Soup-Urb - unconvinced.

The cafe's name suggests otherwise, but I was underwhelmed by my short trip to Soup-Urb on Trafalgar street.

Last summer it took over from Nia, a rustic little coffee shop and eatery and my top choice for reading and eating. Soup-Urb had big coffee cups to fill (not literally, neither shop served anything above average-sized china ware).

The new owners hadn't changed much. There were still the same shabby-chic, driftwood-like tables and the place was just about bustling with Brighton's most pretentious and ravenous. It had a lack of ambiance though, everything was a bit samey, the mismatched chairs I so adored were nowhere to be seen and it didn't shout "take a pew, stay a while, I'll provide the hot beverages and the comfort". As, I'm sure you'll agree, all nice coffee shops so audibly do.

I stood, awkwardly, for a few minutes before a waitress approached me and said: "Are you okay?" I informed her that yes, I was, and I would just like a coffee. She told me to take a seat. After about 10 minutes of wondering whether she was going to come and take my order or not, she brought me an americano. I didn't want an americano. Just because I'd said I'd like a "coffee" doesn't mean I'd wanted an americano, it means I'd just wanted a coffee and not any food. I THOUGHT PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT COFFEE SHOP ETIQUETTE. I accepted the americano begrudgingly, knowing that the conversation I would have to have were I not to accept it would not be preferable to just drinking the thing, and americanos are cheaper than lattes anyway. Positive thinker, me.

Things took a turn for the worse though when I spotted bits floating in the jug of milk. From my time working in a coffee shop I fully understand it is easy to get coffee granules in and on everything, but I also know it is easy to check that all is suitable for a customer, and if all is not, not to give it to said customer. I asked for a new jug of milk.

After about half an hour of sipping my unwanted coffee and tweeting a little rage, I considered trying a cake from the, to be fair to them, impressive table of sweet treats. I didn't feel entirely comfortable in the place though, so decided to pay up and find somewhere else to while away the afternoon.

I can only comment on my impression of a limited visit, but I was not overly impressed and it isn't going to be a place I regularly frequent. Having said that, I've seen a lot worse and fully recognise my picky nature. You should bare that in mind. I give Soup-Urb a not particularly well informed 2 ½ out of 5 stars.