Small Batch, Goldstone Villas

The classic Goldstone espresso blend in a classic Small Batch Coffee espresso cup, served at the Goldstone Villas branch, the original Small Batch Coffee espresso bar & roastery.Small Batch Coffee has been a cornerstone of Brighton & Hove’s speciality coffee scene for many years. Currently there are seven outlets in Brighton & Hove itself, including two carts (one at Brighton Station, the other at Hove Station), a new roastery in Portslade and the latest branch, just along the coast in Worthing. I’ve always been Small Batch fan, so it’s a bit odd that that I’ve only written up the Norfolk Square branch, and that was four years ago! So, on my return to Brighton at the end of last year, I made a Small Batch visit a priority and where better than where it all started, the original roastery/espresso bar at Goldstone Villas?

These days, of course, the roastery is no more, having moved out in September 2017. Instead, you effectively get two coffee shops in one, the old roastery having been converted into the Workspace, designed to attract remote workers, although anyone is welcome to use it. The offering is the same in both: a standard espresso menu using the Goldstone house-blend (or decaf if you prefer), plus a daily option on batch-brew. If you’re hungry, there are pre-prepared sandwiches and cake, with doughnuts on Saturday.

You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery.

  • The original Small Batch at Goldstone Villas, Hove.
  • The coffee shop (the original Small Batch espresso bar) is on the right, while on the left...
  • ... is the old roastery, which is has now been reinvented as the Workspace.
  • Each of the two halves has its own (near identical) outside seating area.
  • This is outside the Workspace...
  • ... while this is in front of the coffee shop.
  • Clearly, I chose the right day to visit!
  • Let's go in, shall we?
  • The counter runs down the left-hand side of the coffee shop part on the right.
  • There are a couple of tables in the windows at the front...
  • ... and then a row of four tables along the wall on the right, starting with this one.
  • The tables run almost all the way to the back of the room...
  • ... ending in this one. The high chairs are really comfortable, by the way.
  • There's a set of retail shelves and another table right at the back.
  • The table is long and thin...
  • ...with the retail shelves off to the right.
  • There's a doorway in the wall at the back on the left, just beyond the counter...
  • ... which leads into the Workspace. At least we now know where the beans are kept!
  • The view back from the Workspace into the coffee shop.
  • Mind the step!
  • The rear part of the Workspace is dominated by this 10-person communal table...
  • ... which runs down the centre.
  • Beyond this are three, high two-person tables against the left-hand wall.
  • A set of shelves separates the rear of the Workspace from the front...
  • ... where you'll find more seating and lots of natural light!
  • There's a window-bar at the front...
  • ... while the rest of the seating, three four-person tables, are arranged in an L-shape...
  • ... along the left-hand wall and along the front of the shelves.
  • This, by the way, is the view you get if you come in on this side.
  • The shelving unit separating the front and rear sections of the Workspace.
  • If you're sitting here, you have your own menu, but you need to go next door to order...
  • ... although you can flag down a passing barista if you don't want to leave your laptop.
  • The Workspace has its own Wi-fi network. Nice password, by the way.
  • A nod to the past: an old roaster occupies a spot in the Workspace window.
  • Talking of old, check out this Hobart grinder on the shelves.
  • There's also a reading shelf on the other side.
  • Good reuse of an old coffee sack.
  • You can, of course, buy the full range of Small Batch's blends and single origins...
  • ... which are on sale at the back of the coffee shop side.
  • There's also a range of coffee-making equipment...
  • ... which is on display on the shelves above that.
  • Interesting initiative.
  • There are, of course, lots of lights, although I suspect that these were up for Christmas.
  • These, hanging above the communal table, are more permanent though.
  • Obligatory light bulb shot number 1.
  • Obligatory light bulb shot number 2.
  • Other nice touch are the bottles of water at the end of the counter.
  • Talking of which, let's get down to business. The till is in the middle of the counter...
  • ... with the concise menu on the wall behind.
  • By the time I got there, the cakes and savouries were a bit depleted...
  • ... although some of the doughnuts were left, which was excellent news!
  • The white La Marzocco FB 80 espresso machine is at the far end of the counter.
  • If you stand near the door to the Workspace, you get a good view of the business end.
  • I went for a doughnut and an espresso.
  • My doughnut was excellent, really light and fluffy.
  • My espresso, meanwhile, made with the Goldstone blend, was served in a classic...
  • ... Small Batch espresso cup, which is where I'll leave things.
Photo Carousel by WOWSlider.com v4.6

I’m rather embarrassed that it’s taken me five years to get back! For those that don’t know, Small Batch occupies a pair of ground-floor units, with flats above, at the left-hand end of a small parade of shops at the northern end of Goldstone Villas, just a stone’s throw from Hove Station. I actually visited back in 2013, when I sat in the espresso bar, interviewing one of the founders, Alan, for Caffeine Magazine #5.

