The Bandstand

Lovely location and food ok but service was rubbish and the staff were very rude — will not be returning!

I appreciate that on a Sat am they are busy on a sunny day.
However although there were 3 front of house staff t manage a small cover area, .it appeared that the tall man did not take orders„ the waitress did not seem to either, so that left the Manager. I had to put my order in at the bar because we shut sat there for over 15 mins and only wanted a drink. They were checking periodically to see if they had all orders which was something but it did not seem well organized or efficient in the first place = more sort of pot luck to see if you could get the order in off somebody!
I have had some really good bloody marys here — perfect pick up after a hard sat night.
We ordered a jug of Pimms — a bit of a treat for my friends down from London… but not really a treat when we saw it had the ingredients of sangria. Oranges and lemons only.
Pimms should have mint, strawberries and cucumber in it as well. I asked him about this and he was very unpleasant — it was if well if you don;t like it leave– lump it, or we can give you a discount. This is more or less what he said. I said it was fine we had good drinks here before but we would accept a bit off, as afterall not Pimms. I notice he also served Mojitos so how do you do those without mint. does not take that much intiatiive to send someone out to get some from Sainsburys (he said his delivery man had not turned up) but strikes me that Bank Holiday Monday he had run out and had not thought about this potential probleml. Better to send someone out, than proceed all day without the ingredients for your cocktails.
Well he then came out and glared at me periodically which i‘ just ignored but really it was like he had it in for me. He gave us £1 off the jug which cost £14 I think and was not stirred either we were left to do that ourselve, s but with nothing to do it with so again to the bar to get a spoon.
Shame nice — spot bad service. Food might also be okay.

IT WAS EMBARRASSING TO SIT THERE WITH GUESTS. WE WONT VISIT IT AGAIN
I have visited the Bandstand Café several times over the last few years. The pastries have always been of reasonable quality (although they are made by someone else).
Unfortunately I visited again yesterday with friends, and had a rather poor experience. The café/​seating was not full but on asking for a table for 4 people I was told by an older male staff member that they had none (he then walked away). I then asked a younger female member of staff and she helpfully (and sensibly) pulled two tables together for us.
After 5 or 10 minutes of sitting an older male waiter came to our table to and asked us to move saying that he needed these tables (Im not sure what for apart from seating guests? as no one else was waiting). I let him know that his colleague had seated us and suddenly he no longer needed these tables. Very odd. He then took our orders. Unfortinately he got our orders wrong, and then became agressive about it when asked to clarify what the drinks were.
If I wasn’t with visiting guests I would have walked out. There was no need for aggression when he thought we had move his tables, and no need for the aggression when we questioned what was in the order. Those are basic parts of being a waiter. If you cant handle that dont be a waiter

This restored listed bandstand is a recent addition to the seafront’s cuisine and I’m delighted the food almost matches the majesty of this beautiful heritage building. It was under wraps for ages until it was unfurled last Summer to rapturous reviews, all that lovely fretwork and decadent balustrade, pretty much sums up Brighton. The restaurant is French, does a nice line in pastas and Gallic dishes and snacky pastries. We tried the oysters and though they didn’t make us randy particularly they certainly tasted as if they’d been hand delivered by a mermaid, fresh and cold. The coffees and sarnies are good here, as are the delicately presented cakes. Formidable nous disons. Bienvenue!

My boyfriend and I had breakfast at the new Bandstand Café last Saturday morning. He was feeling a little worse for wear, so I thought a hot breakfast in the slightly bracing March wind might be a good antidote to his hangover. To be honest, I don’t know about him, but I loved it.
Sometimes, I get reminded that Brighton is a place where loads of people come on holiday, and that I am really lucky to live here, and that was exactly the feeling I had while I was eating a delicious, properly French, gooey-​in-​the-​middle cheese and mushroom omelette next to the sea, and watching the people walking along the promenade.
The coffee was good too, and although it is clearly for practical reasons, it pleased me that the sugar on the table and the tap water that was brought to us came in sealable kilner jars and bottles.
The waitress was quite sweet, although she did seem pretty anxious to get back inside every time she came out to serve us, possibly because she was only wearing a t-​shirt, whereas I was wrapped up in my coat and scarf.
The menu was reasonably priced, our two breakfasts with coffees and juice and a side of the rosti potatoes came to about £25 — well worth it considering the location and the quality of the albeit simple food.
In fact I liked it so much I was trying to figure out if I could think of a good reason to have a party there — as the Bandstand café is also available for private hire.

Gotta love Brighton:
Just saw a crew of teenage b-​boys practicing their break-​dancing on The Bandstand. They didn’t seem to notice the ferocious wind rolling in from the sea or the gangs rolling past in fake blood and halloween costumes. Their focus was completely on the music and their next move!