The Custom House Hastings

Okay. Lots of reviews here about the old restaurant - not good, now gone. Onwards! The Customs House building now hosts Frankonia Bakery, which sells bread, beautiful cakes and has one of those cafe type things with coffee and other stuff. The bread is the best I have found in the Folkestone to Brighton area. Wonderful sourdoughs and more. The cakes are even better. Proper French style gooeyness. Paris Brest to die for. Can't comment on the coffee but the light snacks are excellent. Tuna Melts, that sort of thing. But mainly you want the cakes. In volume. Coming one after the other. Staff are exemplary. I challenge you not to like it. Could not be more different to the previous owner/offering which was not great.

We came across this restaurant by accident in late September I had just arrived in Hastings from Oban, Scotland. What a find! The staff were amazing, polite, attentive and great fun. I haven't enjoyed myself in a restaurant for a long time. The food and wine - superb - in fact so good we returned the next day for more. I cannot wait for my next visit to Hastings to sample their food again.

I have given four stars for the food which is always excellent. Today my wife and I decided to go for lunch and on arrival we could not help but notice that the music playing was extremely loud. My husband asked the young lady to turn it down or off and she quietened it a little. The restaurant was completely empty so this did not affect anyone else. We were given menus but the music was still too loud. We asked again if she would turn the volume down but she replied that the volume was fixed. We then walked out to go elsewhere. I might add that we have been to your restaurant many many times with friends and relatives and have always been happy with the food and service but alas we will not be going again.