unusual ones too) so once you have exhausted the kids in the playground chill out at the café with a coffee and cake!

What a shame, lovely cottage style building in the beautiful Hove Park. However, step inside and be greeted with dark, drab surroundings and indifferent staff. We stopped on a Spring Sunday afternoon for tea and cake, nice enough, but no thought or care. Ridiculous queue, yet not busy at all, complete disorganisation and lack of acknowledgement from miserable looking staff. Place also needs a good scrub inside and out. Seems a wasted opportunity, and no wonder it was half empty on a busy afternoon in the park.

We've been coming here for a few weeks as it is close to our allotment and to Pets at Home so a half way house when we want to grab a lunch after gardening, some pet supplies and to excercise the dog. And it is popular with other dog walkers. And plenty of children walkers too. The coffee isn't bad and we've had sandwiches a few times which have been good and more substantial and tastier than we normally find at park cafes. It's always busy on a dry sunny weekend given it is near the play area and the tennis courts. The queue can be a bit long so be prepared to wait. But the food comes soon after. Staff aren't overly chatty but they are usually run off their feet from what I can see. There are a few tables under cover on the verandah if it is wet but no seats inside. Definitely better than the cafes at Preston Park or Dyke Road Park.

just found this place sunday {easter} very busy caf......i had a lovely time with my kids and my wife .....great service and possibly the best coffe i try in brighton.....my wife she is very into this coffee buzzing and she told me the coffe is very testy and well made,,,,we live in kemp town in brighton no far from there . see u sunday ,,,,,

Decided to pop in when walking the dog. Thought it looked nice. Service is awful unless you are regular then you get hello etc. If not, a grunt is merely given. Coffee not good and overpriced too. Never tried the food. Only give it one star because i can't give any less.

I used to sit here as a child mum would have tea, i would have an ice cream.Good to see it still there not quite as i remembered but good.Thank you for making me remember. Staff were very friendly will definately return, on a sunnier day

Nice place. Disappointed to see a racist minstrel style statue behind the counter... Doesn't fill me with the urge to return

A cafe which serves the users of Hove Park: children and parents, dog walkers, joggers, exercisers and walkers. The cafe can get busy - so expect a queue at busy times - but if you are in a rush, why are you in the park anyway? The staff are all friendly and provide good service; the food is good, reasonably priced, and there's an extensive range of hot & cold drinks.My wife, our dog and I use the cafe regularly, and we look forward to dropping in.

Very friendly (unlike some of their customers that I have overheard), the specials board food is excellent. Dog and child friendly. I would say to some reviewers, it's a cafe, not a restaurant. When the Italian girl and Czech chap are cooking its fantastic. I've noticed that it also seems to take care of a lot of people that other cafes barely welcome - those with disabilities etc. I appreciate some of the more challenging points made, but the staff have always been lovely when I'm in there. Maybe it's because I smile at them. More people should try it.......(smiling that is).

My partner and I have recently been here for breakfast. As they advertise on their website they have a nice selection of hot/cold sandwiches and hot breakfast plates.It was a nice sunny week day around noon, probably that was why the place was packed with people. Mostly with people with dogs or babies. Clearly the cafe was understaffed, because they were not able to serve everyone in a timely manner, causing a massive queue. Only the waitress was very quick at doing her job - a fact that we have noticed when our coffees suddenly disappeared before we have even finished them! Fortunately they were kind enough to replace the coffees when we told them about this.Other than that, the prices on their board were apparently not right. Also they did not have all of the menu as they advertise. All in all they have a very nice location in Hove park, and obviously it is very convenient for the people with dogs or babies to have a break and a cup coffee after a stroll in the park. However do not expect great food or good service.

Lovely food, great value and the kids were treated brilliantly by the staff. I use the cafe regularly and can't understand some of the other reviews. This is a fantastic park cafe. The staff are always helpful, the food is as good if not better than many of the restaurants in town and at very reasonable prices.

Visited on a very wet afternoon. Ordered a hot chocolate which sadly was quite watery and luke warm. Hot chocolate needs to be HOT. While not rude, the staff seemed a little disinterested in serving & had absolutely no desire to communicate with you, bar telling you the price of the drink. The seating area away from the main serving area was quite charming, if a little cosy. The smell of the hot food served to other customers though made my stomach churn and made me decide not to eat there.

