The decision has been made. But who has been given the crown?
We all love coffee. It saves our Monday morning bacon, and resurrects us on a Thursday afternoons. It’s always got our backs. And you lot don’t half love the independent cafes that serve you the hot brown goodness, proven when you all voted for The Speciality Coffee Shop to win this year’s Best Independent Business Award as part of It’s In Nottingham’s Independent’s Festival.
The Friar Lane venue only opened last year, but it’s already won its way into our hearts with its ethically-sourced coffee and delicious homemade food; vegan and gluten-free options as standard. It’s perfectly Instagrammable, too, making it the most happening hipster hideout, of late.
Run by coffee-lovers Lucy Giacone and Michelangelo Franco, the pair were right proud to receive the award, and even prouder to have been described by the judges as “welcoming and friendly, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, serving homemade produce that’s a little different.”
“We’ve created a community and that’s what we wanted. All our customers are lovely people… if it wasn’t for them and the people who voted for us, we wouldn’t be here” said Lucy. Compliments all round.
The Speciality Coffee Shop were awarded the title following a gruelling judging process, in which the 3,700 nominations put forward by you lot were whittled down to twenty, split over two categories; Shopping and Services, and Eating, Drinking and Things To Do. These were announced in June, with the overall winner announced yesterday. Our Lucy and Michelangelo should be right proud of themselves.
Highly commended in the Shopping and Services Category was Knit Nottingham; a yarn shop on Trinity Walk. Founded in 2010, the business is owned by Eleanor Burke, who said “I feel very shocked and surprised. It’s the feeling of knowing that people have voted for us – customers and experts. That means a lot.”
Highly commended in the Eating, Drinking and Things To Do category was last year’s winner, Debbie Bryan. Her Lace Market craft-shop-cum-tea-room storming has come on leaps and bounds in the last year, offering the city’s artsy types the chance to take part in her crafternoons while tucking in to homemade afternoon tea.
So what now for this year’s winners? “All of the hard work that’s gone into the business has paid off. We’re seeing a lot of new people and a lot of fun things happening” said Speciality Coffee’s Lucy. One of them there fun things being their coffee party as part of this year’s Independent’s Festival, where you can sample coffee-infused cocktails, coffee tea pots, home-baked cakes and sandwiches whilst enjoying the live music and entertainment. We’ll see you there.
The Nottingham Independent’s Festival will take place on Saturday 8 July 2017, across the city centre.
Nottingham Independent’s Festival website
The Speciality Coffee Shop website
Knit Nottingham website
Debbie Bryan website
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