The Laurel

1 George St, Hailsham BN27 1AD, United Kingdom
+44 1323 345005
$$$ Cafe
(35 Reviews)
Price Range £1–10

The Laurel is a relaxed café tucked into Hailsham’s George Street, offering a bright and airy setting that suits both quick coffee stops and longer meet-ups. The interior mixes practical seating options — including well-spaced tables for solo visitors or groups, as well as plush leather sofas — creating a welcoming environment whether you're looking to catch up with friends or settle in with a book.

Locals seem to appreciate this spot for its straightforward, home-style menu that spans breakfast and brunch essentials. From scrambled eggs on toast to more refined dishes like Eggs Benedict or a smashed avocado on toasted sourdough, the food balances familiar comfort with a touch of care. Weekday mornings and early afternoons tend to fill with a diverse crowd — from professionals grabbing a coffee to parents easily accommodated by the attentive staff, noted for their helpfulness and thoughtful touches such as routinely cleaning highchairs.

Cakes and pastries stand out as a reliable treat here, fresh and home-style rather than elaborate or fancy. This makes The Laurel a popular choice for a casual bite or a sweet pause alongside a well-pulled flat white or a traditional tea. The atmosphere carries a calm, everyday vibe with subtle buzz — not too loud or busy, perfect for those who want a simple, comfortable spot away from the more touristy or commercial parts of town.

All told, The Laurel fits neatly into Hailsham’s local rhythm. It’s a café that respects the small rituals of daily life, from a morning coffee to a relaxed lunch or an afternoon catch-up. It’s especially suited to visitors who value a clean, airy space with friendly, consistent service and a no-fuss menu grounded in traditional cafe classics.

Highlights
Serves great coffee
Serves great dessert
Has great tea selection
Popular for
Popular for breakfast
Popular for lunch
Good for solo dining
What they serve
Serves coffee
Quick bite
Serves small plates
Best for
Serves breakfast
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Has catering
Serves dessert
Has seating
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Wednesday

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Thursday

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Friday

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Saturday

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Sunday

Closed

35 Reviews
Terry Tozer

06 Jan 2026

Just popped in for a quick coffee and a very fresh croissant with butter and jam. The Laurel Cafe is a lovely and qaint place, it's very clean, light, bright and airy with very friendly and helpful staff. It can accommodate about thirty plus please, many different sized tables sectioned off into different areas and also a few large leather sofa's. There is a large s selection of of cakes and pastries on offer. It's so nice to have a cafe down this end of town. Because of the soft furnishings it was lovely and quite. Well worth a visit.

Debbie Cutting

04 Jan 2026

My very first visit to this lovely cafe in hailsham .so cosy and quaint .lovely interior and decor with ample seating including some really cosy seating .i was welcomed by a lovely young man called bradley .he was friendly polite and helpful .the whole place has a lovely vibe.i had a gorgeous flat white and delicious toasted tea cake .this is definantly my new go to when i visit hailsham .and great prices to

Sarah Neate

04 Jan 2026

Always enjoy visiting Laurels. Delicious home cooked cakes & savouries. Great menu from breakfast to delicious lunches. Can highly recommend ploughman's lunch, jacket potatoes, soup especially with tasty homemade cheese scones. Great variety of cakes. Great staff young men always polite & helpful. Always a favourite place to meet up with friends. Please keep up the good work. Thank you

Rachel

29 Dec 2025

Very friendly, helpful staff. Lovely cakes and lunch options. Always helpful grabbing a highchair and cleaning it down before use - it's amazing how many cafes have dirty highchairs and these guys always make the effort to make our visits as easy as poss with baby!

Mel Martin

15 Nov 2025

Comfortable seating with some sofas and plenty of tables and chairs. Service is always first class. Lovely staff always friendly and happy to see you. Food is very good! A great choice of hot and cold food. There are aways gorgeous cakes and pastries to choose from the hard part is decideding!

Lord Brett McLean

15 Nov 2025

A visit to Hailsham is not complete without a visit to The Laurels for tea and cake. Staff were professional, courteous, helpful, polite and professional. The cake was a gluten free caramel cake that was light, fluffy, tasty and quite frankly ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! The venue itself was clean , tidy and boasted a great interior design. Well worth a visit. Will definitely be returning. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ all the way!

Rachel Tuppenney

10 Oct 2025

I absolutely love The Laurel. Definitely my go to for lunch and meet up with friends. Food is fantastic and very well portioned. Staff are so friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend!!!

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