Lovely looking place from the outside, inside is a bit dreary.Food is very average and expensive.Only good for an ice cream.

There are many seats outside with a lovely view of the sea as you are right on the seafront. Service is good with a welcoming smile. Cappucinos were very nice. Sat here waiting for the Pride Parade to start and all the floats were along here so had a good view of the parade before it even started.

I went here with my wife,step son and two of my step sons school friends. My wife and I just had a coffee and the boys all had an ice cream. The coffee was ok (not strong enough for me) I asked for an americano with a splash of milk. It really wasn't that great,my wife enjoyed hers though.The boys enjoyed their ice creams (at £2.20 a pop a bit pricy if you ask me). I'm not really in a rush to return.

Appalling experience, while the atmosphere and surrounding at first look appealing the food is of an extremely low standard, my partners cheese and onion pasty was mouldy!! and my sausage roll tasted like it had been in the cabinet for weeks! To add to this the choice available was highly limited and the prices are a extortionate for a small cafe and what you receive. I would not recommend coming here.

The food is good but incredibly expensive for a little local park café. The staff can be VERY surly and not at all friendly. It's ok for a tea or coffee. Prices for those are pretty average. Excellent brekkie e.g. scrambled eggs. , but make sure you've got plenty cash on you. Nice cakes too.

After 5 milk drinks (coffee and milkshakes) the whole family vometing violently. Managed a call to the very hairy manager with dredlocks to tell him and suggest milk be changed, he accused me of lying and hung up. Eat and drink at your peril!

...though a bit expensive for a cafe. The food is of good quality and all responsibly sourced however. Also their loyalty card scheme is quite stingy; 1 stamp per purchase, so even if you buy 4 drinks you only get 1 stamp.

We had a great morning in the beautiful park and were going to only have a drink, but got tempted by the quiche. Really tasty and the staff were very helpful and friendly, a definite thumbs up for a very good excuse for a morning in the park.

I visit this wonderful little cafe most Saturday mornings after running parkrun which is held in the park. Despite there being 450+ people running there as well as numerous spectators and other park users all wanting coffee the friendly staff are very efficient and get everyone served quickly.I've not had a full meal here but they do have an excellent selection of cakes for that post run treat.

Was awful, milk in my milkshake was out of date and over priced. Chips were cold and tasted horrid, ketchup bottle at the top was dirty, the person I ordered my food from was moody and unfriendly and got my order wrong

I have two boys who are very enthusiastic shall we say !!! We regularly come to visit the park and maybe ride bikes or scooters , play cricket or just take time out for a walk ....... The cafe is always the highlight of our visit ..... Wonderful coffees with soya milk available and yummy cakes , some with a gluten free option ....... My boys enjoy sausage rolls or the children's lunches and always an ice cream ! ...... The service is fantastic and all of the staff are friendly and helpful - nothing is ever too much trouble - ever !!!! We will return as usual at the weekend and hopefully over half term as well ! Weather no object , we will have extra layers on !

Lovely quiche, chips and salad. The chips were undercooked and had to go back but I was met with a genuine sorry so I'm still giving it 5 stars. soya latte was lush!

Food is okay - but the service is chaotic. Considering how long it's been running, you'd expect them to know what they're doing. Tight fisted 'loyalty' scheme on the hot drinks too...One stamp per person paying, rather than how many coffees you buy. :-/

Sometimes it’s nice to sit at a cafe in the sun when you visit the park with the children and one such place you can do this is Hove Park Cafe.Set in the middle of Hove Park, East Sussex. The Hove Park Cafe is an old cottage style building which is surrounded by small metal fences. It also has a toilet nearby, a garden with some basic play equipment to keep small children occupied and outdoor seating, which is great for a nice sunny day. This amenities make it a great place to have a quiet sit down, although you’ll pay slightly over the odds for the privilege.HovePC1Heading into the cafe you are greeted with a selection of salad, sausage rolls and cakes. On this visit we were only stopping for a cup of tea, while my son had a slice of rocky road cake and a chocolate milkshake. For a diet coke, slice of cake and a tea we paid just under £8, which seems a little excessive. Not much can go wrong with tea or milkshake of course, but the cake itself was rather stale, which I was expecting considering all of the other cakes on display didn’t look particularly appealing.On the positive side, the staff seemed happy and friendly enough, while the tables seemed to be cleared on a regular occasion. Of course it’s hard to judge a cafe on a stale piece of cake and an expensive cup of tea, but we had a nice enough time sitting in the sun and having a chat, while our son played on the equipment.Overall, I’d definitely say there is room for improvement on the prices and the quality of the cakes on offer, but if you’re in the area and need somewhere to refuel then Hove Cafe offers a passable experience.

