Wickle in Lewes

Finally managed to get back to Lewes for a short break and as usual the first place we head for is Wickle. And wow! what a change - it seems lock down has been put to good use, the store has had refit and looks fabulous. It's still the treasure trove it ever was but somehow it feels lighter and bigger and easier to browse. It was disappointing that the cafe wasn't yet reopened and we couldn't sit and rest our legs over a cup of tea but the owner explained they hope to get it back open very soon. It saddens me to read the previous review - we have always had nothing but wonderful and positive experiences in the shop and I felt compelled to write a review in the owners defence. Customer service has always been excellent, She has always been very kind and calm and welcoming to us and our dogs - she is obviously very passionate about her store and this shines through in the shops sheer brilliance!I'm sure lock down hasn't been easy for independent shops like Wickle and its great to see this one still thriving! If you haven't been before - pay it a visit!

Was in Wickle today. Having a nice time browsing and then made an offhand comment to my 6yo daughter about the toys she was looking at being too expensive for her to buy with her remaining pocket money 'but it's still lovely to look'. Overheard by owner, who then interjected in my private conversation with my child, and gave me a patronising, passive aggressive and sanctimonious lecture - "people need to save up because these are 'heirloom toys' and Wickle are so wonderful for stocking these incredibly ethical, environmentally friendly products etc etc, and the problem is that people don't understand that these toys are more expensive because they're fair trade/organic' etc etc etc She was so aggressive and it was clearly all about some other frustrations with her business rather than us - I'm guessing it's not the first time she's heard people say her stock is expensive. I left with my daughter (and her £1.50!) pretty quickly... and then she cornered my husband and continued to lecture him! I'm very curious as to how this marketing strategy is working out for her, to be frank. If you're trying to bully customers into purchasing your goods by patronising them about consumer ethics, undermining their authority in front of their children, shaming them over their buying choices, and implying they're cheap? Implying, specifically, that six year olds are cheap if they don't want to save up for 'heirloom toys' that can be handed down? Won't shop there again.

I really wanted some fresh lunch, I rang Wickle and they recommended a fresh salad wrap with Halloumi or Feta I was in the mood for some Halloumi and they told me that they will start making it now as I would be 20 minutes away, when I arrived a friendly member of staff handed me the Wrap and it was delicious, fresh ingredients warm wrap which was lovely and exactly what I was hoping for, I highly recommend it and recommend the shop lovely staff and wonderful things to buy 10/10.

What a lovely way to start the year. After a ten mile walk to Lewes we were seeking a warming bowl of soup and most places were closed. So discovered 'Wickle'. Utterly delightful shop and service. Beautiful people and quite unique, in the nicest possible way it was like stepping back to the mid 1960's. Natural produce and goods with this wonderful cafe attached. We had the Sweet Potato Soup with dark gorgeous bread; homemade and absolutely delicious. Other food that we saw looked good and well presented as well. Expect the unusual, the genuine, the homemade. Nothing but original here. In a largely alien World, to our sensibilities, this felt like Our 'Tribe' and Our People. This is a very special place. I sincerely hope it flourishes, 'Wickle' certainly deserves to prosper. Thank you.

Lovely staff. Very helpful. Offer great wrapping service which is helpful. The sale rail also had some bargains.

The café is situated at the back of the shop which sells an eclectic mix of items for adults and kids.The café is vegetarian/vegan and offers a number of different foods, such as cakes, wraps, soups and my favourite, the fjord bread; a dark bread made with herbs and seeds. The staff are very friendly and go out of their way to help; the friendly staff and the fjord bread have made this a regular haunt for me.

overpriced for what you get on your plate, service isn't great either. slow and not the most attentive

As more of us learn of the terrible sufferings of animals reared for meat and dairy products, it is so good to find another cafe serving only vegetarian and vegan foods.My wife and I came across this delightful shop and cafe during a recent holiday in the area. Staff were extremely friendly and helpful and we each enjoyed a generous and delicious bowl of soup, followed by a slice of scrumptious banana bread with vegan chocolate spread. We have not tasted better and wish the business every success. We hope to return when next in the area.

