what we do
Eat with Us
Together with Us
Drink with Us
Everyone is welcome at The Grumpy Cook - whether you're grabbing breakfast on the go, meeting friends for lunch, or just fancy a slice of homemade cake and a chat.
We serve good, honest food made from scratch every day - Soups, bagels, hot meals and bakes fresh from our kitchen.
You don't need to be struggling to walk through our doors. Every purchase helps us keep prices fair, fund free meals, and support those who need extra help - so by eating with us, you're already part of something good
Drink with Us
Together with Us
Drink with Us
Whether its your morning coffee, a cuppa with friends, or an afternoon treat, you'll always find a warm welcome at The Grumpy Cook.
We serve proper barista coffee, speciality teas, indulgent hot chocolates and iced drinks - all made with care, not a conveyor belt.
Every drink you buy helps us do more good in the community - funding training, free meals and projects like combatting loneliness that make Hastings a better place for everyone.
So take a seat, sip something lovely, and know that every cup helps someone else too.
Together with Us
Together with Us
Together with Us
At The Grumpy Cook, every table tells a story - of good food, good company, and a community that looks out for one another.
Whether you're joining us for breakfast, coffee, or cake, you're part od something bigger. Every penny of profit goes back into helping others - from free meals, youth training, combatting loneliness with for the Over 65's to our Grumpy Men's Club.
You don't have to donate to make a difference - just by eating and drinking with us you already do
In more depth...
Fighting Food Poverty Without Stigma
The cost-of-living crisis has pushed too many families into impossible choices — including whether to heat their homes or eat a hot meal.
Food banks do incredible work, but there’s a harsh truth we don’t talk about enough:
If you can’t afford the energy to cook the food you’re given… how do you eat?
That’s where The Grumpy Cook in Hastings steps in.
We provide freshly cooked meals — free for those who need them most — served with dignity, warmth, and zero judgement.
No queue.
No label.
No embarrassment.
Just real food, in a welcoming café, shared with kindness.
Our belief is simple:
👉 In one of the richest countries in the world, no one should go hungry — and no one should feel ashamed for asking for help.
But The Grumpy Cook is more than a café.
It’s a community space where everyone belongs:
🧓 Older residents can drop in for a cuppa, cake, and co
👦 Young people can study, recharge, or meet friends.
💬 Anyone struggling can find support, conversation, or just a friendly face.
Every breakfast bought, every Pay-It-Forward coffee, every small act of kindness helps us keep feeding Hastings with hope, not charity.
👉 Visit our “About Us” section to learn more about the work we do — and how you can be part of it.
Pay it Forward
Small Breakfast
A Small breakfast of egg, sausage, bacon, toast and a hot drink
Our biggest seller, and for many their only cooked meal of the day.