Little Roses Coffee Shop in Tadley voted Café of the Year

Little Roses Coffee Shop at Elm Park Garden Centre in Aldermaston Road, Pamber End, won the contest after getting most votes among 10 cafés that were shortlisted for the final.

The coffee shop is owned by Chris and Liz Harris, who couldn’t believe it when she heard that Little Roses won the award.

“We’re overwhelmed,” Liz said. “We have been getting questions from quite a few customers about the contest – asking ‘have you heard? have you heard anything?’ Now, we can't wait to tell them the good news.”

Liz and Chris opened the business in November 2004 as a tearoom and gift shop after they moved to Tadley from Brighton.

“We were employed before and then we decided to just create our own business. It was started as a tearoom and a gift shop.

“And then slowly over the years, the coffee shop outweighed the gift shop as we weren't selling many gifts. People were just coming in for tea, coffee and cake. And then their tastes have changed over the years, and they just wanted more coffee. So now it's just strictly a coffee shop.”

Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

Liz says she has a lot of loyal customers who have been with the café since its opening.

“At the time we opened, my husband and I had three children. So quite often, the customers ask about the children and how they're doing. I think it always shocks them that they're like, ‘Oh, my goodness, what do you mean they're at secondary school? What do you mean they're at college?’ It's sort of lovely because it is like following us throughout our time as well.”

Today Little Roses has 10 staff – Helen Daw, Hannah Sheehan, Lisa Miller, Jane Blanchard, Hollie Daw, Hayley Cole, Téa Allison, May Helyar, Elena Osborne and Lily Goss.

Little Roses owner Liz Harris (left) with her team members Hollie Daw (centre) and Helen Daw celebrate with a prosecco gifted by Basingstoke Gazette. (Image: Newsquest)

Liz said her team members have been the backbone of her business.

“To be to be honest, although we have 10 staff, we're still quite a small team.

“The team is very dedicated. And we wouldn't be where we are today if it wasn't for the staff. They've been so loyal and great. Without the strength from them, I don't think we would even been nominated to start with. We are like a family now.”