Booking a Table
Join us for a truly memorable dining experience in some of Medway’s most spectacular and unusual settings! Booking a table is easy – choose a cafe from the list shown and it will then offer available times and dates.
Please note:
We have a 15 minute grace period. We may contact you about this booking, so please ensure your email and phone number are up to date.
Daytime Dining Times:
IMPORTANT: We operate a table turn policy which ensures we have availability for all our booked guests.
- Your table will be booked for 1 hour 20 minutes for parties of up to 4 guests.
- We allocate 2 hours for parties of 5 up to 8 guests and 3 hours for parties up to 10 guests.
The Boardroom is allocated for Afternoon Tea from 2pm daily, should there be space for guests dining on our daytime menu, we may sit your reservation upstairs – otherwise all bookings for interior dining from 2pm daily will be allocated on the ground floor.
Evening Dining Times (Rochester & Rainham):
Good News! We only have one sitting on Friday and Saturday evenings so your table is just for you whatever time your reservation.
Sunday Roast Times (Chatham, Rochester & Rainham):
Our Roasts are prepared fresh each Sunday and are served from midday until 4.30pm
More Booking Info and Frequently Asked Questions
Can i choose my table in advance?
While we always do our very best to fulfil our guests’ requests, all tables are allocated on arrival and can’t be guaranteed in advance. We only offer a guarantee of interior dining or Al fresco dining.
Unfortunately we don’t allow guest to choose tables for their interior dining experience, Afternoon Tea in Rochester is sat in the Boardroom daily from 15:30 unless you would prefer a table on the ground floor.
What is the maximum number of people i can book a table for and do i have to pay a deposit?
- You can reserve tables from 2 to 6 guests at our award-winning locations in Chatham & Rochester. At our Rainham café restaurant we can sit 2-10 guests and can host up to 20 guests for Private dining in the Parlour.
- Please include younger guests in the final booking number, otherwise we may be unable to sit your party. Due to the historical nature of our Rochester & Rainham café restaurants, we do not have space at the side of the table for the pram to remain with you, we have a safe area to store your pram during your visit.
- We can’t book a single table larger than six guests at present in Chatham or Rochester.
- In Rainham we can sit up to 10 guests on a single table subject to availability.
- In Rochester, our largest table that seats 6 is in the Boardroom. If there is no availability showing, please contact our reservations team directly as we may be able to assist. 01634 406971 (9:30am-5pm daily)
- Larger tables of 5 guests + will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of £5 a head. All deposits are fully exchangeable with 48hrs notice of cancellation.
Do you cater for special dietry requirements?
All of our menus are available on our website but should you have any specific requirements related to an allergy or intolerance, please specify at the time of your booking and we’ll try our best to accommodate your requirements.
Our menus are clearly marked with GF for Gluten free available, VE for Vegan, V for Vegetarian and P for Pescatarian.
Do your cafés have parking?
Our cafés don’t have their own car parks but there are public car parks nearby each one – see below for links.
Café Nucleus Chatham (272 High Street, Chatham)
Café Nucleus Chatham Lounge (13 Military Road, Chatham)
Café Nucleus Rochester (15a High Street, Rochester)
Café Nucleus Rainham (35a High Street, Rainham)
How do Afternoon Teas work?
We take reservations for Afternoon Tea daily from 15:30, when you book you will be asked for to pay a deposit which will be deducted from your final bill on the date of your visit. If the option for Afternoon Tea does not show at 15:30 onwards, we may be fully booked for your desired slot. All deposits are fully exchangeable with 48hrs notice.
Our Afternoon Teas start from 28pp at Café Nucleus Chatham, 35pp at Café Nucleus Rochester & Rainham and our mini Afternoon Tea is from 14.95pp at the Café Nucleus Lounge.
We are taking bookings for our Afternoon Tea, Champagne Afternoon Tea and our seasonal Afternoon Teas (Spring, Summer, Winter, Festive).
