Soverign Light Cafe in Wealden

Dreadful customer service and food. We had cheesey chips which were all squashed together in a lump with hardly any cheese on top. The toasted sandwiches were served in a paper bag instead of a carton making them soggy. Coffee was cold and overpriced. Such a shame as the view sitting outside is lovely. Won't be going back !

Visited this cafe twice in the last 2 Weeks ,staying with relatives in Bexhill. Good cafe , friendly staff , home made cakes & scones are scrumptious . Dog friendly & just what you need after a long walk , a sit down in this cosy cafe with a warm drink & good food . Highly recommend .

2-Jul-23: Visited for lunch and had an excellent sausage and egg bap: just what I needed after a long walk. It's a traditional old school cafe, a bit rough around the edges, but they know how to knock out a decent breakfast bap. It does get very busy and can be rather too hot inside in good weather (no ventilation) but outside or take away to sit on nearby benches is great. They're clearly understaffed and sometimes wait times or table clearing can suffer as a result, but that wouldn't stop me returning as the location is fab.

What’s not to like 😊 breakfast cooked to perfection within minutes of placing the order, good portion size 😃 lovely hot drinks, try the fully loaded hot chocolate 😋 the staff work really hard and are friendly and welcoming, we’ll be back

Popped in for Drinks with Baby Grandson, he dropped he's Toy & upon picking it up realised this place is absolutely filthy!!! The floor looked like it has never been swept let alone seen a mop this whole season 🤢🤮. Really grim!!! If this is a reflection of the public areas hate to think what standards the kitchen has that we can't see. So glad it was only drinks that we ordered, won't be back, made us feel physically sick.

Really disappointed, food was absolutely terrible. I really should have asked for my money back - childrens lunch was £5 consisting of one sausage and a few burnt chips. Tables were not cleared and customers were having to do the cleaning themselves, staff did not seem at all bothered. I had not been for a few years and won’t be going back anytime soon. Could be so much more. Avoid.

Lovely spot for people watching on prom but food disappointing. Coffee just ok. Seem very understaffed, very hot inside. Such a shame it could be so much more with a little tlc, healthier menu and better customer service.

Good food , good value, lovely service. Friendly and welcoming. Very dog friendly , dogs welcome inside. Visited with my son and will take my dog next time.

Long wait. The smell of burnt fat drives you outside to sit. Had a tuna sandwich. Thick cheap margarine makes you gag. Dry bread. Shared some raw chips. Terrible lunch. Don't bother.

Great breakfast, lovely view & the best cup of tea I have had in ages!! I love this place & will visit again 😊

Keane fan, let down Was so looking forward to going to this place. Potential Rose tinted view of this experience. But not a good, or cheap experience. I ask who ownes this to question the ridiculousness of this. Asked for veggie breakfast but your staff said they had no mushroom so couldn't do a breakfast. We said could we substitute mushrooms for something else, answer no, can we just have it with no mushrooms, we don't mind, answer no. So couple rolls all added up £30 as extra portions. Waited 1 hour.

Today, we decided to go into your cafe as we have done many other times with and without our fur babies. Monday we came in and we ordered some breakfast, we sat down and my 6month old puppy was laid on my lap (the reason being as she recently had an encounter with a chair and has become slightly wary of them.) We enjoyed you delicious food and the warmth and coziness of the cafe and we left feeling full and happy. Today, we came in and ordered and we sat down, just like Monday and many times before that. Except this time was different. the lovely gentleman brought over our hot drinks and a lady came by us and was cleaning the table next to us. Then, our food was brought over by the lady who was cleaning the table next to us moments before. She came over and put our food down and quite rudely said to me”dogs are supposed to be down on the floor”! I said “ohh well you see she’s a little frighten of the chairs” she proceeded to tell me she has to be down on the floor for health and hygiene reason. (Which I completely understand and have no issues with). However I then went on to explain that I thought dogs were allowed in here and also we had been in many times before with my puppy on my lap and no one had said anything to me. She then went to get the manager who came over and was also very rude and said it’s health and hygiene which again I understand. However what I did not understand as we had come in previous and no one said anything to me, also your staff members had seen us prior whilst we were waiting for our food eg, when your brought our hot drinks over and was wiping down other tables next to us? That is not very fair and you should be clear on how dogs are welcomed into your cafe or not. (Especially after spending £30) Now, you could have said we are very sorry please continue to finish your food but please remember next time. But, you said no and you basically gave us no choice but shoved us out the door and my partner had to have his breakfast in a plastic box outside in the rain. We had held your cafe on a peddle stool we absolutely loved it. Now, we have left feeling disappointed and disgusted as your customers. You could of handled this issue with more respect and kindness from the beginning.

