Gateway Cafe — Restaurant in Lewes

Large cafe bright and airy plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Inside tables and chairs along with a couple of suede couches, level tiled floor with wheelchair access through large folding door facing the park, access rear entrance using stairs facing small unmarked dirt surface parking area. There is a permanent visual display of the local geology in the park and surrounding area. Outdoor picnic tables are older style bench seats. Making it harder for certain disabilities to sit. A separate ice cream and frozen section adjacent main server. Music playing in background. Dog friendly. Doggy sausages and ice cream available. Hot food available vegan and vegetarian diets, kids portions, catered for. Freshly cooked English breakfast a speciality. Licensed. Groups welcome. A very eco friendly building wood pellet burner. Underfloor heating. Solar panels on roof. I only went in for a coffee (very nicely presented) No food hence no rating. Friendly knowledgable staff. They also manage an outdoor catering truck used for special occasions/ events. Very popular with walking groups, dog walkers along with other regular specialist groups. A large disabled toilet with shower! Is located...

This place is the epitome of hit and miss.

Roughly every 2 out of 3 visits, the staff are lovely, the food is okay, it's clean, and the hot chocolate was out of this world.

*the hot chocolate is a bit watery lately.

I keep coming back because when it's good, it's really good. Best place to stop for a coffee in Peacehaven good.

And the park is absolutely stunning to look out at / sit outside in.

However, it does seem to be dependent on who is in. Some of them make amazing hot drinks - others do not. Some staff are friendly and accomodating - others are not.

It's like playing Russian roulette whenever I order a drink. I need to work out who makes the good ones!

A little bit of training and some quality checks would make this place perfect. I don't even mind that it's a little pricey - it would be totally worth it if it was consistent.

I was going to go for 3 stars but I've added an extra to balance the sheer audacity of the person who complained about dogs in a dog-friendly establishment. You can literally go anywhere you want, you pick a dog friendly place, and then moan about dogs! That's like complaining there are children...

I absolutely loved this cafe/restaurant/bar and wish I'd discovered it sooner. Well worth the 20 minute drive from Brighton and lovely dog walks all around. The cafe becomes a dog lovers paradise by morning - with the loveliest group of regulars who welcome all with open arms - and a winer and diners delight by night with a full alcohol license and proper home cooked food. I can't wait to return and to watch this place reach its full potential of being packed from opening (which it was) until an even later closing time where their delicious looking menu can be sampled by the masses. They two staff I met were incredibly friendly and warm. I feel like I've found a home away from home! If I could give more stars I truly would. Definitely a place to visit if you need a decent cuppa on a challenging day!!! Thank you all and...