What are Brighton’s best cafés to study in?

Presuming Ed Coffee House

I can only presume that this happy, well-groomed, pipe smoker is Ed.

Recently making their (bold yellow) entrance onto the scene, Presuming Ed holds its own among all London Road has to offer. Sister café to The Marwood Coffee House, the inside is similarly charming and eclectic, with all manner of things to look at. Simply and depressingly put, you could Instagram the shit out of this place.

The food is really great – “The best smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel that I’ve ever had. And, trust me, that’s saying something” an enthusiastic, but anonymous, source told me – and so is the coffee. There’s Wifi (obviously), plug sockets galore (so you can easily keep your laptop charged) and various seating options, to suit all your study needs. However, if it’s serious focus that you’re after, I would perhaps recommend bringing headphones, as the music is at such a volume that it demands to be listened to.

Opening Times: 08:00-19:00 from Monday to Friday, 09:00/10:00-19:00 on Saturday/Sunday
Location: 114-115 London Road, BN1 1JL

Redwood Café

A photo posted by Tula Luna Howarth (@tulalunah) on Oct 6, 2014 at 2:23am PDT

A photo posted by Dan Glover (@neptunedan) on Nov 12, 2014 at 4:09am PST

Looks are definitely deceiving in the case of Redwood. While the outside is bland and boring (and confusingly neither red, nor wooden) inside it is warm and friendly and busy.

Lovely staff serve a variety of teas, milkshakes and seriously good coffee. There’s loads of different places to sit – you can comfily read on a sofa, get a larger group around a big table or find a smaller one just for you. There’s also a high work bench nearer the back, for when you want to be really alone.

A popular choice for people working means that the atmosphere is that of a nice little study hub and the gentle sounds of a well-chosen and Shazamable playlist waft through the place.

Opening Times: 07:30-18:30 from Monday to Friday, then 09:00-18:00 on weekends
Location: 99 Trafalgar Street, BN1 4ER

Coffee Tree

Glasses and a mac not actually mandatory

Coffee Tree sits quietly in the North Laine. Okay, it’s not oozing personality, but it’s perfectly functional all the same. It’s small in size, and is traditional in having mainly tables and chairs (which are made from actual wood rather than books or metal or wooden crates covered in sacks).

There’s a 20% student discount, which helps to ease the sting of not just working at home, or drinking the Meeting House dry of tea. I would highly recommend the hot chocolate. The wall is covered with posters advertising things that are on in Brighton. This will either excite you, as you look over the buffet of fun that’s available right on your doorstep, or leave you feeling nonplussed, as you realise that you’ve never heard of any of these bands and would rather spend your Tuesday nights at the pub, rather than belly dancing in someone’s living room.

Opening Times: 10:00-17:00 from Monday to Saturday, 12:00-16:00 on Sundays
Location: 47 Gardner Street, The Lanes, BN1 1UN

The Marwood Coffee Shop

A photo posted by Best Of Sussex (@bestofsussex) on Mar 27, 2015 at 9:20am PDT

Marwoods is owned by the same “Withnail and I” fans who run the aforementioned Presuming Ed. It’s tucked away in a corner near the seafront and could easily be missed, unless you were looking out for it, which you will be now. Once inside though you’ll be glad you read this and went there (fingers crossed).

The interior is like a reunion for outdated toys, which is being held in a very chic jumble shop. It’s spread over three rooms, on two different floors, and there’s even a cute and colourful garden. The coffee and cake are both delicious (with the WiFi password offering some barely needed encouragement to “buymorecoffee”) and there’s a really good food menu as well, particularly the breakfasts. The atmosphere is fun and friendly, but it does get very busy during peak times, so I would recommend working in one of the upstairs rooms where it’s a little more mellow.

Opening Times: 08:00-20:00 everyday (open until 23:00 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but only for coffee and cake not food)
Location: 52 Ship Street Court, BN1 1AF

Mojo Coffee House

Located conveniently on Lewes Road, Mojo’s is a good out of town studying option. It lacks the level of character that the other places on this list have, but is still well worth a visit and will fulfil all your working wants and needs. It tends to be quite quiet and is relatively big, with lots of tables. You can therefore get settled and focus in peace, without being elbow to elbow with those having a lively debate as a well as a drink. As well as really good coffee there are ‘build your own’ smoothies available, for if the caffeine jitters get too much or you fancy a hit of actual nutrients.

Opening Times: 08:00-18:00 from Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:30 on Saturdays and 09:00-17:00 on Sundays
Location: 148 Lewes Road, BN2 3FQ