Pavilion Gardens Cafe, Brighton

What a place to either switch off , or prepare for the next assignment. As a photographer, and member of the press, I get to cover quite a few weddings in the Pavilion., It is here that I like to sit and finalize my “shooting” plans. Amid lush greenery, peace and like-minded people one can become very calm. In fact, with the first class food, absolutely great coffee and first rate service, it can make one reluctant to get on with the job. Thanks a lot and best of luck
John Green Ifnm

We have been here twice during our visits to Brighton and will certainly come again if we can. Lovely little cafe in a charming little park with great tea, coffee and sandwiches. Sometimes there’s good live music. Very nice atmosphere, very friendly and efficient staff. Absolutely recommended!

Really beautifully set little cafe, now in midsummer it's hidden from the bustle of the streets behind greenery and with a lovely view over the pavillion. If you're lucky you'll even get live music to go with your coffee. Just make sure the weather is good when you go, there is no hiding from the rain.

The Gardens are a haven of peace - a complete break from the busy city centre which surrounds them.

The Cafe provides excellent refreshments to help enjoy the surroundings and there is ample seating at the tables for those who don't want to sit on the grass. It provides various cakes and scones - some of them home-made and all tasting very fresh. It's a great place to meet up with with people and have a chat - my favourite chat here was with a German lady who, having just visited the Pavillion, told me she didn't like the artistic tastes of our British Royals. I reminded her they were probably more Germanic than British - Our conversation went no further.

For disabled people there are parking spaces in New Rd adjacent to the Gardens and there are slopes down from this road or level access from North St or Church St.

A favourite place of mine to snatch an hour of sun for some alfresco lunching, usually during the weekday lunch breaks from work.

It seems most of Brighton also have the same idea as me, the lawns are frequently packed to bursting point with locals and visitors alike, students and families, all pitching camp and soaking up the sunshine in the lavish settings of the Pavilion.

I’ve seen and also enjoyed the sitar busker that Alice speaks of below; although he was drowned out a bit by the nattering foreign students who settled down next to us.

There’s a lovely little cafe selling hot and cold food and drinks as well, so if you forget your lunch you won’t have to go without.

A summer in Brighton wouldn’t be the same without a good spot of sun-worshipping in The Pavilion Gardens. There’s always a lovely atmosphere about the place as people escape the heat and bustle of North Laine for a bit of a sit-down. And if you don’t fancy lying down in the grass, there are deckchairs for hire during the summer months.

I love just sitting here either with a book or just watching the people go by as it’s usually pretty peaceful, albeit in a Brighton kind of way. When I say peaceful, I mean there’s usually a background drone of the city and the odd busker here and there, but I’m a person that hates complete silence anyway. My favourite time to be here is when there’s a sitar player busking – with the background of the Indian-inspired Royal Pavilion it’s quite a surreal experience.

When all the flowers are out at the height of Summer, the Gardens look absolutely beautiful. I graduated in a ceremony at Brighton Dome last July and had all of my photos taken here – I don’t think I’ve ever felt so lucky to live in Brighton. Definitely one of my favourite “green spots” in the city.

This is a place to relax when the rest of Brightonia is feeling a little too crowded and busy. It's close enough to the shopping areas that it doesn't require an onerous detour to get here. But once you have sat down, you can picture yourself in a botanical pleasure garden, miles enjoying the best views of the Pavilion.

There is room for kids to run and roll on the lawns, which are sufficiently fenced to stop toddlers toddling off. When the weather is right then you can also enjoy views of sunbathing students. The buskers are far enough away not to be annoying, but close enough to be entertaining.

Don't be put off if the queue looks too long, the service is fast so you will be served quickly.

The same family has run the kiosk/cafe since prehistoric times; which is perhaps the reason for the idiosyncratic retro menu. Is this the only place in Brighton that serves rock cakes and buns rather than foccacia and cupcakes?

