East Beach Cafe

This breezy café caused quite a stir when it morphed from a seafront kiosk into Thomas Hetherwick’s bold single-storey design. The owners – mother & daughter team Jane & Sophie Wood – open for breakfasts, snacks & teas (wonderful homemade cakes), but the place is worth investigating further than that. The menu & ethos – sustainable fish, seasonal & local produce – also yield admirable lunch & dinner dishes: classics such as potted shrimps or beer-battered fish & chips are always available, while more ambitious offerings might include guinea fowl with bubble & squeak, confit & roasted chicken with pistachio terrine, rigatoni with goats’ cheese or a quiche of three Sussex cheeses with salad. Finish with orange polenta cake or pomegranate mousse. A short, well-constructed wine list includes local bubbly. Service is a delight.