… with more votes needed to secure award at forthcoming England’s Business Awards

Sarah and team – who roll out seasonal food and hospitality at Stonham Barns Park – need votes from their customers and the community to help secure a regional award for excellence

 Café 24 at Stonham Barns Park – one of Suffolk’s premier leisure, retail and holiday destinations – which won ‘Best Café’ in Suffolk and then went on to win ‘Best Café’ in England at England’s Business Awards 2024 – has been shortlisted for the regional awards again in 2025!

It needs its followers to vote again to see if it can clinch the national award ‘Best Café’ in Suffolk at the regional finals on Sunday 17 August at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Stansted Airport.

The newly enhanced foodie café – which had a complete remodelling and relaunch with an enhanced outdoor eating area last year – has continued to develop the café for the benefit of the community and the team is excited for the opportunity to win the regional award for a second year.

Owner Sarah Shaw has achieved the life-long dream of her late Mother to own and run a café with the backing of husband Robert. The aim of Café 24 is to be big on quality seasonal food and exceptional service.  And a place where people can meet up with friends, family and colleagues and spend time together socialising.  Located at the entrance to Stonham Barns Park on the A1120, the café is named after its address – No 24 Stonham Barns Park.  The relevance of number 24 is that it has personal attachment to Sarah’s life.

Said Head Chef at Café 24 Michael Hay, ‘This is beyond exciting for the Café 24 team to think that we could be looking to retain our crown as ‘Best Café in Suffolk’.’

‘We put love and passion into our menu options using the best ingredients and seasonal favourites – and our customers notice the quality.  We have a team of up to 25 staff working with us at any one-time delivering excellence at all levels with a seating capacity of 200 if needed – including three indoor areas and one new outdoor section too!’

‘We are constantly making improvements to the service we offer and are hugely excited at what we have achieved here at Stonham Barns Park.’

Said Owner Sarah Shaw, ‘It’s beyond all my wildest dreams that we have been shortlisted again for this prestige award.  The team has worked so hard to perfect what we do here and it is thanks to them all that we are in the running for this award for the second year running.’

‘I put this café together as a tribute to my Mum who was my role model and inspiration.  She would be amazed at what I have achieved and I keep dedicating my time to the business to continue to make her proud.’

Visitors to the venue are able to Dine In, Dine Out on the new outdoor seating area and also benefit from a Takeaway service.

London-born Sarah, who moved from Essex to Stonham Aspal, continues, ‘Of course, we do coffee for coffee lovers, but we do so much more. From cakes and snacks to Sunday Roasts and themed evenings.

The number of staff varies throughout the year flexing from 5 to 25 during the height of the summer.  Visitors come to Stonham Barns Park to enjoy the attractions including The Owl Sanctuary, The Stonham Discount Garden & Home Centre, The Golf Centre, The Antique Centre, Legends Sports Bar and The Retail Village.  This keeps the café and restaurant busy with customers and the local community.

Café 24 serves freshly made cakes and savoury classics including everything from Mozzarella, Sun-Blushed Tomato, Pesto and Roasted Pepper Panini to Suffolk Smoked Ham, Egg and Chips, Delicious Lasagne and the everyone’s absolute weekly favourite – yummy Sunday roast!

Now a community hub for Mid-Suffolk, Café 24 has hosted a number of charity events in the time since its launch including fund raisers for the Stowmarket Stroke Group, EACH Children’s Charity and most recently Ella’s Hoedown of Hope a country and western charity fun day for mother and daughter Caroline and Ella Alexander.  Caroline, a regular and valued customer and friend of Café 24, was receiving palliative care at St Elizabeth’s Hospice and the celebration and fund-raising event – held in June – would be the last she attended with all of her family and friends present.  She very sadly passed away shortly after the celebration.

For more information or to book a table call 01449 711257.