Do you accept Buy a Gift or Red Letter Day vouchers?
Sorry but we do not accept Buy a Gift or Red Letter Day vouchers.
Do I have to pay a cover charge and service charge?
A voluntary £2 per person cover charge will be applied to guests dining in the boardroom – this is a donation to the Halpern Charitable Foundation for their community outreach programmes in the Medway Towns.
A 12.5% Service Charge applies for groups of 6+, this is distributed amongst the staff equally with no deductions made by Café Nucleus.
How do I book Evening Fine Dining in the Boardroom at Café Nucleus Rochester
We take reservations for the Boardroom in Rochester on Friday and Saturday evenings. When you book you will be asked for to pay a deposit of £15 per guest which will be deducted from your final bill on the date of your dining experience.
All deposits are non-refundable but are fully exchangeable to a future reservation with 48hrs notice.
How do I book Evening Fine Dining in the Langton at Café Nucleus Rainham
We take reservations for the Langton in Rainham on Friday and Saturday evenings. When you book you will be asked for to pay a deposit of £5 per guest which will be deducted from your final bill on the date of your dining experience.
All deposits are non-refundable but are fully exchangeable to a future reservation with 48hrs notice.
Can I bring party decorations for my table?
We do not allow any party decorations in our café restaurants such as banners, confetti and glitter. Balloons are more than welcome, please call our reservations team who will be delighted to help.
We can organise flowers and balloons for your table with 48 hours notice from our Floristry partners, MaSK Flowers – please contact us for more details
Do you offer a children's menu?
Although we welcome younger guests at all of our café restaurants, we don’t offer a children’s menu. We have limited space for prams and buggies due to the historic nature of some of our buildings.
Tell me about Accessibility for Café Nucleus Chatham
Our garden café restaurant at the Nucleus Arts Centre, 272 High Street is fully accessible, with an accessible toilet within the café. For guests in a sports wheelchair we have alternative accessible toilets available in the B Building which has a wider door than the café.
Tell me about Accessibility for Café Nucleus Chatham Lounge
Our Chatham Lounge in Military Road has limited facilities for guests in a wheelchair, we do have a ramp for guests to use for entry into the café restaurant. The nearest accessible toilet facilities are located in the Pentagon Centre diagonally opposite.
Tell me about Accessibility for Café Nucleus Rochester
Our Grade II Listed Rochester café is fully accessible on the ground floor (with some restrictions due to the historic nature of the building) but does not contain a lift to reach the upper levels and the Boardroom.
Please let us know if you have a pram, require disabled access or need a more accessible table.
Due to the historical nature of our Rochester café restaurant, we do not have space at the side of the table for the pram to remain with you, we have a safe area to store your pram during your visit.
Tell me about Accessibility for Café Nucleus Rainham
Our café restaurant at The Langton Studios is accessible on the ground floor to guests in wheelchairs.
When booking, please let us know if you need disabled access and our team will roll out the ramp and assist on entry into the building. Once in the ground floor we have an accessible toilet available.
Are your cafés dog friendly?
Well behaved pooches are welcome between 9:30am until 5pm in all our cafés. In Rochester dogs are welcome on the ground floor in the café bar only after 5pm on Friday and Saturday.
Is there a dress code?
Our dress code is smart casual. Tailored shorts and short sleeved shirts are permitted during fine weather. However in the boardroom at Café Nucleus Rochester, guests are asked to be respectful of the fact that many diners will be dressed for a celebration.
Can I just come in for a coffee?
Yes, of course you can visit us for just a coffee, tea, cake or even something a little stronger.
Treat someone special to a great day out
Our gift vouchers are one of our most popular sellers and with good reason! From afternoon teas to fine dining options, our vouchers can be used in any of our locations and are valid for one whole year. So whether that special person is a good friend, a great colleague or your favourite family member, you’ve just found the perfect gift.