There are two sides to Angel Lounge Bar in the heart of Shoreham-by-Sea. By day, the double doors open out onto the street to reveal a fresh and restful cafe where locals can sit outside and relax with a slice of cake, a chilled glass of wine or a cup of coffee.

By night, the lights are dimmed, the bar glows red and the sound of deep house and soul music draws a young and funky crowd. If you are looking for a mellow cocktail or three in sophisticated, candlelit surroundings, Angel Lounge Bar is for you.

Owned by chef Jordan Webb, who also co-owns Vanilla Restaurant in Hove, Angel is simply decorated yet stylish. High ceilings lend a feeling of space and chandeliers add a touch of city glamour.

With a nod to angelic purity, the interior is painted white and staff are dressed in white with wings printed on the back of their T-shirts. The whole venue seems to have been conceived with the intention of reinvigorating world-weary souls.

“There is a relaxed feel to it,” says Jordan. “It’s not a teenage bar. It’s aimed at the over-25s. It is somewhere I would go to enjoy a drink. It has a very laidback, chilled-out vibe. Very much a mixture of ages and nice, friendly people.”

Resident DJs on the weekend, including Wild Fruit’s Peter Hayward every Friday, pick up the pace if you fancy a shimmy.

The menu offers a broad range of hot and cold tapas as well as bocadillo brindado – freshly-filled toasted sandwiches, all freshly prepared by Jordan daily.

“There is nothing fancy about it” says Jordan, “just great tasting food.”

Each tapas dish costs between £2.20 and £3.50 and includes cured meat platters, home-made gravadlax, Spanish tortilla, feta and beetroot salad and mackerel rillette. Wines, cocktails, coffees, European draught and bottled beers are also available.

Review by Xenia Gregoriadis