Eppleby Village Shop & Tea Room has been voted the best café in North Yorkshire.
Emma Langstaff only took over running the shop and café at the end of March this year and was “surprised” when she learned in May that her business had been nominated for an England’s Business Award.
She added that she had no idea who nominated the shop.
“We were told we’d have a mystery shopper come in and that must have happened.
“I have a suspicion I might have served that person because it was a couple who said they were just passing by, but they asked an awful lot of questions.
“They had a sit-down meal; they had cake and coffee. They walked around the shop, they walked around the village – they used all of the facilities.”
Ms Langstaff, who previously worked in the catering industry, took over running the shop from Melanie and Anthony Allum who had run it for 12 years.
She said: “Anthony and Melanie have done so much for this village. They couldn’t have been more supportive to help me get on my feet, and they are always at the end of the phone.”
All of the items sold in the shop are home-baked by Ms Langstaff, including cheesecake, quiches, scones and various cakes.
She said: “I change things on the menu quite often. Quiches are really popular and then when we go into winter, we’ll do loaded jacket potatoes and home-made soup.”
Following the nomination and the mystery shopper visit, the café was put on a short-list which was then opened to a public vote.
Earlier in July the shopkeeper was told she had made the top five and was invited to a ceremony at The Queens Hotel in Leeds where she was crowned the winner.
She now goes on to a national final which will be held in Birmingham later this year.