I regularly visit this cafe and I have to say it is probably one of the nicest in town. They make a simple sandwich and any dish, look and taste like a gourmet meal. The home made quiche is the best I have ever tasted, their salads are so tasty and would quite happily make me turn vegetarian. Their stuffed aubergines are amazing together with the rest of the food they produce. The coffee is also very nice indeed (love the artistic finish on top). I could quite happily eat and drink there every single day. The cafe is a busy place to the point where sometimes the queue goes out into the park. The people seem to wait patiently and who can blame them as they know once they get to the counter and order their food it is definitely worth waiting for.Lovely staff and they always have a smile for you.

Our kids have been having their birthday parties at Hove Park Cafe each year for several years. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Carla makes the space completely magical - outside under the trees if the weather is fine; inside if the weather is dreary. Carla takes care of every detail as if it were for her own children. The children can race around in the space outside the cafe, marked off with bunting; then stop for birthday tea, all beautifully decorated and personalised. Yummy food, balloons etc etc Brighton's best kept secret. Grown-ups and wedding parties also catered for!

Every time we come back to Brighton we make the trip to Hove Park Cafe, in it's idyllic Hove Park location.The coffee and the food are great whether you're really hungry or just want a snack. Also the staff are really cool and the atmosphere is very chilled and laid back, perfect for a late brunch.

I love this hove park cafe and them stuff to always with a smile even in the busy day as last Sunday ..... I wish will be a sunny also this week end eat the fantastic food the do .... Come sun come out...

After constant moaning to friends about the lack of decent cafés in Brighton to eat I stumbled across this little gem , I wanted to take my family for a decent lunch and was completely shocked at how delicious the food was at this cafe , we all shared some quiche which was homemade and the best I've ever eaten ! To then have the most delightful home made pulled pork sandwich placed infront of me with perfectly seasoned fries and delicious side salad, the owner or possibly manager was extremely warm and a gracious host and even bought my little nephew a complimentary slice of home made carrot which I managed to nab a fork of , a nice way to finish off a surprisingly good lunch. :) thanks guys I'll be back

I was recently assured that this cafe would be perfect for a leisurely weekend brunch, and I was not disappointed! The staff were very warm and helpful, and did not make us feel uncomfortable when we had a couple of specific requests for our order - which was lovely. The atmosphere was very jovial, with plenty of families enjoying themselves. Despite being busy, we weren't kept waiting too long for our food. The breakfast itself was not too greasy, which may not be to everyones taste, but pleased me. A couple of the bagels looked equally tasty, and could be on the cards upon my return. The cafe is situated in a lovely part of the park and we happily relaxed for some time once we had finished our food.This was a lovely spot to spend a spring morning, and I don't think it will be long before me and my family return.

After just finishing 5 grueling sets of tennis, I stumbled across this cafe, rammed on a randomly sunny Sunday in early March.The staff were really friendly, and clearly over competent in their coffee decorating skills.I enjoyed what seemed the days special- a pulled pork BBQ bap, trice fried fries and a beautifully garnished, heavy on the dressing (my preference) three bean salad, fresh and yet simple, clearly good produce, treated well. Such a nice change to the normal floppy ham sandwiches and ready salted walkers I normally have to settle with after playing sport elsewhere.A freshly squeezed OJ washed this down, slightly slow in the squeezing to be honest, but then again, i didn't order a Capri-Sun, I will definatley be going back soon, it might even be my new tennis home-ground, what with Wimbledon round the corner and that.

