I was bumbling along the Sunny Sussex seafront one Saturday in need of coffee when I stumbled across Goat Ledge at St Leonards on Sea. Just for a moment, I thought I’d slipped through the Matrix. Deckchairs on the beach facing a turquoise sea, bright colours and an almost Caribbean or South American vibe with the gentle hum of a tune.
I’d just come from the wreckage of the 18th-century ship, The Amsterdam, further up the coast, passing the very art deco style, ship-like Marine Court, and accidentally got caught up in a park run and it was all starting to feel a little surreal, so Goat Ledge felt right for a Pitts Stop.
A community café
Goat Ledge is a community café. In addition to the seafront venue with tables and chairs spilling onto the beach, they have five themed beach huts (walk-in or book in advance) for the chillier days and a covered pergola-style seating area. The main beach hut building is brightly coloured and hard to miss.
For breakfast
For my breakfast, they had lots of choice with local bacon baps and Hastings Haddock. A basic bacon bap will set you back £4.50 which seemed more than reasonable, and they cater for gluten-free and vegan. My Americano was a very heartening £2.80. I didn’t have time to linger for lunch (or even breakfast) because I was heading on to take a look at Hastings Pier via Bottle Alley but they have a main menu that included lots of local fish (think Grilled Fish Bap (£9) or Moules Mariniere (£10.50)). They also serve local beer, cocktails and wine!
While Goat Ledge is clearly a pretty well-known haunt for the locals, for out of towners like me, heading to and from Hastings, it’s a really great venue and well worthy of a Pitts-Stop. Even on a less sunny day.
While you’re in the area, you may also like:
Visit St Leonards
East Sussex Walks: Bulverhythe Coastal Link
A weekend in Bexhill on Sea
Shipwreck of the Sussex Coast
Things to do in Hastings
