Meet Bobby: 18 and running Café Tostig at Battle Station

Meet Bobby, the owner behind Café Tostig.

At just 18, he opened the café inside the Old Station Master’s House at Battle Station - taking on a building full of history and the responsibility that came with it.

Here’s how it began.

“Cafe Tostig started as a conversation between me and my mum on a car ride back from Eastbourne. We said we should open a cafe one day, like people do, but instead of leaving it there we actually looked into it.”

At the time, he had already left college early. Education hadn’t felt like the right fit. After trying everything from being an apprentice equine groom to looking into dog grooming, nothing stuck. “I did not want to just bounce between jobs. I wanted something that felt like mine.” Working as a barista gave him insight into how cafés operate day to day - and the idea began to feel possible.

When a CIC in Battle approached his mum about a space becoming available at the station, it shifted from talk to reality. The Old Station Master’s House stood out immediately - full of character and history, and positioned in the middle of daily life. Commuters, locals and visitors pass through constantly, making it part of people’s routine rather than a tucked-away destination.

Opening so young came with pressure. “At 18 you are still figuring out who you are, so opening a cafe and suddenly being responsible for everything is a lot.”

“If something goes wrong, there is not someone above you to pass it on to. You are the one responsible.”

From the beginning, the aim was simple: create somewhere relaxed. A calm stop within the pace of station life. “I was conscious of not making it feel rushed. I did not want seats that felt like timers or a space where you felt in the way for staying too long. Whether someone is stopping in for five minutes before a train or staying longer to catch up with a friend, I wanted it to feel comfortable.”

After nearly five years without a coffee spot at the station, Tostig arrived to a strong response online. New locals continue to discover it each week.

Day to day, it’s the conversations that stand out most. “I love hearing where people are heading or where they have come from, whether they are off to watch sport, visit family or just starting their day.” The café isn’t just about coffee - it’s about the small interactions in between.

One moment that confirmed it was working came on Battle re-enactment day. “The town was packed, the station was busy and the cafe did not stop all day. It was a constant stream of people coming and going from the morning through to closing.

We sold more hot chocolates that day than we ever had before, and my mum ended up driving to Bookers three times to restock cups. It was completely non-stop, but in the best way. Days like that make you realise it is not just an idea anymore, it is something people actually show up for.”

If you’re visiting for the first time, be quick with the cinnamon buns.

“If it is your first time, you have to try one of our cinnamon buns. All of our reviews mention them, and we only get six in every other day. They almost always sell out within the first couple of hours, so you have to be quick.”

Looking ahead, the focus is steady growth. “Over the next few years, I would love to see Cafe Tostig properly cement itself as part of Battle. I want it to keep growing steadily and building on the support we have already had.

I would also love the possibility of expanding to a second location one day.”