Baked - Hove

Food: Great looking selection of cakes, biscuits, doggy treats...(!) and a brunch style food menu

Child Friendliness: Good

Access: Reasonable for one buggy but only one and seemingly one highchair available (Ikea)

Prices: Either incredibly reasonable or we were undercharged!

Ambiance: Chic, understated style with a very cool continental feel. Emphasis on 'window perches' with bar stools

A confession is probably in order here...we were actually on our way to Small Batch on Wilbury (ahem) when I had to be coerced into Baked! To be fair it wasn't that hard a sell, we had watched as it was transformed recently with a lovely stripey awning and it still smelled of paint when we walked in (literally - one of the staff had it smeared across her black jeans!) Whilst Baked is certainly a good looking addition to Church Road, I was surprised at how small it is  inside. As we bundled in all coats, scarves and buggy we felt a bit in the way and we made a bit of a scene getting Ivy into the high chair with what felt like all eyes on us, disturbing the French idyll. Eventually seated with a boisterous child I ordered (table service? counter service? I think its table service...) a latte and a cookie, other half had an Americano and a slice of heavenly/gooey loaf cake and Ivy had a babyccino and a small but rather good looking butter biscuit. Biscuits I have to say were very nice, not too sweet and the coffee was...okay but not Small Batch! Babycinno was a bit large and a served in a china cup (even though I asked for a paper one) so needless to Little Miss Menace wasn't allowed to touch it! Just lick the spoon! Overall, its new and they are trying hard but its small so you can't really tuck yourself away in a corner with a rioting child and have an inconspicuous coffee. I can imagine it coming into its own in the Summer with outdoor seating and more hipsters with magazines but at present its a bit of an ordeal to wrestle a thrashing child into a highchair in front the cool people with lifestyle magazines. However, its not what they are aiming for. It will work because its in Hove and they don't need a Yummy Mummy Army to survive but we won't be rushing back...well maybe for some takeaway cookies.