Waterstones in Horsham

Spent a few hours studying here. Cafe was comfortable and relaxed with friendly staff. Both the food and drink was a decent quality, the summer menu was particularly good.

Amazing! The best, friendliest staff, well -taken care of and attractive premises. Could not ask for more.

I go there a lot for coffee, browse a few books, buy maps and have a pastry or two. The bookstore is very well stocked and well laid out.

I've been meaning to sample the coffee in this Waterstones for a while now, and had an opportunity yesterday while my wife was shopping. Sadly, despite the shop shutting at 4pm, the cafe shut at 3.30pm sharp, and the woman put the closed sign up literally as I went to step into the cafe area..........ah well, you won't get my business again.

The staff are so kind. I returned to the cafe yesterday for the first time since my dearest friend, Alan, died on 19.5.20 and my little dog the day before :-( Both young ladies who were working when I returned yesterday remembered them both and where we all used to sit etc. Their words were so genuine - meant the world. I do hope Santa Fe (if they’re still the owners) reads the review and knows how much Julie and her female colleagues’ words meant to more. And - to top it all - Julie bought me a coffee today for my birthday. Thank you!!! On top of all that, the buttery brown toast and cafe was lovely! Can’t wait till you start doing lunches again. Christine xxx

Just the place to pop in for a coffee; the staff are OK but just not very speedy and either serving coffee or clearing tables; good range of snacks and cakes but I’d go only for the books if I could.

I was in Chichester undertaking research for my book, and alone as my partner had to stay home (abroad) to work. This place was a sanctuary for me. A home cooked meal of soup and savory scones, coffee and cake and then a wander around that excellent bookstore. Travelling alone can feel a bit isolating but I found this a relaxing and friendly place to take lunch and a well-earned break.

Enjoyed a lovely cheese and onion toastie. Great location, handy to the shops. Felt the toastie a little pricey, as no side salad with it. Very tasty cappuccino.

I have stopped off here several times now and feel I can give a fairl well-informed review. The drinks range is good, not excellent but not poor either. A choice of cold drinks and hot beverages to suitmost tastes. There are also some lighht bite and cake items which I always find a little processed but quite ok. The atmpshere is fairly calm, away from the busy high street, although nearly every table has been occupied whenever I have visited.

Visited one morning in the week. I had a cappuccino which was tasty and reasonably priced served in a proper cup. Nice quiet atmosphere.

Had lunch here many times over the past few months and it never disappoints. The toasties are fabulous, and choice or cakes is always good. Most importantly, the staff are really friendly and go out of their way to help. Atmosphere is calm and relaxed. A very nice place to stop for a coffee or lunch.

The coffee and tea here are of a very high standard I'd you sit by a window you can do people watching

Waterstones cafe is very nice and cozy. They have nice sandwiches also vegeterian options. The cafe wasn’t too busy around noon.

Waterstones is probably my favourite place to take a break in Horsham, except that I probably end up spending too much on books! Good coffee, a corner I can sit with my dog and surrounded by books. Life is perfect.

I was invited to John Snelling's book signing - great person who's lived here for over 70 years. Also, the finger food provdided was excellent, as well as the people who attended.

Мои дети начали знакомство с книгами именно здесь.

Great location but the place has really gone downhill since it had its wonderful array of different bagels. Cutlery did not look clean and cappuccino cake processed. Will not be returning. The place I was headed to shut at 4.00 and options were reduced...

The small cafe upstairs in Waterstone's is a very convivial meeting point. Located right opposite the Cathedral, it is always busy. Food is made fresh on the premises, and service is efficient and polite. A good place for a coffee and a chat.

We've been going here for a while (since before it was Cafe W) and love that there is space for a buggy and highchair though it does get really busy at times and the lift is sometimes broken so you can't get to the cafe with a buggy! The baby changing is large and easily accessible. We also love the atmosphere of being amongst books. The food and coffee are fine with reasonable choice. Staff are always friendly and keep tables cleaned etc. We like the help yourself water for little ones too. Shame there are no children's sandwiches. Also shame that there isn't the choice that it had before when it was a bagel cafe both in terms of food and drinks but we prefer the refurbed space.

