Hove - kid/buggy friendly cafes/restaurants?

[BrummieOnTheRun]

Hi, just moved to Hove (phew, what a breath of fresh air after bloody Camden!). Can anyone recommend any local cafes/restaurants that are kid/buggy friendly for daytime 'sanity' excursions? We're at the north end of sackville rd area, so anywhere around Hove Park, George St,central Hove or Portland Rd would be ideal.
Any recommendations on non-god-squad mother and toddler groups also appreciated! (pref serving cocktails, but that's probably asking too much )

Ooh racking my brains now! My ds has asd so my cafe excursions tend to be when he is at school! Saying that, my friends and I quite often go to Drury's in Richardson Road and we have an 18 month old with us who is made welcome. They have a corner with a blackboard, bead frame etc to keep her amused. The cafe in Hove Park is quite nice but I can't remember if it is open all year round. Not much help really am I? .

Both my children went to St Andrew's playgroup so probably not your cup of tea but I did find everyone there to be very friendly and they went out of their way to help when ds was first diagnosed. I was very sad when they left there.

Hove park cafe is great; it has this fenced in garden area with toddler toys for a bit of extended peace and quiet (and greatplayground).

Try a place called 'serenity' or something on Blatchington road (I think - turn left from top of george street go past co-op almost at the end of the road next to the fab fab fab second hand kiddy clothes boutique). It's all over friendly, and not had any pribs taking babues there - fantastic cakes and stuff.

Bagelman on church road always has high chairs... a bit further into brighton pinxto people seem to be targetting 'yummy mummy'with a toy corner - but fairly fancy for a regular thing.

many typos - one handed

Thank you for those suggestions! Really appreciated. (oh, and for the tip, kif, on the 2nd hand clothes boutique.)

Hi there, I moved to Brighton in September from Belsize Park - it is fab!

er can't think of any groups in Hove - I am near seven dials. I did try Kinderoo (a music toddler group)which is near you and didn't like it at all. Have you found ABC magazine yet? that has all the listings for toddler groups etc in it.

Blimey Brummie - if I shouted out the window I reckon you could probably hear me! Russels in Montgomery street is absolutely tiny but very very close so you could maybe leave the buggy at home. DS(3.5) and I quite often pop in for a coffee and ice cream. Hove museum is fantastic for kids, we've been visiting regularly pretty much since DS was born and I'm still finding new things in it. It has a good basic if a little pricey cafe but lots of colouring high chairs etc and a good kids menu. Nice to run around in their little garden in the summer too. Head down to the beach and turn left and you'll get to Maroccos - a real institution - proper formica italian caff with fabulous ice cream - even worth it on a rainy day. Ive really tried to like the fairly recently opened Ethels Kitchen on Blatchington Road because it looks so lovely and they've really tried to put a nice kids menu together but to be honest I haven't enjoyed any of the food I've had and I think its very overpriced (I was charged 1.40 extra for bread with my soup and it was just a couple of slices of ordinary pre-sliced) How old is/are your little one/s?

Mini-music run frequent sessions in the Holy Cross church near Stoneham park. But to be honest the inane songs and the crazy speed of every activity used to do my head in so I used to leave it for my MIL to take Ds (who loved it by the way). I much prefer
\link{http://www.kindaroo.co.uk/\Kindaroo held in the Methodist church in Portland Rd. There are many many other watering holes and we're fabulously served for shops, parks, beach, charity shops etc. Theres so much within walking distance and the buses are the best in the country. Welcome to the 'hood

Cheers Pollyanna and treacletart!

Pollyanna - I have no idea what the hell I was doing staying so long in london! Now realise we should have left years ago. Did not realise that the demented anti-social attitudes that have become the norm in inner london aren't, well, NORMAL! Have been trying to find a bloody copy of the ABC mag, but alas to no avail. They've got a list of advertisers on their site, but so much easier to flick through a magazine. The search will continue...

Treacletart - super recommendations, thank you. I LOVE the sound of the formica, italian-style caff! The more kitsch the better...will check it out asap!

I did actually stumble across the museum tea room on my wanderings yesterday. Great food. Was just slightly concerned by my co-diners who looked as if they were about to cark it . The average age in the room must have been about 85, but noone objected to my hyperactive duo (1 and 3). And I'm actively looking for old people to befriend so I can get my hands on one of those fantastic victorian villas [evil grin].

Don't live in Brighton any more..(boo hoo) but I always found the Tin Drum very child friendly, there is one on 1st or 2nd Avw and one at 7 dials. Age of clientel definately more your age!

thanks for the tip, Kammy!