When there are so many trendy spots in Brighton welcoming remote working, it can leave you questioning why you spend so much time working from home. The world of Brighton cafes is your oyster, with a host of cafes to work from that excel in coffee, cake as well as making workers feel comfortable.
However, the truth is, not every café wants a room for of remote workers, so it is worth doing your research and scouting out a few options before you open up your laptop. To help you along the way, we have compiled a list of some of the most work-friendly cafes – and if you arrive and don’t want to work – you can just enjoy the food and ambience instead!
Presuming Ed’s
Perhaps the place to work from in Brighton, Presuming Ed’s serves up fast reliable internet, working charging points alongside good coffee, snacks and alcohol. With its Withnail and I-inspired name, this quirky café homes endless rooms and spaces to work from, including two different outdoor spaces. Presuming Ed’s is more a community, than a coffee shop, and you will be warmly welcomed into this colourful and imaginative space.
It isn’t the sort of place where you will be able to work in silence though as it has a lively, student atmosphere. The coolest and most interesting people are often attracted to Presuming Ed’s which makes the café a great place to people watch or make new friends. The punky, alternative vibe is a good set-up for creatives and artistic types, with fascinating art, sculptures, knickknacks and even graffiti on the toilet doors to look at.
Located on London Road, Presuming Ed’s is surrounded by shops, gyms, supermarkets and is close to the Open Market, all of which may be useful if you spend the whole day there. Brilliant drinks, brilliant decor, brilliant location – if you want to make work fun, Presuming Ed’s is probably the best way to go about it!
Address: 114-115, London Rd, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 4JG
Website: http://www.prezed.com/
Canvas Coffee Co. , Phoenix Art Space
Not too far from Presuming Ed’s, and near to The Level, stands the Phoenix Art Space – an arts organisation established as a charity in 1995. This huge building houses 100 artists’ studios, two public galleries and the Canvas Coffee Co – one of the best cafes for students and others to work from. With 12 free exhibitions per year and changing exhibitions in the Window Gallery, this is a great opportunity to combine some culture with your work, to make your working from home day a much more interesting and dynamic experience.
There is space to work from the café area, but also a long stretch of corridor where people line up their computers to work with a view of the level and green space outside. The height of the work surfaces means there is less chance of leaving with a crooked neck, and being surrounded by so many people working, creates a ‘we are in this together’ vibe. The stylish coffee bar serves some of the best coffee in town as well as offering a selection of sweet treats and light lunch options, including quiche and sandwiches.
Address: 10-14 Waterloo Pl, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN2 9NB
Website: https://www.phoenixbrighton.org/visit/cafe/
Pelicano Coffee Co.
A trio of Pelicano’s run through the centre of Brighton, with a small outdoor outlet outside Canvas Coffee and two larger outlets – one on the Lewes Road and one in the north lanes. The outside hut on the edge of The Level has several benches to work from, but this will only work if the weather is on your side – and wifi access is unlikely. However, the other two cafes are great spaces to work from with a range of excellent coffee, wifi and lots of delicious cakes and treats available. We can vouch for its chocolate banana bread and interesting selection of blondies.
Located in the middle of the university district, the café on Lewes Road is likely to be full of students, which means it is fully decked out and prepared for people working from home. You certainly won’t feel like the odd one out when you open up your computer, more one of the crowd. This is a spacious, clean, and sophisticated space to work from.
Meanwhile, the Pelicano on Sydney Street has a more traditional coffee shop vibe where you are likely to find tourists, shoppers and those enjoying the buzz of the Lanes. By all means get to work if you like that kind of lively environment, but it is unlikely you will be able to concentrate quite so well as in the Lewes branch.
Addresses:
15 Lewes Rd, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN2 3HP
28 Sydney St, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 4EP
The Level, St Peters Place, Brighton BN1 4SB
Website: https://www.pelicanocoffee.com/
Waterstones
There is something that feels particularly apt about working from a book shop, especially if writing is your profession. Surrounded by books, there are few places that can provide as much literary inspiration and being in Waterstones is also handy if you need to do some research whilst you are here.
Located on the top floor of the building, the café is a quiet haven compared to the busy town centre that buzzes underneath. You might be a bit out of breath when you get to the top, but once up there you can find everything you need – plenty of tables, a range of coffees and juices, a customer toilet and accessible wifi. Another advantage of the Waterstones café is that most people who come here do so to work and therefore it is a quiet space that won’t be too distracting.
There is a range of high-quality wraps, soups and sandwiches available, but a little warning that it certainly isn’t cheap if you want to eat and drink from here all day. Located in the centre of town, this is also a useful place to work if you need to do any food or clothes shopping during your day – and it is also close to the beach – if you opt to take your work onto the pebbles.
Address: 71-74 North St, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1ZA
Website: https://www.waterstones.com/bookshops/brighton-clock-tower
Nord
It is hard to choose a working from home café in Hove because there are a number of options dotted along Western Road. Located between Brunswick and Palmeira Square, Swedish inspired Nord offers up kitsch, clean décor in a quiet and respectful space.
As well as great coffee, the café takes its pastries and cakes extremely seriously. It also offers customers the chance to purchase cheaper goods that may have been hanging around a little longer. Scandinavian delicacies can also be found here such as Scandi buns (made with Persian Saffron) and Princess Cake (a traditional Swedish cake of alternating layers of sponge, pastry cream, jam and marzipan). These treats give you an excellent reason to enjoy the traditional Swedish ritual of Fika, which happens around 10am and 3pm in Sweden where people take a break and enjoy a snack and hot drink.
Outdoor seating runs along the front and side of the café which means it offers considerable seating both inside and outside. If you fancy a quick change of scene, why not pop down to the sea which is a few minutes’ walk away, or there is another good working from home spot located in the Starbucks opposite. There is also another Nord branch located in the centre of Brighton on Cranbourne Street to enjoy.
Address: 83 Western Rd, Hove, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 1JB
Website: http://www.nordbrighton.co.uk/
Twin Pines
Charming and refined, Twin Pines is arguably one of the best looking and well-designed cafes in Brighton. It is set over two floors, with plenty of room for both work, leisure and people watching (if you like that sort of thing). The rustic and hipster vibe of the place is matched by equally sophisticated coffee and baked goods. On the Twin Pines Instagram page, you can see the wide range of speciality coffees on offer and how much pride they take in their different roasts from regions such as Ethiopia, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Located on St James Street in Kemptown, the pier, the lanes and the shopping district are all within a short walking distance. Kemptown itself houses a number of independent cafes, bars and restaurants and is known for its alternative and relaxed vibe.
A surprising number of people online complimented Twin Pines for its coffee cups, as well as the standard of the coffee, so why not head down and check out what makes their cups so special? This is one of the cosiest and coolest spots in Brighton, with friendly staff and the kind of atmosphere which will surely lead you to greatness in whatever profession you are embarking on. What are you waiting for?
Address: 11 St James’s St, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN2 1RE
Website: http://twinpinescoffee.com
