The Belgian Cafe, Eastbourne

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.

Official site of The Belgium Cafe - www.thebelgiancafe.co.uk