Have been here a few times but only ever had breakfast roll, sandwiches or cakes which has been fine. This time we thought we would have a change so ordered scampi and chips and large chicken and chips. After ordering we sat down and within a couple of minutes we were served our meal so obviously not cooked fresh to order. The scampi was overcooked and dry and the chips were hard and dry. The LARGE chicken and chips were no better. How it is called large chicken i will never no because i got served 2 drumsticks and like the scampi it was dry and again the chips were no better. Not a place i would eat a meal like that again.

I've always loved the song Sovereign Light Café by Keane so had to find this place! Called in for a cuppa and ended up with an excellent bacon sarnie that was right up there with the very best - really nice fresh brown bread and loads of bacon. Very friendly and obviously hard working staff who have built up a good level of local clientele. Thank you for the experience ladies and wishing you all the best.

This is a lovely place to eat with great views over the sea . Personally for me they serve the best coffees in Bexhill and at a fraction of the cost of the major chains . The staff are very friendly and efficient .

We visit here quite a lot but unfortunately not very welcoming on the last visit, ok it was a wet and windy day but they had customers eating breakfast so it wasn’t empty, we braved walking the dog and thought we would pop in for...

Decent menu and food portions are very good, nice and clean and nice food. If you are a Keane fan then it is a must visit and signed pictures on the wall.

Great venue, dog friendly, easy parking etc.. but. If you offer someone ‘butter’ and jam with their scone please don’t disappear with the scone, spread it for the customer behind the scenes and bring it back with half an inch of vile cheap margarine and...

This is a great little cafe. Lovely staff, good quality food and a view of the sea to lose yourself in while you enjoy your coffee. If you want immaculate this isn't for you. This is an old fashioned cafe with a great vibe and...

Once an excellent cafe it is NO LONGER a 'go to' place for lunch. Physically the cafe hasn't changed much, the post-Covid menu is understandably reduced (as has the staffing level). Given the two ladies who have worked there for some time are unchanged, it...

It was only half past three in the afternoon but the only seating available was outside; chairs had been place across the entrance so you could not get inside. To get served you had to go to a hatch. I only wanted two coffees and...

Staff seem all very young but polite. Ordered scampi and chips and a set breakfast. Sauce bottles been removed so now have to pay 10p a sachet. Scampi and chips well over done. Given plastic cutlery as eating outside and fork kept snapping on the...

When visiting Family found out the The Sovereign Light was the same Cafe as in the Keane hit record they wanted to visit and eat there. We went for lunch at the weekend. We ordered 4 HotDogs and one Hamburger and Chips. We waited over...

This morning, August 15th, I stood in the queue for FIFTEEN MINUTES while a young girl served just 2 customers. Meanwhile, there was another young girl and two older ladies who were milling around not doing very much. As there were still 3 customers in...

We had lunch here today. The cafe was very busy so there was quite a wait for our food. There were lots of people ordering takeouts as well, once they had ordered inside they collected from the kiosk outside. Our sandwiches were delicious,freshly made and...

Perfect. Exactly what a British seaside cafe should be. It’s not a Michelin star restaurant . Food was freshly prepared and great value .

I thought things had improved but sadly mistaken. A couple of weeks ago I went inside cafe to order. The poor young Girl on the till was insulted by the manager in front of all the customers due to there not being enough change in...

Perfect position on Bexhill promenade and handy for Egerton Park. At the moment the window isn't open for orders so you have to queue up inside. Hot meals look good. Had an egg mayo sandwich but unfortunately the mayo had a strange taste and spoilt...

Always a pleasure to visit this lovely friendly cafe. The food and coffee are consistently good and my dogs are welcomed with a smile and a sausage! Highly recommended.

Lovely little cafe on the seafront. Friendly staff. Good quality food! Stopped at this cafe while in the area and found the cafe to be very welcoming. Had hot dog and chips which was very nice along with a latte which was also very nice....

Excellent service very friendly, with very high quality food all freshly cooked, excellent value for money as very good portions, very highly recommended

We were in later in the day I will give them that,but the food was awful ,for our two granddaughters ,who are vegetarian,they wanted vegetarian sausage,chips and one wanted an egg ,everything was well over cooked the egg was hard I really should have given...

