Food and drink news

The new Atrium Market, the first contactless store at a UK university, is set to open in the Student Centre. 

The new store will open its doors on Thursday, 2 May, selling coffee from local brand Redroaster along with a range of sandwiches, snacks, Tanpopo sushi and gyoza, and Japanese and Asian halal ready meals. 

For the ultimate in convenience, the Atrium Market doesn’t have a till – instead, shoppers scan their payment card on entering, select their food or drinks then simply walk out.  

The system is powered by Amazon technology to ensure a smooth experience for customers, with our catering partners operating and stocking the store on a daily basis. 

“We are really proud to be introducing the first frictionless store of its kind in a university here at Sussex through our Sussex Uni Food contract,” says Helen Power-Hosking, head of commercial services.  

“Since we launched our new contract last summer, our catering partners have been working hard to deliver what our campus community wants. One of the things that we heard in our 2022 consultation was that students wanted longer opening hours, so we hope that this new store is a quick, easy and convenient option for anyone working late in the Student Centre or in our residences.” 

Apart from a little downtime for restocking, the store will always be open when the Student Centre is. Students studying around the clock can find a range of convenience food on sale, including hot drinks, baked goodies and instant noodles – you’ll only need to walk across the Student Centre floor to get hot water if you need it. 

Tell us your views

We would love to hear your feedback - please email bettercampus@sussex.ac.uk to let us know what you think of the new store.