This independently-owned café and pizzeria is a place for through trade, local people or those making a bee-line because they’ve heard about its repertoire of pizzas, ice creams and coffees! They come for a breakfast of eggs and Portobello mushrooms, a lasagne lunch or an evening calzone and a bottle of wine or even a milkshake.
Community, consistency and inclusion are strong hallmarks of Java & Jazz. It’s also known for its friendly, courteous and energetic young staff - a feature of life here since this well-regarded local venue began life as a small café with a pizza oven in the late 1990s. Back then, it was an informal gathering point for many local youngsters.
In August 2024, Steve Ward took over Java and Jazz for those exact reasons, continuing the same ethos and traditions and building on the community aspect of Java, now offering live music every Thursday evening, quiz nights, craft workshops and lots more to come.
Java & Jazz pride ourselves on being in the heart of community. Forest Row is a place of free-thinking and alternative lifestyles, it’s full of artists, craftsmen, musicians, writers and performers.
Forest Row hosts its own ever-popular Forest Row Festival every September – Java & Jazz sponsors the festival and the village’s own FrowShow comedy troupe.
We are also the official sponsor for one of Forest Row’s youth football teams, we host charity evenings such as the annual meal to raise funds for a Ugandan village, which is a Worth Abbey friendship parish.
Java & Jazz has a dynamic and upbeat energy, has many repeat customers and a loyal fan base. This includes local resident and actor/comedian Ben Elton who has flagged it as one of his favourite restaurants in the whole world.
The Observer complimented it for its “mouth-wateringly good” food. The ultimate sweetener comes in the form of Java’s own raw chocolate brownies, created by John’s wife Ann.
Monday - Wednesday | 8am - 9pm
Thursday - Saturday | 8am – 9pm
Sunday | 8am – 9pm
