Louise Denny and Natasha Selmes are two clever ladies who have set up this innovative café at the Bourne Hall in Hastings Old Town.

What makes the café unusual is that it stages a variety of musical and literary events, which, together with good food at low cost, has filled a niche for those seeking a little culture mingled with a communal atmosphere.

The café opened only two days after the end of the New Riviera Art Exhibition in June with bright paintwork and curtains. The very reasonably priced menu, interspersed with fine live music on the grand piano, attracted many locals and others of a more discerning nature from around the area. What is of great relevance to us at Brownbread is that the café raises considerable funds for our Charity. The collection on the opening night alone raised £42 and there has been several other fund-raising activities including a musical request coffee morning; each request making a donation to the funds. The café is generally open Wednesday to Sunday, between10.30 and 3pm. On Friday evenings there is a “Seven O’clock Club” which takes the form similar to a fringe theatre supper club providing a variety of entertainment with both English & Continental cuisine.

These Friday evenings to date have featured, for instance, Ian Edwards & Jennifer Rice’s “Noel Coward programme, a Scottish evening complete with pipers, Poetry evening with readings from Burns & others and the lovely tenor voice of Gary Marriott. (Following requests this will be repeated on St Andrews Day evening, 29th November.) Of course half the evening is also socialising & eating and people, having shunned the TV for that evening are rediscovering each other and appreciating how rich the community is in which they live.

On the 8th November I did a talk on “Horses through the Ages” including slides and a couple of relevant poems. It was well received and the choice of hot food was delicious. Later in November & December there will be evenings of mediaeval musicians and puppeteers, “We’ll Meet Again” featuring Fiona Harrison’s WW11 songs with orchestral backing. Later, David Mackie who was conductor and chorus maestro of the D’Oyle Carte Opera Company will accompany Ralph Meanky performing Kipling’s Ballads ranging from the amusing to the very dramatic. 230 candles will adorn the cake planned for Beethoven’s birthday and the years end will round up with curry, candles and carols. (Book now!).

For 2003 the 7th Feb will feature the great grandson of Charles Dickens, Gerald Dickens, telling us everything we didn’t know about the life of this great man. The 28th Feb will feature guitarist/narrator, Helena, who will also demonstrate flamenco dancing. An Ivor Novello evening is planned soon after this.

There is free parking after 6pm both on road and in the coach park area and two car parks and all are within about 150 yards. Café Caricature is at the Bourne Hall by the pedestrian crossing opposite the old Courthouse in the Bourne, Hastings Old Town. Enquiries/bookings 01424 714222.