Needed to spend a book token and Waterstone's is the place to go in Horsham as they have a much wider choice the WH Smith as they concentrate on books and not all the other stuff Smith's sells. I had an idea what I wanted and the friendly staff knew exactly where I should look; there is a liftto the upper floor and an in house coffee shop which I did not use on this occasion but have used before - nice atmosphere and comfortable sofas

Was sorry at first that the previous management had left and could not have a choice of bagel. However I would say that it will become a regular place to visit when shopping in Town.

Staff do not smile. They do not wear uniform and wear nail varnish. Which is very unhygenic for a place that handles food.

I am a longterm customer of Cafe W and of the previous franchise cafe in Waterstones. The refurbished cafe is more spacious and the staff are always friendly and helpful but the choice of food, especially savoury, has gone downhill. The Cafe W toasties and sandwiches were well filled and value for money initially - but more recently a generous amount of grated cheese has been replaced by a square of processed cheese. No doubt the management want to save time and money with cutbacks, but these changes bring down the general standard of the cafe

We went here this month expecting to have the usual large selection of fresh bagels. They have all gone!! We were very disappointed as they used to be amazing. We were starving so chose a pre packed toasted sandwich which was heated up for us.

There has been a cafe in the Waterstones book shop forever, a few months ago it changed from a Bagel franchise (which had always been a favourite spot) to an in house cafe. The cafe has been refurbished - new flooring, furniture and layout. They serve great coffee and cakes looked fab but it seemed as though the savoury selection was much reduced - more of the standard coffee shop offerings rather than made to order specials. Staff were great - but maybe there could have been more of them, one lad was taking orders and making coffee on his own which slowed things down a bit.

A pleasant area in the book shop, nice friendly staff who made a lot of effort, a good place to relax or read, reason choice cakes, sandwiches and very good coffee.

This is the new cafe run by Water stones that has taken over from Santa Fe. Excellent refurbishment good seating and spacious restaurant. Coffee and service top notch.

Recently had a make-over and it works! Very busy; so try to bag your seat before you stand in line to order. There are some very comfy armchairs but you mustn't be shy to share a table with strangers. The coffee is really good and there is a lovely buzz about the place. Recommended for 'nice' people. If you're not 'nice', other coffee shops are available.

If you are lucky enough to get a table then the selection of bagels is quite mouth-watering. However from 12 onwards the place is so busy you end up waiting or giving up. There is not a proper queue-sit system in place so you may end up with a tray with tea and no place to sit because someone else has sat down before you keeping the spot for who was queueing behind you.

We had a coffee and pastry as they were doing a special offer.

On my first visit to the new W Cafe in Horsham's Waterstones today, I found the food, coffee and ambience pleasing. However, I noticed two customers sitting at another table, each with a small dog. Whilst they were eating and drinking at the table, one of them obviously felt it was ok to pick their dog up from the floor and place it on their lap and then in their arms close to the table top. The dog was intermittently fed by them and the food it did not eat was placed back on the table. They stroked and patted the dog, rubbed its paws and then placed their hands back on the table. The serving staff were well aware of this, in fact one of them even stopped to stroke the animal before returning back to the counter and giving a customer a glass of water. I was concerned for the next unsuspecting customer who sat at the table to eat and drink there. I would like to point out that this was not a trained assistance dog and do hope that Waterstones management can implement the hygienic requirements relevant to both customers and staff concerning incidents like this that may occur in the future.

Really pleased Waterstones have put their own coffee shop inside their own store. Sandwiches, bagels and pastries have been locally sourced and also have a lovely little pack lunch box which you get a free babychinno! Couldn't fault our billionaire shortbread either. Well done to all the friendly staff, good job!

For many years Waterstones Bookshop has had a very popular coffee shop on the first floor operated by a successful concession company. Now they have turned it into a Waterstone's coffee shop with very mixed results. Gone are the popular bagels, croissants, hot cinnamon buns, and toasted cheese. Gone is the range of popular coffees from different regions served mugs. In their place there is standard high street coffee and the dreaded self service fridge offering pre-prepared sandwiches - including something they offer to turn into a toasted bacon sandwich! This must be a joke.