The Bobbin Coffee Shop named News & Star 'Best Cafe 2024'

The cafe, on Carlisle's Shaddongate, has been named the best cafe in the region by News & Star readers.

Ten local cafes were chosen by readers as finalists in the competition and were fiercely supported by cafe-goers across the two-week voting period.

However, after counting all the votes the Bobbin has emerged victorious. 

Lynsey Brunton is the manager of the Bobbin Coffee Shop and was elated after learning that the cafe had been chosen by News & Star readers as the 'Best Cafe 2024'.

She said: "It is a little bit overwhelming.

"We have been here for over 30 years this year and it is validation. Our customers mean so much to us and the fact that they have voted for us is amazing and it is a lovely feeling.

"We did not expect to be nominated let alone win it so that was a shock but it is a lovely surprise."

Lynsey also discussed how the Bobbin seeks to blend traditional cafe favourites with new modern offerings.

"Everybody has got to roll with the times but we are a traditional coffee shop," she said.

"We keep traditional with the cakes and the food but we have also got special boards and afternoon teas that we have modernised and that has been a huge success."

One of the key reasons why the Bobbin has been named as News & Star 'Best Cafe 2024' in Lynsey's mind is due to the community that is built around the cafe, with the manager who has been at the cafe in various positions for 16 years explaining more.

She said: "We have that real coffee shop culture now and the Bobbin is like a little community hub.

"We do have our regulars that we have had for 30 years and they do become family but because we are changing some things as well we are getting new faces in as well.

"We have had people bring their families in and now we are getting the next generation who have grown up and we are so proud of that longevity."