If you’ve ever grabbed a coffee, swapped stories over lunch, or treated yourself to one of those irresistible brownies, you’ll know the Sussex Innovation café is one of the social hubs of our centre. Behind the counter, Jamie and Oliver keep things buzzing – not just with great food and coffee, but with a real sense of community. We caught up with them to chat about life in the café, their future plans with pop-ups and specials, and what makes the space such a warm and welcoming spot for everyone who drops by.

 

To start off, can you tell me a bit about yourselves and how you joined the café team?

Jamie: Outside of work, I love going to the beach and watching football – you can probably guess that from the banner behind the counter! I also play in a professional pool league. I’m not the ‘greatest’ player, but I play for the social side of it. I’m generally quite sociable, which probably explains why I get on so well with our customers. I’m always chatting with everyone while they grab their coffees (often I already know what they are going to order!), and that’s part of what makes the café such a great place to work. It’s a really social team, and you end up knowing everyone as friends too.

Oliver: You’ve got loads of experience with the community here, don’t you?

Jamie: Oh yeah! 27 years working on campus! Lots of people won’t know that I started as a young bar man at 20 years old, and gradually worked across the different campus cafés. I even still know lots of the tenants from back then – some of them were students at the time!

Oliver: For me, when it comes to spare time, I’m a passionate cook! Most people would think that after a day in the kitchen, I wouldn’t want to cook at home – but it’s actually the opposite. I enjoy making breads and experimenting with recipes; it’s really relaxing. I also play tennis regularly, snowboard, and spend time with my family. I’ve been working in hospitality for years, and my passion for cooking, combined with my ability to connect with clients, has really supported how I approach my role.

Any memorable events or pop-ups that you have hosted with Sussex Innovation?

Jamie: I have to say the Christmas party – I love Christmas, and it’s so nice to see the whole community come together and have fun. Plus, it gives me an excuse to wear my Santa hat!

Oliver: There’s a couple that really stand out! One that springs to mind is the collaboration we did with Redroaster, our local coffee supplier. They recently hosted a community coffee tasting with us to help everyone choose the blend for the café. Some of the most memorable moments are also from the Sussex Innovation socials – we always get great turnout, and I have to make sure the food looks as good as it tastes! We also do bespoke catering for tenants. Those bookings for meetings and small events are really exciting because we get to work one-on-one with the community and create something unique to their needs.

 

If you had to describe our community in 3 words – what would they be?

Oliver: Innovative. Friendly. And maybe most importantly, tasty!

Jamie: Definitely friendly. Welcoming. And coffee! I always say we are a warm, welcoming space – you can get fresh salads, hot meals, and great coffee made by great staff.

Oliver: Yeah, I want people to feel welcome and intrigued. If it is someone’s first time coming to the café, I want them to feel surprised about what’s on offer. I’m always thinking about how we present our food, whether that’s using contrasting colours in our salads, bright spices, or the right bowls – it makes a massive difference. I want people to be able to take a proper break from their working day and find something delicious when they stop by.

Jamie: We all shop with our eyes, don’t we! Well, I definitely do!

Do you have a favourite menu item or special?

Jamie: I always like our comfort food. The lasagne or pie is what I’m drawn towards.

Oliver: For me, it’s probably our field tray. It’s become such a recognisable lunch item on our menu, and I’m really passionate about making veggies taste nice. I also enjoy making the South East Asian dishes – I think it’s a good test of a chef’s skills if they can get those flavours and herbs right.

 

Is there anything about the café that our community might not know?

Jamie: One thing that people might not know is the amount of food we prepare fresh onsite. Pretty much everything now is made right here by our team.

Oliver: People might also find the behind-the-scenes work in the kitchen interesting. Everything we do and cook has to meet strict health and safety regulations. Sustainability is really important to us too – we get produce from Waste-Not, an organisation that works directly with farmers and chefs. Basically, you get a heads-up the week before about what vegetables will be in your delivery, so you can plan your menu, and that veg goes into most of our salads. We also try to use local, independent suppliers wherever possible.

 

Do you have any upcoming plans or ideas for the Sussex Innovation café?

Oliver: Yeah! We’ve been working with the marketing team to come up with ideas for themed day pop-ups. I’ve also already started planning the Christmas menu for our members’ party, and working on our Winter seasonal menu.

 

Finally, if you had to pick – tea or coffee?

Oliver: I like coffee, but I have to say I am a tea person.

Jamie: Coffee definitely – I have to have my coffee in the morning!

 

If you’d like to experience the café at Sussex Innovation for yourself, you can find all the travel details here. Whether you’re popping in for your morning coffee, enjoying a leisurely lunch, or stopping by for one of our seasonal specials, we’d love to welcome you. And if you’re thinking of hosting a meeting, workshop, or event, our space is designed to bring people together – our friendly team is always on hand to help you plan and create the perfect experience. Get in touch here to find out more.