A CAFE located in Eastover Indoor Shopping Centre has been voted Bridgwater Mercury Café of the Year by our readers.

The Bus Station Café in Bridgwater was taken over by new staff two years ago, shortly after the pandemic.

It started off with just two employees, but has since grown to a team which sees five or six workers helping out each day as the café has become busier and busier.

Laura Burt, who now runs the Bus Station Café, was "shocked" upon finding out her café had been voted the best in Bridgwater.

"I was more chuffed and overwhelmed that we’d been shortlisted, because I didn’t know we were,” she said.

"We couldn’t thank them (the public) enough, we love them all to bits, they keep supporting us, we support them.

"If it wasn’t for the staff we wouldn’t be where we are."

One worker at the café was diagnosed with cancer and had to miss an entire year of work to undergo chemotherapy.

She has since returned to work and is "really happy" with the noticeable progress the café has made in her absence.

Laura feels that the Bus Station Café is recognised by locals for its above-and-beyond level of service.

"All the customers say that we’re very friendly," she said.

"We’re like family, we look after each other." 

She also explained how regulars at the café have really helped it to grow, with customers travelling from Weston-Super-Mare and Taunton to get a taste of some of the delicious food they have on offer.

Laura recommends the full English breakfast, which is served every day the café is open, from Monday to Saturday every week.

The Bus Station Café also offer homemade quiches, liver and bacon, as well as daily roast dinners as just some of the options on their full menu.

They even offer the option to pick up a freshly made roast dinner on Saturday, to take home and enjoy more traditionally on Sunday.

Laura and the team and the Bus Station Café were incredibly gracious in acceptance of the award, and thanked everyone who voted for them in the competition.