What a surprise to find a cafe where the staff go out of their way to be so friendly and accommodating. My daughter cut her leg playing in the park and not only did they help attend to her injury but gave her a free drink to calm her nerves. When we returned the cafe was busy but we got served quickly and the food was delicious. Try the Greek Lunch - it is lovely.Neil

Every time I go to this cafe I am appalled at the lack of service. Reading through these reviews and speaking to friends it seems as though many feel the same. However, you get the impression the owner and staff simply do not care. They act as though its all just a bit too much effort and an inconvenience. This cafe has so much potentially and its such a shame to see it run the way it is. If only locals could get together to persuade the council (presuming the building is owned by the council) to seek new ownership. I've given the food a 3 as the coffee is actually nice but the syrups they use are the cheap variety from cash&carry. The cakes too are good and the breakfasts, although greasy, are tasty. However, I once had a Mediterranean veg bagel and it was appalling. So bad in fact I could not eat it! Not that anyone seemed a least but interested. Overall, this place is poorly run, lacks passion and basic customer service skills. Sad to see really.

My heart always sinks as we join the cue to get coffee and cake with the kids as you know that it is going to be a really long wait to be served. Usually we give it a miss and go home and with the children it become impossible to keep them entertained without going into melt down while we wait our turn in the cue. I am always confused why they can't seem to get organised??

What a surprise to find such a lovely café in a great setting. I had the perfect lunch of Haloumi and pitta with salad and lovely home made humus. My friend had the most delicious homemade quiche and 3 salads. It was far better than the expected fast food you get in most cafes. The staff were lovely and warmed up my baby's food without any fuss. They gave my 4year old daughter snacks and even took time to play with her. I will be going back.

We've just started taking our grandchildren to the playground in Hove Park and decided to visit the café. The exterior is o.k and the setting great but the inside was tatty and chaotic, and the surly woman behind the counter couldn't even manage a hello or a thank you. We will not be returning.

Being the only cafe in the park, you are left with no other choice. The queue is always terrible as the staff are very slow. Everything is very over priced and the food is very mediocre/ poor. Hove park is really nice though. My advice is if you are planning to spend some time at the park, take a pack lunch and drink with you and then you will have a better experience. In summer there is also an ice cream van next to the children's playground that you can go to instead if you are craving something ice cold. Its a shame this cafe isnt better.

I have lived within a stone's throw from this café since I was a tiny child...I'm 57 now. It has a varied history and, when not left to rack and ruin, has been managed - well and badly - by quite a few people over the last 50 years, as you can imagine. I met a friend there today and was quite ashamed that I had suggested it - particularly since she walked from Western Road, Hove to get there! The only thing I can see that keeps it in business is its position within a beautifully maintained city park. The service is abysmal. It takes the staff far too long to serve each customer and you are lucky to get an acknowledgement, let alone any sort of friendly greeting. I was hoping that the café had improved since my last visit when I had to wait an hour and a half for one piece of quiche and eggs benedict. It hasn't. I have noticed that the café run by the same people, near Waitrose in Western Road, has closed down, very soon after it opened...that is what happens when there is competition around! The Hove Park café has no serious competition close by so it will continue to have far more custom than it deserves. Personally, I shall never go again and certainly won't be recommending it to overseas visitors, friends, acquaintances or family.

We walk in Hove Park regularly and always end up in the cafe (there's no alternative). The menu is always quite imaginative and the food is always quite good. There's usually somewhere to sit and Hove Park is a great place to watch the world go by; the coffee's good too. So, overall, quite a pleasant experience but I can't rate it more than average. The problem, and when you go, it's quite obvious what it is, even to the untrained eye! Either the staff are so disorganised or the system they work to is completely flawed! I think it's the latter. Only one customer at a time is able to be served and when the customer has a large or complex order, the queue can develop very quickly and it's painfully slow to go down. You'll often find that most of your time is spent in the queue and not enough time is spent with the loved ones you went to the park to spend some time with. When you are served, the staff are tripping over themselves to get your order. But as I say, when you do get back to your table, the overall quality of the food is very good but you feel that you've not only paid for it but have earned it too. Let's face it, the system probably won't change nor improve and I will continue to patronise the cafe but I feel tons better for writing this review!

