The Belgian Cafe, Eastbourne

This bar was one of my highlights for beer and food the last time I was in town four years ago. So being in town for the tennis again I was eager to pay it a return visit. Largely unchanged from my remembrances except that the communal bench seating that was in the left hand section have now been replaced with proper tables for 2 and 4 people. With regards to Paul’s review below I think you only need to be seated and table service if you are dining. I had no problem walking straight up the bar to order a beer which I then took to the pleasant outside area on the Grand Parade with its great view of the pier. On the beer front, again much as I remember it with 9 of their own craft brews on the pumps and one guest and three of the ones I tried last time were on the pumps again, but again the Oyster Stout they do was missing. And again heavily fruit based with at least three based on Mango and I went for one I hadn’t seen before called Mangoes in Black, a mango infused stout, which was a very strange brew. I got a lot of Mango and precious little stout. I’m not sure how “Belgium” some of these brews are, but if you want the authentic product then the well known Chimay and Duvel brews are available in bottles. We didn’t try the food this time, but the extensive list of mussel dishes was prominent on the menu and I noticed that they had added oysters. I thought this was still a good bar and a decent alternative to the many traditional boozers in town.

Facebook page of The Belgian Cafe - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Belgian Cafe - www.facebook.com

As it says, a 'Bar - Bistro - Brewery' right on the seafront, offering something a bit different to the residents and visitors to Eastbourne. One large L-shaped room with a notably high ceiling and plenty of light from the tall windows. Well spaced furniture, unfussy decor and - for once - background music also help give a relaxed vibe. The Bear Me Brewery is down below, and ten different beers in a range of (mostly) Belgian styles are available on tap. An interesting choice, but I went for the seasonal Biere de Mars (£2.00, half, during the early evening 'happy hour').

Yesterday afternoon (Saturday) was my first visit to the Belgian Café, although I have wandered past many times. To be honest I always had it down as an expensive café so have avoided, however I couldn’t have been more wrong. Yes food is available, with mussels being the specialty of the house, but this is also a bar. In fact this is the tap of the Beer Me brewery which is located in the cellar. I counted ten fonts on the bar, all dispensing Beer Me products. I went for a £5 pint of IPA, which was served by a polite barmaid. There is a cocktail menu, all priced around the £8 mark, and there is an extensive list of bottled beers. The interior has a cobbled together shabby feel, which is intentional. To the right of the entrance is a raised seating area full of tables set for dining. To the left are some benches that are overlooked by a projector screen that was showing Six Nations rugby. The bar on the rear wall faces some sofas and armchairs, that were far to low for my back! Live music is advertised for Friday and Saturday evenings from 19:30 to 22:30.