Our slightly loud and chaotic group of adults and 4 quite restless children (including 2 toddlers) descended on to the cafe for tea and soft drinks late on Sunday pm. The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming as soon as we walked in. The guy serving in the cafe, Jack, could not have given us a better service. He was really friendly and very patient with our ever-changing orders and nothing seemed to be too much trouble for him. We were all very impressed.The only criticism I would have of this lovely cafe is the heightened price of the soft drinks (the cans and pouches) and the cakes and biscuits-it was beyond our family budget I'm afraid.

Visited after seeing positive reviews on Happy Cow and coming across it before getting into town and spotting other places to eat. Friendly staff and cute little place but pretty basic. Food was simple and a bit dry but satisfactory. Nice guy serving was the best thing about the place. Good for vegans but not a huge range to choose from.

Interesting shop, with nice cakes and sweet treats. There are a few seats. Recommended for all, specially those with kids

Picked this out in the High Street as it looked quirky, and we love quirky, and was not disappointed .. great tea, coffee and cake

As a vegan I was really excited to check out some of the vegan options in this place. The lunch was fine, I had a salad and falafel wrap and my girlfriend had soup and bread, The only gripe is that the toilet is right next to the food and kitchen area, and this was left open after use. Even the nice gentleman who ran the café left it open after pouring washing up liquid down the sink. I think an awareness of how disgusting it is to leave the toilet door open next to the food should be a basic requirement for anyone running a food establishment, especially when the toilet is situated so close to the food.

A great find with amazing salads and equally delicious cakes - streaks ahead of other coffee shops / cafes on the high street.

When I first moved south 10 years ago with my hubby, Wickle was one of the reasons we decided Lewes was the place for us. As it turned out we ended up in Hove but we often visit Lewes and we ALWAYS go to Wickle for a cup of tea and cake. Sometimes we even have something to eat and it's always very welcoming and great tasting too!

My friend and I often meet for chat coffee and lunch at wickle and have never been disappointed until last week. We ordered flatbread with sweet potato and halloumi filling. We were the only customers which was unusual for the time of day but thought no more of it until the food arrived. We were speechless, the flatbread was ultra thick and upon opening it out realised there was just a smear of a paste like spread in the centre , we were both unable to eat the dry bread and too gobsmacked to complain ! Will now avoid

We popped in to have lunch (their vegan cakes are delicious) and to feed our daughter. We were told we could not feed her the lunch we had bought with us but would have to buy something from the kids menu, which the shop assistant said could be pizza or flatbread and hummus. Having packed a lunch that we knew our child would eat we were reluctant to pay for food that we didn't know for sure she would eat. The rationale the manager gave was that it's a small business and they can't afford to have people sitting in and not buying their food but by imposing this rule they lost our custom and we won't be going back to the kitchen or shop. It's a shame as I've bought clothes from them in the past and had planned on buying some more this time.

The selection of food and drinks here is very good, and they all taste amazing. The only downside is the relatively high price, however this is Lewes, so that is to be expected.

A perfect, extremely child friendly place to stop for a decent coffee and almost endless browsing. The range of clothes, toys, kitchenware and many other assorted gems is staggering, and frequently changing with new items appearing often. The atmosphere is very friendly and tolerant of young children, making Wickle more than just a shop.

Was visting Lewes for the day and decided to pop into Wickles shop, without realising there was a sweet cafe in the back!