This fascinating stop-off isolated parade gem continues to delight and comfort me. I can still feel the 'Wimpy' in it, the bland overly 'Milky Coffee' pretending to be that foreign Latte, and the wonky chair that scrapes the lino and drowns out the chitter-chatter. This...

Very nice food. Good Vegan options and Fresh fish and chips for us normal eaters. Very polite staff, was busy so maybe a wait, but that's freshly cooked food at it's best.

This place was recommended by a friend (who probably visited it before a change of ownership) and I was really shocked by what happened. I wanted to have lunch outside and I approached the staff inside. I was told to order at the desk. I...

Turned up on a wet Saturday ordered two breakfasts which came to just shy of £15. Proceeded to wait outside in the doorway may I note there was no one walking around or no one entered the cafe the whole time we were there, one...

Very friendly but short staffed . Small dogs allowed inside , larger ones allowed on outside tables . Wonderful view of the sea especially when very rough . Only once did l have an undercooked omelette ,all other meals great and large portions. Ramp for...

This cafe is directly opposite where my mum lives so its great to pop over for a bite to eat and enjoy the view..but I always think to myself how much better this place could be- its in a prime location with plenty of walking...

Yes, it's a cafe, it sells all the usual staples of a sea front cafe. The food we had was good, served quickly and staff were all very pleasant. Although small, staff took time to make sure covid rules were followed. For us, it was...

A wonderful location but poor quality coffee and food. The coffee was lacking well coffee to be candid. A brown hot liquid! The sausage roll had something inside that did not resemble meat. More a pink goo. And a soggy pastry. Why not simply step...

Was passing along the promenade in Bexhill on sea and came across the Sovereign Light Cafe. Had a lovely sandwich,piece of cake and a hot chocolate whilst watching the waves crash and the rain come down,really good choice of food also.

Pouring with rain and windy. Told to wait outside while they cooked chips and made 2 coffees. Would not let me wait inside though was empty. Well that was not acceptable so I told them to keep their chips and went home. 3 others left...

After a early morning walk up and down the Promenade stopped at the Sovereign Light Cafe for a coffee and a breakfast bap. They were great 👍. People here are friendly and doing their best at these very trying times. Sitting just watching the world...

I was really disappointed by our meal at the Sovereign Light Cafe, whilst it wasn't bad value for money, the food was excessively greasy and generally unpleasant. The full English was served in a takeaway box which was impractical because the plastic knives broke through...

Used to use this cafe quite a bit over the years and always enjoyed the food. Good basic cafe fodder but not any more it would seem. Thought we'd have breakfast so ordered 2 veggie breakfasts and 2 teas. Was told you collect the food...

Cafe advertises ‘Speciality Coffee’ but was served a cheap and tasteless drink from an instant machine. They have a barista style coffee machine, but the manager said “it takes too long”. False advertising is illegal. On the serving hatch it says ‘We welcome feedback’, but...

It is what it is... it doesn’t need to be anything fancy. Don’t expect high levels of service it’s a seaside cafe. It’s character and it’s just a snack and a good cuppa! Perfect for memories of a great holiday break.

I do not enjoy leaving a bad review but on this recent visit I was really upset by the way the manager ( I presume?) spoke to young staff members in front of customers ... she was also extremely grumpy and I consider rude .....

This little cafe could be perfect. The menu is what you expect from a beachside cafe. I have tried to withhold leaving another bad review after seeing a dog lick the tables inside the cafe 😱but after revisiting a couple of times recently I am...

Sadly this place has changed hands and the new owners have had a personality transplant.....for the worse. Grumpy staff who have zero customer relation skills. The food offerings are poor, couldn't even have anything to go in my cheese bap. The breakfasts were measly, served...

I agree with the previous review a I was served by a VERY bad tempered woman, who clearly didn’t want to be there. That was bad enough, the social distancing equipment was in place ie the 2 metre rule and the plastic screen at the...

Truly shocking level of service, how does one get away with it in this day and age, will never go again, one of the staff members needs an " anger managment course". avoid at all costs.... please go if you want to be abused..!!

The service was friendly and efficient with attention to detail. Because of lockdown it was take away service only. All social distancing was adhered too , you ordered inside and were served through an outside hatch.

Lovely food takeaway. Sensible virus precautions for those serving and being served to. Great job ! Oh and very friendly with it .

This is the first time I've had a takeaway ever and the beans haven't been the worst bit. The sausages, bacon's. Eggs toasts was all beautifully cooked. But the beans!!! Oh my. The cup of tea wasn't perfect, too much milk.

The Guy at Bexhill Museum suggested this Cafe and what a fab find. Great food, great service. Can’t wait for the warmer weather to sit outside.

