We are working with local community group Table Talk to get people talking in cafes and on buses.
It’s a simple idea. Cafes have a table marked with a Table Talk Brighton stand, where customers can sit if they are happy to talk to other people. Around 45 local cafes are already taking part. Check out our table below to see what cafes are involved and what bus will drop you off nearby.
We are also carrying the Table Talk vinyl signs on the top deck of our 30 new route 5 buses, as well as our route 12 Coaster buses, all of which have tables.
The project is the bright idea of Brighton & Hove resident Sue Epps and a few friends from One Church, who came up with the idea after hearing people say they sometimes went days without speaking to anyone.
Now they’re aiming to make Brighton & Hove Britain’s first Talking City.
Sue said: “It’s an absolutely fabulous way to meet new people while helping to reduce the amount of people feeling isolated and lonely. Table Talk is a small thing you can do to slow down, spend time with people and create a warmer community.”
She said psychological studies had discovered people were surprised at how much they enjoyed interacting with people they didn’t know and it contributed to their wellbeing.
"We are thrilled to partner with Brighton & Hove Buses,” said Sue. “It's a very important connection as buses are the best way to get around the city and ensure all of our Table Talk cafes are accessible.”
Brighton & Hove Buses’ Accessibility and Communities Manager Victoria Garcia said: "With loneliness in the UK now at epidemic proportions being part of something that actively encourages and enables people to talk to each other is a great idea. Buses are already a way of connecting people - like Table Talk does - so it was an obvious project for us to get involved with.
“We’re really pleased to provide our customers with information on how to get to participating cafes and also the opportunity to chat on board one of our own Table Talk buses.”
For more information: www.tabletalkbrighton.org
| Cafe | Address | Nearest bus stop(s) | Bus route(s) |
| Big Beach Cafe | Hove Lagoon, BN3 4LX |
Wish Road South Wish Road North |
700 (Stagecoach) 1, 1A, 6 |
| Blend | 32 Station Road, Portslade, BN41 1GB |
Boundary Road (Stop B) Boundary Road (Stop K) |
6, 7, 25, 25X, 46, 49 1, 1A, 6 |
| Boundi | 18C Station Road, Portslade, BN41 1GB |
Boundary Road (Stop B) Portslade Station (Stop J) |
6, 7, 25, 25X, 46, 49 1, 6 |
| Bright Now Café | Brighthelm, North Road, BN1 1YD | North Road | 6, 7 |
| Café Arcadia | 15B Imperial Arcade, BN1 3EA |
Imperial Arcade Churchill Square Clock Tower |
All B&H services |
| Cafe Asia | 14 Matlock Road, BN1 5FB |
The Droveway Onslow Road |
27, 77 |
| Café Coho (upstairs) | 53 Ship Street, BN1 1AF |
North Street (Stop X and Y) North Street (Stop M) |
All B&H services |
| Café Dean | 2-4 Marine Drive, Rottingdean, BN2 7HQ | Rottingdean White Horse | 2, 12, 12A, 12X, 13X, 14, 14C, 27 |
| Café Domenica | 6 Preston Road, BN1 4QE | Preston Circus |
5, 5A, 5B 270, 271, 272, 273 (Metrobus) |
| Café Domenica | Hove Library, 182 Church Road, BN3 2EG | Hove Street | 1, 1A, 6, 49 |
| Cakes the Difference | 142 Mackie Avenue, Patcham, BN1 8SB | Mackie Avenue | 5, 5A |
| C&H | Haberdashers Café, 179 Western Road, BN1 2BA | Clarence Square | 1, 1A, 2, 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 21, 21A, 25, 25X, 46, 49 |
| Cup of Joe | 28 St George's Road, Kemptown, BN2 1ED |
Kemptown Shops Burlington Street College Place |
37, 37B (compass) 12, 12A, 14, 27 1, 1A, 7, 23 |
| Debenhams | Churchill Square | Churchill Square | All B&H services |
| Earth Arts and Culture | St Augustine's Events Centre, Stanford Avenue |
Rugby Road West Beaconsfield Villas Bottom |
52 (Big Lemon) 5B |
| Elm Grove Café | 89 Elm Grove, BN2 3ET |
De Montfort Road Bonchurch Road |
21, 21A, 22, 23 |
| Georgies | 85 George Street, Hove, BN3 3YE |
George Street: Stop E Stop F Stop K Stop O |
2, 25, 25X, 46 5, 5A, 5B 2, 5, 5A, 5B, 21, 21A, 25, 25X, 46 1, 1A, 6, 49 |
| Hawks Café | 179 Whitehawk Road, BN2 5FL | Community Hub | 1, 1A |
| Hop 50+ | Palmeira Square, BN3 2FL | Palmeira Square | 1, 1A, 2, 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 21, 25, 25X, 46, 49 |
| Java | 23 Warren Way, Woodingdean, BN2 6PH | Warren Way | 2 |
| JB's Deli Bean | 80 Old London Road, Patcham, BN1 8XQ |
Highview Avenue South Brangwyn Crescent |
5A 270, 271, 272, 273 (Metrobus) |
| M&S Brighton | 195 Western Road | Churchill Square | All B&H services |
| M&S Carden | 1 Carden Avenue, BN1 8LW | Carden Hill | 5B, 26 |
| Mojo | 23 Queens Road, BN1 3XA | North Road | 6, 7 |
| Mojo | 148 Lewes Road, BN2 3LG | Melbourne Street | 23, 24, 25, 48, 49 |
| Moksha | 4-5 York Place, BN1 4GU |
St Peter's Church: Stop A Stop V Stop U |
5, 5A, 5B, 21, 21A, 22 24, 26, 46, 48, 49, 50, 50U 25, 25X, 28, 29 |
| Old Rec Café | Hove Recreation Ground |
Old Shoreham Road Hove Park Villas |
21, 21A 47 (Big Lemon) |
| Rotunda Café | Preston Park | Stanford Avenue | 5, 5A |
| RSCH - Waves restaurant, Terrace restaurant | Eastern Road, BN2 5BE | Royal Sussex County Hospital | 1, 1A, 7, 23 |
| Sebastians | Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, BN3 3BQ | Hove Town Hall | 1, 1A, 6, 49 |
| Small Batch | 17 Jubilee Street | North Road | 5, 5A, 5B, 21, 21A, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 46, 48, 49, 50 |
| Small Batch | 70 Goldstone Villas, BN3 3RU | Hove Station | 7, 21, 21A |
| Small Batch | Norfolk Square, BN1 2AA | Norfolk Square | 1, 1A, 2, 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 21, 25, 25X, 46, 49 |
| Starbucks | 4 Jubilee Street, BN1 1GE | North Road | 5, 5A, 5B, 21, 21A, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 46, 48, 49, 50 |
| Starbucks | 50 Western Road, BN3 1JD | Brunswick Placs | 1, 1A, 2, 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 21, 25, 25X, 46, 49 |
| Streets | Open Market, London Road, BN1 4JU |
Baker Street Open Market Stop O Stop M |
5, 5A, 5B 26, 46, 50 21, 21A, 22, 24, 48, 49 |
| Tilt | 134 Preston Drove, BN1 6FJ | Fiveways | 26, 46 |
| Trading Post (upstairs) | 36 Ship Street, BN1 1AB |
North Street (Stop X and Y) North Street (Stop M) |
All B&H services |