We found this cafe in the rear of a shop of the same name and decided to have a snack lunch. The surroundings are quite basic but suitable for a short visit. The cafe appeared to be aimed at parents with children, but was not very busy when we arrived. Food is ordered and paid for at the counter and delivered to your table. Our food and tea/coffee was served quickly, and were good apart from the tea struggling to "brew". Overall OK for our quick snack

Not to visit if you have a little baby who wants to sleep in the pram. We were demanded to move our pram in the garden because of health and safety. They should have demanded it before we started eating, we would have picked a different cafe. Also in previous times they have helped to move the tables to accomodate the pram. Funny enough, talking about health and safety, before this happened I found a long blond curly hair on a cake, which doesn't show good health and safety standards. Obviously I have been going there too much, not going anymore.

Once decided to take a break here and have a cuppa and coffee, for my Mrs., Hmm the coffee wasnt bad but no way near good, the tea, well , here is a small story, We ordered, 10 mins later the Girl arrived with our order, she asked who was for tea, and who for coffee, ,,( all god so far ) So my Mrs accepted the coffee. then I got my tea, The Girl then said you may need to wait a few mins for it to mash, as it was in a pot,, well 5 mins passed and not looking good, 15 mins passed and I decided I have to drink this or its gonna be cold. so poured the so called tea., It was more that fortnight tea ( too week ) this would NOT have mashed if you had left it 2 bloody years let alone 10 minutes !!! . I took the tea bag out of the teapot and nearly fell off my chair, A tight load of tea in a TIES WITH A KNOT TEA BAG ?????????????? WTF ! Never in my life have I ever had tea in a SELF MADE tea bag !.. I do beleive and still will that they reuse tea, Never have I had such a terrible cuppa, No Life in the tea just water with a hint of dark. .. the smallest amount of milk you can imagine, and still it was more like hot water than any tea I have drunk before,, And to boot the food was not great either. luke warm at best and not a lot of taste, Idela for those with BUSTED TASTE BUDS but for the rest of us STEAR CLEAR !!!!, dISGUSTED AT THE SERVICE AND DISGUSTED AT THE commewnts from the staff as we left !!

This is like an aladdins cave, so much to see, Really cool café, very family friendly, Good coffee, All round good different experience .

I did not use the cafe but plan to on a return day trip. My review, however, is for the shop itself which forms the larger part of the building. It is literally a treasure trove, stacked in every corner with unique and quirky gifts that you won't see anywhere on the High Street or even online. From greeting cards to Xmas decorations, every single item has been individually selected. I did not bring enough money with me on this particular visit but ended up with two gorgeous Meri Meri necklaces (as gifts) and a one-of-a-kind owl puppet to send to my grown-up daughter who lives abroad. The shop owner (Elisabeth) and her staff are warm, friendly and accommodating. I cannot wait to return to Wickle and shop to my heart's content.

Met up with my family here today after being recommended online as a great place to take the kids for a drink and a bite to eat. We arrived just after 11am, and yes it was a bank holiday and yes it was raining. The cafe part of the shop was rammed, but to be fair there was only space for about 5 tables so it wouldnt take much to fill it up. Our coffees and cakes were ok, not the best and it was a tight squeeze and quite frankly an uncomfortable visit. The drinks were served in mismatch cups and saucers which is all part of the attraction, however i wasnt expecting to stir my coffee with a plastic baby spoon, a tea stained one at that, which was very off putting and a little disgusting! The contents of my daughters carton of orange juice was frozen too. The staff were fine but busy and we kept having to move to allow them to serve other customers. The shop part was nice and quirky, however very over priced. Maybe they should concerntrate on being either a cafe or a shop, both together didnt really do it for me.

I popped into Wickle for a light lunch while out shopping with my 5-year-old daughter last Saturday. We needed to eat quite quickly as our car was on a meter (typical in Lewes!). I didn't even notice that the menu was vegetarian - it was just so varied and enticing. The service was swift and polite (endearing, even) - we didn't need to say we were in a hurry, but I also got the feeling that if we weren't it would have been fine to extend our stay with a coffee (or hot chocolate with marshmallows etc) and cake for quite a while. We will do that next time, but we didn't have long this time - so I ordered a toasted flatbread sandwich without salad (though I saw the with salad version on another table and it looked excellent) and my daughter had a children's meal - what they called a folded pizza, but also a toasted flatbread sandwich including cheese and tomato, with hummus and cucumber on the side, a glass of milk and a few chocolate buttons for dessert - she was delighted!

