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Mad Hatter Cafe

Mad Hatter Cafe, Brighton

Photographed by Bill Maskell 24-03-03

It's just so pleasant

By Ian, student living in Brighton for 4 years

One of my favourite places in Brighton would probably be the Mad Hatter café on Western Road, just opposite Waitrose, on the corner of Montpelier Rd. For several reasons: the food's nice, the coffee's good and it has these marvellous open plan windows so everyone can see in and you can see out. It's perfect to just sit there and people watch, chain smoke, wile away the day, read the papers, etc.. Plus you get a marvellous array of colourful characters walking down Western Road to sit and observe. It's just pleasant, awfully pleasant.

Interviewed for the website on 03-02-2003

This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments:

Here is Chilean fan of the Mad Hatter Cafe. I lived in Brighton last year while I was a v/e student at University of Sussex. Me and my friends used to go once a week there and enjoy the most wonderful coffee, company and food, we really loved that place. And the nicest things were the big windows - they make you feel that you are in the street, sitting in this big sofa charing with all the people from outside. It was just amazing, and now that I'm back in my country I really miss that place.

By Magdalena (21/06/2004)

I used to live in Norfolk Road up until 1966 and the Mad Hatter Cafe used to be the hardware store Timothy Whites. I am sure the large windows are a legacy from that store.

By Maggie Williams (nee Doogan) (25/11/2004)

It's my little piece of Melbourne that reminds me of my former home! Plus I am in love with all the staff ... brilliant place!

By Cal (04/08/2005)

In 1960 this cafe used to be called Mence Smith, a shop that sold household and hardware goods and some groceries. I worked there from August 1960 to August 1961. It was my first job after I had left school at the age of 15. Mence Smith was then taken over by Timothy Whites. Later they were taken over by Boots the Chemists.

By John Leach (11/10/2006)

Interested to read the comment by John Leach about Mence Smith (George Mence Smith). We had branches in North London when I was growing up - a great shop that sold the famous Muswell Hill 'granny baskets'. They were on wheels and were made from wicker and wood. A great shop. We also had Timothy White's, Northern House and Needwell's.

By Penelope (16/11/2007)