Beautiful and full breakfasts! So good, there are obviously lots of lovely regulars, but they are always Tables available. It’s really nice to sit outside too, it’s quite sheltered against the building which gives you bit of a winters tan! Cakes look amazing.

Good for breakfast and lunch, or a snack. Can sit inside. or outside if the weather is good. Look out to sea and enjoy the sea air. Two minutes walk from the Bexhill Museum and the clocktower.

Popped in for a warm up and breakfast. Staff cheery and welcoming. Very busy place! Great food at good prices, had the breakfast, sausage, bacon, egg, beans and hash brown, all cooked beautifully. Views over the channel. Seating outside, so would be lovely In summer....

Very good cafe overlooking the English Channel. The food is excellent and good quality produce is used. The cafe was very busy which is a very good sign. The staff are very pleasant and helpful. Would recommend

Had a really lovely breakfast here today, the full works with good quality bacon and sausages, friendly staff and a view of the sea....perfect

Yesterday I sat in the Sovereign Light Cafe with a delicious latte, sunshine, clear view out to sea and life felt as calm as the sea in front of me. The staff welcome was brilliant and there was a real social buzz about. On reading...

I love this place. It has a local friendly feel about it. The menu is classic breakfast lunch and dinner and reasonably priced. With good service and views out to see what more could you want! We will return soon.

I come here on a weekly basis, the staff are always helpful and there is a lovely atmosphere. There's always been space to park near by and their toasties are the best!

It’s great as you can sit outside sheltered from the wind and soak up winter sun. Good choice of food, cakes, snacks, meals, desserts, good coffee. Service is good, very efficient and always want to help.

I really like this place...does good comfort food including a few (more than 5) vegan main meals like toad in the hole, fishless fish, nut roast with apricots, etc. And you can book a table. Is on the promenade so you can sit outside...with some...

We called in for a snck and ordered snadwiches - they were gfanfastic - "door steps" and dee;ly filled. We had to try the chips - a paper bag full were crisp with fluffy interiors - bill was under £15 so was very pleased.

Good food, reasonable value and friendly service. It's a beach cafe in a good spot that seems pretty popular as often busy, especially at weekends. If you want fish and chips with a sea view or a mug of tea and sausage sandwich for breakfast...

“That’s the rule” I was told, but it sounds money-grabbing to me. We paid £15.50 for two small fish & chips, a tea and a beer. Halfway through his meal my husband asked for another beer but was told he’d have to buy more food!...

Good value, nice selection of breakfast, meals, snacks and cakes. Excellent service Lovely place to people watch

Famed from the Keane song of the same name, in reality it's a small seafront cafe serving some tasty home made food. The few tables could do with a good clean though.

This cafe would be perfect without the dogs. Lovely location and good food reasonably priced. However last week I watched a dog licking the table and another being patted producing a cloud of dog hair. Not what you want whilst eating.

I visit this cafe frequently. It’s ideally located directly on the seafront promenade. It’s possible to sit in or outside to enjoy the environment. Food options are varied and many tried and tested cakes, all reasonably price. The team are friendly, helpful and accommodating. Definitely...

had lovley roasts beef for me chicken for hubby and a pudding for under £25 for two just over £7 each lovely meals with 3 veg and to complete our meal we both had a pudding apple crumble and ice cream(the ice-creAM IS the soft...

Dropped in to an almost empty cafe at 4.30pm - waited behind one person who was dealt with slowly! When they left 5 members of staff chatted amongst themselves for a while/filling fridges and with a woman studying a til receipt behind the counter -...

Nice place for a quick stop, food is home cooked and served quickly. Drinks are very reasonable too. Lots of cakes to choose from. Seats inside and outside,dog friendly too.

Cheese & pickle and cheese & onion toastie both on Brown, the bread looked much nicer than the white with a couple of hot chocolates total about £12. Friendly service, food cooked fresh and if busy, be sure to ask to have your drinks with...

Been to this cafe every year for a few years. Absolutely fabulous fish and chips. Visited again today and definitely didn’t disappoint. Right on the edge of the beach so fabulous view too

The food was brilliant here and the sea views just what you need on a seaside trip. This is no greasy-spoon, the building renovation is tasteful and modern, the kitchen and counter very clean and professionally managed. The menu is varied and the food very well presented and delicious. Good for all ages. The staff were very friendly, professional and well presented. Thanks for a lovely experience folks.

Very good English breakfast served by friendly staff. Plenty of indoor tables available at 11:30am Sat. Good experience.