This café has heart and soul. We loved it. Veggie and vegan food served with love. All home made and tastes delicious. Located at the end of the Wickle shop, almost hidden but worth seeking out. Large table available for groups. Mismatched crockery and artistic table arrangements. Went twice in two days, as we were so impressed. Full of character and good food. Not to be missed.

Comfort food in a bowl ! Salad plates consistently delicious -we come here so mum can get nourished in peace and kids can eat healthily while playing with the trains. Sometimes the baked beans can be a little hot for pip-squeaks but that is a very minor complaint when the service is always so good.

A lovely lunchtime snack.I only had cake, delicious cake at that.Really lovely ,homely and inviting.

Have been walking past this shop for years and then one day...happened to step in for a coffee and had the most wonderful salad..spiralised sweet potato and many other ingredients that I can't recall - only that it tasted so fresh and delicious. Very nice people too. And the brownie, THE brownie! :)

I'm a regular at Wickle. Atleast once a week I am in there with my two children and I have nothing but the highest praise for the place and the staff. It is a real asset to the Lewes community.

not the best really very overpriced for what you are getting portion wise....

No solo es una cafetería, sino que también es una tienda de regalos y con algunas prendas de ropa preciosas. Más allá de lo que ofrecen de cafe hay platos sencillos para almorzar. Todo de excelente calidad, fresco y a buen precio.

Something in the window attracted my attention, so we went inside to take a good look. The store is filled with interesting gift ideas. I was pleasantly surprised upon further exploration that they had a café area at the back of the store. The assistants are so friendly and helpful, we stayed to enjoy a treat. I can highly recommend the double shot of espresso over a cup of soft serve ice cream.... so much so that we went back and had more today! On each 'shabby chic' little table was a menu attached to a book to read while waiting if you chose - great idea for avid readers like myself.

We enjoyed lovely salads here with warm flat bread. We didn't want dessert but the cakes looked gorgeous. The lady who served us (I think her name was Lucy, she was from the Czech Republic) was so friendly and really enthusiastic about the food, explaining what was in everything. Would definitely visit again if ever we're in Lewes in the near future, highly recommended.

Wickle is a lovely typically-Lewes type café attached to a shop selling unusual and hand made interior decoration and homewares. The food focusses on being healthy and interesting. The staff are very friendly and the atmosphere is laid back but vibrant and cheery. I lovely little independent spot to relax and enjoy, and to return to again and again.

I always enjoy coming here. The cakes are great, and you can pop up and down and look at the shop while you wait. Pity the shop has become more devoted to cheap sub-continental crafts - I preferred it when the carried local makers too. but it's still a good place for tea, and dog-friendly.

The Clementine, almond and poppy seed cake smothered with dark chocolate is a must. It's moist and sooo delicious - really good coffee too. Great atmosphere and lovely friendly and helpful staff. Highly recommend.

Totally delicious relatively healthy cakes, lovely coffee, ever-so friendly staff and lots to keep young children entertained. All located at the back of a fantastically original toy/clothes shop. Definitely check it out.

Wickle shop was full of great unique products. However definitely very overpriced. Ordered macaroni cheese, it came with three salads- rocket, cous cous and beetroot. Really delicious however again slightly expensive for what we were getting. A really nice place to have a look or stop for a bite in Lewes; i have even heard it's the best coffee in town! Just be edxpectant of some high pricing.

A bit of an Aladdin's cave, this. A shop in the front, with some quirky dishes, boxes, pillows, random interesting objects, some cute baby things. And then a little cafe behind with homemade cake and good coffee. This really is comfortable; we chatted quite a while without being crowded or hurried. I look forward to going again.

