Breakfast, coffee and lunch on Southwick beach
Southwick's hidden secret, right on the beach at Shoreham Port. All-day breakfasts, a daily specials board, coffee and cake, and a fully licensed bar.
Food and drink
Breakfast is served all day, there's a specials board for lunch, and the beach is down the steps outside.
All-day breakfast
Breakfast, served all day
From scrambled egg on toast to the Colossal: two of everything, four hash browns, black pudding, beans, mushrooms and toast. There's a vegetarian breakfast too, and it can be made vegan.
Lunch
Daily specials, jackets and fish and chips
Homemade soup, chilli and quiche, lasagne and curry, jacket potatoes and salads, and fish, scampi or whitebait with chips. Check the specials board when you come in.
Sundays
Sunday roast
Roast beef rump, lamb or corn-fed chicken, or a homemade vegetarian nut roast, every Sunday.
Coffee, cake and the bar
Coffee and cake, or a drink in the sun
Coffee, hot chocolate, milkshakes and cake, plus beer and cider on tap and wine by the glass.
Good to know
Inside and out, so you can bring the dog in from a walk on the beach.
Wheelchair-accessible parking, entrance, seating and toilet.
High chairs and a kids' menu.
Beer and cider on tap, wine by the glass.
Pay and display car park right beside the cafe on Basin Road South.
The top score, from the Food Standards Agency's inspection in December 2024.
Rated 4.2 from 1,727 Google reviews
More than 900 of them give five stars, and the friendly staff come up in over 200. A few from the last year:
The best Sausage Sandwich in the South. Breakfasts are champion too!
Matt W.
Google review
Hidden gem this. Found by complete accident (road closures, diversions, wrong turning). Amazing breakfast, lovely coffee. Go find it, totally worth the trip.
Weston A.
Google review
After a long bike the cafe was a welcome sight. ... Nice thick bacon cooked just right. The cafe is now on my list of regular stop offs.
Nigel L.
Google review
Absolutely fab cafe. Step free access and helpful staff. You can sit outside in nice weather or there's plenty of room indoors when it's not.
Tabby H.
Google review
An odd place to get to as you drive along the docks, but don't let that fool you. A fabulous setting looking out over the beach. Friendly staff and great food.
Suzanne M.
Google review
Lovely birthday party at Carats. Nothing was too much trouble for the team.
Rosie S.
Google review
Live music, big games and nights on the beach
There's live music on the stage out front, and the big games go on the outdoor LED screen and the TVs inside. For club nights on the beach, follow Melon's Wrld on Instagram.
Find us
Basin Road South, Southwick BN41 1WD, with a pay and display car park next door.
Questions
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Monday to Friday 8:30am to 3:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday 8am to 5pm. Hours can change with the weather and the season, so if you're making a special trip, give us a ring on 01273 430924. [placeholder: Chris to confirm winter hours]
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Southwick station and the 700 bus stop on the A259 are a short walk away: cross the locks and follow the signs to the beach. If you're driving, follow Basin Road South through the port to the pay and display car park right next to Carats. For SatNav, use BN41 1WD.
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Yes. Dogs are welcome inside and out.
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Yes. There's step-free access, with a wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance, seating and toilet.
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There's a vegetarian breakfast, a homemade nut roast on Sundays, a vegetable lasagne and halloumi salads, and several dishes can be made vegan. Look for VGA on the menu boards, or ask the team.
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Yes. Carats can be hired after normal closing time for birthdays and get-togethers, with a buffet that can include vegetarian and vegan food. Call 01273 430924 to talk it through. [placeholder: Chris to confirm capacity and how bookings work]
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Yes, it's free.
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Yes, so you can take it down to the beach.