Service rapide dimanche en fin de matinée, petite salle en bord de mer très agréable, et c’était bon!

We visited on a sunny Saturday, I am aware that they were fairly busy but waiting an hour for 2 fish and chips and a scampi, having to ask for the table to be wiped even though it had been cleared is unacceptable. We also had to wait for our drinks until the food came out.

Great clean place. Service with a smile. Cheap food and great views. Loads of seating outside and in. Tea and cakes are nice with the food looking delish.

You have a choice to sit inside or outside here. Looking over the sea is great view. Fish & chips were reasonably priced at £7.95 so I thought why not. Picture shows the portion of food I got, I couldn’t eat all the chips but the fish was brilliant white colour and the batter was light & tasty. My wife had the Roast beef which was midweek roast, she loved it and and finished all of it I stopped her licking the plate lol. Highly recommend a visit to this place if you find yourself on Bexhill-on-Sea seafront.

Food and drinks are very reasonable here. My mum loves coming for a meal here as it’s well cooked, good value and she doesn’t feel conspicuous on her own.

Very busy with lunch service but a window table on the sea side was available.

The cafe is great so is the food and the staff are friendly and helpful .BUT the new boss has taken up the table for 4 people to work on laptop etc.just like previous owner. I actually saw 2 groups of people turn away because no table free except a couple of seats in the middle. This is wrong.

Really busy cafe and really tight if you have a pushchair. We found a table quite quickly near the window. If we hadn’t we probably would have left as we would have been in everyone’s way in the middle section. Table wasn’t cleared before we had our drinks and ice cream. Coffee was good and the kids loved the ice cream. I took the kids down to the beach while ate my partner stayed. Really good stop point for a stroll along the promenade..

Super promenade spot with pleasant menu & service, with good quality food.

We're staying on a caravan site at Catsfield and I have this obsession with swimming in the sea so to find this cafe virtually ON the beach was a real find!

Ik was hier met mijn vriendin voor een wandeling van Bexhill naar Hastings , wisten niet dat dit zo'n beroemde locatie was . Wij namen een cappucino en een hot choclate . Niets op aan te merken , gewoon goed zoals t hoort .

What can I say, Keane sang about it and we had to live it. We very much enjoyed the fish and chips but the sundae for dessert was to die for. The service was great and we so enjoyed our selves. And of course later we walked around to see the lights go down on the Sovereign Light cafe! It's was a wonder treat!

A small cafe overlooking the sea which was fairly busy when we visited. The menu isn't extensive, being small, but everything we saw looked good. We had good fish and chips, ample portions, nice tea, and at a reasonable price. The friendly and helpful staff served us quickly and cheerfully - what's not to like? Our first visit but not our last, I'm sure.

I have eaten at this cafe before and always usually rate it. This morning however, I was disappointed. After walking down in the beautiful weather I decided to stop for a coffee with my family and friends as the previous ice cream stall only had tea! Well, to be charged £2.20 for a 3/4's full take away mug I nearly fell over, to then have to take it back as it didn't even taste like coffee and be spoken to rather rudely, I was a bit shocked. Then saw that despite the fact that there is a beautiful coffee machine inside that you use ground beans to make it, I was served instant from a jar! I appreciate its busy and Easter weekend, but I chose to support a local business and was very disappointed today. I can get a Costa from the garage for £2.50 and with better service! Shame if honest.

My family and I come here every time were in Bexhill. The staff are lovely and the food is amazing. They are family friendly and allow small dogs in the cafe and have outside seating for views and larger dogs.

We were looking to have fish and chips by the sea, was not disappointed, was great, Small establishment, overlooking sea, relaxing, Would recommend if visiting Bexhill in east Sussex.

This place is so easy and chilled. The service is good, lots of food options to choose from, but even more importantly it’s dog friendly and I can sit with my four legged friends overlooking the sea whilst I have my coffee.

Got some takeaway chips and not only were they terribly greasy, the oil had a bad taste to it as if it was old. We couldn’t eat them and had to bin them.

Good atmosphere under new ownership, staff seem so much happier and relaxed but professional. As usual the cheesy chips were hot and tasty and although very busy, we didn't have to wait long. Good size mugs of Tea and Coffee. In the Summer it will be very busy so you will have to wait, but it is so worth it. No need to rush just chill out and enjoy. They have a movable ramp for wheelchair users and parking is along the road right beside the cafe.

A nice place to go for a lunchtime sarnie or tea and cake, there are chairs outside so you can relax by the sea with your cuppa.