This was at the back of the toy shop when we were there. It's not a posh cafe, but it's fine for a cup of coffee and cake. The refreshments were fine, and the atmosphere was relaxed. I can imagine it wouldn't suit everyone, but we enjoyed it, and would go back again next time we are in Lewes.

Not a huge seating area or menu, we went in for a light lunch, with coffees and teas, The food quality and value was very good, definitely go again

I would like to start by saying this is the second time we've eaten here and we were just as impressed as the first time...so it's really a 2 x 5* recommendation.

We have been to this cafe before when it was downstairs and separate from the shop and enjoyed our visit but now it is upstairs it seems to have changed and not for the better. We waited a long time for two poorly made wraps and a pot of special tea which was musty and not at all nice. The tables were sticky (a pet hate I'm afraid) and there was a distinct lack of smiles on the faces of the staff - and ours as we left. Lewes is a lovely place for a browse and curio shopping experience but next time we visit we will be looking for somewhere different for lunch.

As a shop, I love it. I like the little sit down area, and the cakes are delicious. The stock is nice, albeit overpriced. My problem is the staff, particularly the managers/owners? Snotty and you feel like you're being watched as you wander around the store. Very off-putting. I've spoken to a number of Lewes locals who have felt the same.

I stopped here for hot-chocolates with a friend on a rainy day; they were lovely! The service was great, the waitress/barista was friendly and pointed me towards their gluten free cakes. We shared a chocolate and beetroot cake which I would definitely go out of my way to have again and probably will at some point soon! A great place for vegan/gluten freers :)

Has all kinds of unusual and creative homewares, fashion generally interesting, different stuff AND coffee. Will definitely be visiting their website.

A great venue for a quick bite with friends. Many delicious cakes and lite bites. Vegan/dairy free catered for with yummy snacks too.

We didn't managed to eat there but did notice a cafe at the back. But we did buy a few bits at Wickle. Very impressed with the staff, friendly and nothing is too much trouble, Oh, and the designer wrapping paper they use, such a nice touch>

Fabulous new space and menu offering exciting (and healthy) salads and stews and flatbreads as well as the usual cakes etc. Great decor and a wonderful calm stylish ambience. I liked the Wickle cafe before (altho was sometimes a bit full of noisy kids) but I love this. We don't live locally but will be back!!! Well done Wickle

Good food. Very friendly service. Lovely clothes. Amazingly good quality perfume. Would expect a much higher price tag. All in all a great place to visit. You are bound to find something there you would like to buy.

Full of Twits one and all ifyou are a twit or you are married to a twit or if your friends are twits and if you have a big massive twit buggy to carry your twit kids this is the place for you...you will love it

nice cakes etc ...but sometimes overun with yummy mummys who seem to have trouble telling their little darlin's to put a sock in it

Friendly staff-great selection of items for sale,particularly toys and games.Interesting and quirky jewellery pieces.

I appreciate Wickle,unusual shops are very few and far between these days.I love the food,clothes,everything really! The only issue I have,is the request for pushchairs to be out of the way completely,even though I had a newborn who needed to be asleep whilst I was shopping.I was even asked if my pushchair could be chained outside in the pouring rain whilst I was in the shop! (obviously not with my baby in it)!

Wickle is the perfect example of how high street retail will beat the online competition. Offering a broad selection of treats for children and adults alike, plus coffee and cake for delicious sustenance, this is the reason to venture from the sofa and open the wallet!!

I love wickle as a shop in any way but their food is tasty, served with a smile and very reasonably priced. I must go back soon. The only thing is the fact that it is a bit cramped between the beatiful plastic boxes and the toys. It would be nice to have a bit of space.

Just love Wickle - fantastic toys, beautiful clothes, never come home disappointed or empty handed. A lovely place to have a coffee while the children play and I search for presents :-)

I can't put my finger on why we always head here for a (very) light lunch.