I love these gardens. If you’ve had enough of peoples elbows on a Saturday as you try to traverse the bustling shops then pop in here. I can’t gaurentee any solitude at the wekend but at least you can gaze at the glorious eccentricity that is the Pavilion whilst inhaling the aroma of the lovely flowers. In the winter near christmas I love the lights scattered around and the cafe is lovely to sit at in the spring-great snacks and drinks a you while away the time making up stories about those lounging on the grassy verges. Theres always entertainment in the form of budding superstars of tommorrow who meanwhile busk to earn a crust. Talking of crusts the most amusing pasttime here can be making internal bets with yourself over who will be next to be divebombed by those greedy Brighton pidgeons. Don’t let that put you off though. A haven amongst the bustle of the high street.

This is a mainstay of Brighton life! A wide variety of coffee, the cakes and even the sandwiches look home made. Its well staffed, and the staff are often really helpful too. A great place to sit and people watch - the gardens are often used for exhibitions now, such as the fundraising elephant exhibition recently, or there are buskers (who don’t come round the tables, they’re in the public space). Lovely for people with children - the grownups can have their coffee, and the children are free to run around and play - even the road thirty yards away is now pedestrianised. There are clean, well regulated public toilets at the edge of the gardens in another direction.

The Pavilion Gardens Café has been serving tourists and locals alike for over sixty-five years. Situated between the Pavilion and the freshly re-vamped New Road it is at the heart of the city and contributes to its cultural life. We host regular Sunday concerts by brass bands from all over the region, and welcome the cream of the local buskers.

As a little oasis in our now bustling city, busy shoppers, office workers grabbing half an hour of sun, and regulars who have been coming for years, use the café and ensure its continuing evolution. Other cafés in the city seem to come and go like Prime Ministers but we have been here since before the Queen ascended.

Tourists often stumble upon us by accident after seeing the Pavilion and stay to enjoy a civilized coffee. Locals use it as a summer rendezvous that everybody knows. Old people come because they know they can get a “Proper cup of tea” and are sure to see a friendly face.

A third generation family-run business, this unique building has been improving the quality of life in Brighton through boom and recession. It has adapted to the needs of today’s customer, without losing its sense of permanence and tradition. Rock cakes have remained a perennial favourite and are baked on the premises, but now you can enjoy them with a decaf skinny latte!

We have the best view of the Pavilion, and customers can enjoy the family-friendly enclosed lawn. A typical afternoon crowd will include old ladies using the deck-chairs, maybe a fire-juggler, someone playing the ocarina, toddlers finding their feet, a couple of businessmen availing themselves of the wi-fi hotspot, and students from every corner of the globe.

Customer service has to be our unique selling point, Brighton is not short of cafés, but it is short of cafés that have been successful for over sixty-five years. People come back to us because we continue to give them what they want.

Some of our staff have been working here for decades rather than years and it is this familiarity that encourages and rewards customer loyalty. We do know the names of all our regulars, and whether they prefer a cup or a mug.

The gardens are a city in miniature and we have grown and adapted to serve our new customers. Luckily they seem to want the same things as the old customers; fast, friendly service, competitive pricing and a lovely view.

The Pavilion Gardens Café serves as both a tourist attraction and a genuine institution for locals. It is an ideal place to visit as it reflects the diversity and excitement of the city itself.

I must admit I use this garden as a short cut. I very rarely go here to enjoy the park. But walking through its lovely to admire the flower beds and very old tree’s. The lawn area seems badley kept though. But thinking about the amount of people that lay on the grass I suppose it will get as bald as me!
At weekends its fun to watch the wedding parties having their photo’s taken here. Its also fun watching the illegal cyclist trying to weave their way through them as well!
Over the years I’ve seen some good buskers. Jugglers and novelity acts seem popular here. Music wise the buskers are also entertaining.
There is a cafe here. Bit dear but what part of rip of Britain isn’t? One also has to pay for deck chairs as well!