A COFFEE shop in Alcester is in the running to complete a hat-trick of awards, having already been named the best in England twice.
Louise Hanks launched The Lounge @ 26 with business partner Elizabeth French in November 2020, just as the second national Covid-19 lockdown began.
The High Street coffee shop has gone from strength to strength since then, with its reputation for great coffee and a friendly atmosphere helping it win two prestigious national awards.
It was named Best Café in the country in England’s Business Awards 2021 and won the nation’s Best Eatery a year later.
The latter achievement has seen it automatically entered to compete in this year’s awards, with shortlisting in March and the winner to be announced later in the year.
Louise and Elizabeth, who are both from Redditch and also own The Lounge in Astwood Bank, are also looking to expand their offering after receiving business growth support from Project Warwickshire – a free recovery and growth business support programme to help companies in the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors in the county, in the wake of the pandemic.
Louise, who was formerly head of sixth-form at Arrow Vale School, said: “It’s a really exciting time for us at the moment as we are launching bottomless brunch which is something completely new for Alcester.
“We are always looking at trying new things. Last year we decided to open the coffee shop as a gin and cocktail bar on Friday and Saturday evenings and that has gone down really well.
“It was really surreal to have won the awards, especially in our first year of business, we still cannot quite believe it.
“We’ve got a chance to complete the hat-trick and hopefully win another award this year so we are keeping our fingers crossed.”