From the street, the two parts of Small Batch look almost identical: both have floor-to-ceiling windows on the left, and a glass door on the right, each with a slightly raised outdoor seating area of two four-person tables in front of the windows. A small step leads up to the left-hand door (the old roastery, now the Workspace), while the right-hand door has a long, shallow ramp. You can use either door, but are better off entering on the right, where you’ll find the counter.

Both spaces are long and thin, although the layouts are rather different. The coffee shop (right-hand side) has two low four-person tables with stools in the windows to the left of the door, while the counter runs along most of the left-hand wall, ending about ¾ of the way back, leaving space for a doorway through to the Workspace. Beyond this, projecting from the back wall, is a long, thin, high three-person table.

Four sets of tall, four-person tables with high, low-backed chairs line the right-hand wall. The first set, a little way back from the door, is narrower than the others, which are equally spaced along the wall, the final set opposite the doorway through to the Workspace. Right at the back, against the back wall, is the retail selection, where you can buy coffee kit and beans.

The counter is logically laid out, cakes and sandwiches first, forcing you to file past on the way to the till, where you order. Next comes a pair of grinders (decaf and house-blend), followed by the four-group La Marzocco FB80 espresso machine. Finally, at the end, an open space allows you to wait if you’ve ordered takeaway.

The Workspace, on the other side, is effectively an extension of the coffee shop, but fitted out for working on laptops, etc. Each space has its own (free) Wi-Fi network, but only the Workspace has power, attracting laptop/remote workers during the week, but acting more as overflow seating at the weekends.

The Workspace is split into two, with front and rear sections separated by a tall shelving unit which extends from the left-hand wall to about ¾ of the width of the Workspace. A three-person window-bar is to the left of the door, followed by an L-shaped arrangement of three four-person tables along left-hand wall and the front of the shelves. At the back, there’s a long, communal table down the middle with 10 seats, five per side, with three two-person high square tables with stools against left-hand wall.  You can head through the doorway at the back to order at the counter, or, if you don’t want to leave your laptop, you can flag down a passing barista.

I was there on the last Saturday before Christmas, when it was relatively quiet. I enjoyed a double espresso of the Goldstone blend, which is blessed with a traditional espresso profile. This was just as well since I paired it with a very lovely raspberry doughnut. Light and fluffy, stuffed full of raspberry jam, it was very sweet, and I fear a more subtle espresso blend wouldn’t have stood up to it at all well!


December 2019: Small Batch, Goldstone Villas was a runner-up for the 2019 Best Cake Award.

68-70 GOLDSTONE VILLAS • HOVE • BN3 3RU
www.smallbatchcoffee.co.uk +44 (0) 1273 734590
Monday 06:00 – 17:30 Roaster Small Batch (espresso + batch-brew)
Tuesday 06:00 – 17:30 Seating Tables, Tables (outside)
Wednesday 06:00 – 17:30 Food Cakes, Sandwiches
Thursday 06:00 – 17:30 Service Order at Counter
Friday 06:00 – 17:30 Cards Amex, Mastercard, Visa
Saturday 07:00 – 16:00 Wifi Free (with)
Sunday 08:00 – 15:30 Power Yes (in Workspace)
Chain Local Visits 12th September 2013, 22nd December 2018

Liked this? Then take a look at the rest of Hove’s speciality coffee scene with the Coffee Spot Guide to Brighton & Hove.


If you liked this post, please let me know by clicking the “Like” button. If you have a WordPress account and you don’t mind everyone knowing that you liked this post, you can use the “Like this” button right at the bottom instead. [bawlu_buttons]
Don’t forget that you can share this post with your friends using the buttons below.

Please let me know what you think. Guidelines for comments are in the "Posts" drop-down menu.