This café is located in the lovely Hove Park, a beautifully-maintained public park in leafy Hove.Unfortunately the café doesn't quite live up to the rest of the park's standards. The food range is limited and admittedly I haven't had food there, but liking my tea I went for my usual cuppa. Expecting something with a little bit of style, the naff mug with cheapo tea bag was a let down. The tea wasn't nice, being brewed with water that wasn't hot enough - why is it difficult to get a cup of tea in cafés made properly these days?And the service was far from friendly. Not rude as such, but they hardly went out of their way to welcome you, waiting around at the counter for a while before actually being served.This café is a stonethrow away from some offices (I work in one of them) and it could make a killing if it could its act in place and attract plenty of hungry office workers alongside the dog walkers and mums-who-lunch.

By chance whilst walking the dogs we decided to have toasted sandwiches, and when they arrived we were delighted at the presentation, and taste. Each plate had a decorative and wonderful accompanying salad with balsamic glaze (very smart). Would definitely go back, pleasant staff also. Dogs must remain on leads, and there is even a water bowl In summary a very superior cafe in the park

Perfectly located, serving what you need from a cafe in a park.Thirst quenching tea, good cakes, and reasonably priced.I would just point out the wait can be a little long when it's busy, but surely that is a good thing because it means it is a popular place

Great view, great food and very good prices, plenty of parking around the area, staff were friendly anf really attentitive, we will certainly come back, recommended

Perhaps it was the time of my arrival but I was surprised to find on a Saturday afternoon that there were only 3 food choices on the menu and a very long queue. I had a coffee but unfortunately wasn't sold on the cafe as a whole despite the fantastic location.

My partner and I enjoyed a really nice breakfast today folowed by gorgeous blueberry and lemon cake and coffee. The food was presented really well and arrived in good time. There was a variety of foods on a menu with specials listed on a blackboard...a very enjoyable experience.

I live about 5 minutes away from this place. Last visited about 2 years ago and experienced dreadful service - an hour and a half to serve eggs benedict and a piece of quiche. So, this week I thought I'd give it another go. Equally dreadful service. I was the only person at the counter but it still took ages to serve - wait for it - two coffees. Of the two members of staff there, one clearly thought it far more important to remove cakes from boxes than actually serve a customer. The park is absolutely beautifull. Wonderfully managed by a dedicated team of park rangers (or whatever they call themselves these days). However, the cafe seriously lets it down to the extent that I feel ashamed to be a local resident. It used to be run by a fantastic lady but she left to settle down and have a family...I wish she'd retun!

I sometimes use this cafe purely because the park is lovely and local to me. For such a beautiful park I'd expect a better cafe. Food choice is poor and often they don't have what you finally chose to order. Service isnt often with a smile and finding a seat can often be awkward and when you do you're often in the way of either the long queue or someone with a pushchair/kids with bikes/people with dogs. Overall not a very enjoyable experience so would be better off bringing a picnic and just enjoying the lovely park. Better off going to St Anne's Well park and the wonderful highly rated cafe there.

Have been a few times just for a drink while out walking the dog , there website tells you there open at 9am but on each occasion it seems they open when the staff turn up or when they want too, customer service should be looked into also after reading the reviews on the Internet and experiencing it myself!!

We had lunch here with our young daughter and to be fair the food was pretty good - bacon an avocado sandwich and toddler box (complete with crayons). My main issue was how chaotically the place is run - took ages to get the food and staff pretty ineffective when asked what was going on. Shame as has a great location and loads of potential customers....

Took a surprising amount of time to produce 3 bagels, 1 soup and 2 kids sandwiches. And with drinks this cost over 30 pounds.Limited seating inside out of the rain, but we were allowed to sit in an area reserved for a party as long as we ate quickly, which was ironic given how long the food took to arrive!!

Hove Park is usually an extremely lovely place for families to be. It's often a nice attraction for parents to go with their kids and is usually quite busy after school due to the school kids that live nearby. But when i went ot the caffe and ordered a normal blueberry muffin. Inside to my suprise, Was a piece of chewed gum, I bit into the muffin, thinking that the inside had a lovely soft spongey indsiode. But i was suprised to find a piece of chewed and sticky gun. I went straight back to the woman that worked thare and showed ehr it. She just pulled out the gum and put it in the bin. She said " Its fine now " I threw my drink to the ground and walked away. This cafe is the worest in every park!