Sarah and team – roll out seasonal food and hospitality at Stonham Barns Park to pick up a regional award for excellence
Café 24 at Stonham Barns Park – one of Suffolk’s premier leisure, retail and holiday destinations – has won ‘Best Café’ in Suffolk for a second successive year and it now goes forward to the award for ‘Best Café’ in England at England’s Business Awards 2025!
The national awards will be staged later this year.
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 to have won 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 various personal attachments to Sarah’s life.
Said Head Chef at Café 24 Michael Hay, ‘This has stunned all the Café 24 team to think that we have retained our crown as ‘Best Café in Suffolk. Our win is based on good food, a lovely atmosphere and the professionalism of our staff.’
‘The award is based on votes and mystery shopping visits. It’s such an accomplishment and it’s all because we put our hearts and souls into the business serving up the best food possible – and customers are very loyal to us because of our efforts.’
‘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 so hard to believe we have won the category again and are now shortlisted for the prestigious national award. I am so proud of my brilliant team and want to thank customers and friends for supporting us.’
‘I put this café together as a tribute to my Mum and I am now so pleased that I did. This is another award for Mum, and I will keep dedicating my time to the business in her memory.’
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, ‘We are becoming a community hub for Mid-Suffolk. We welcome customers from all over the East of England and make sure we excel whether they stop in for a coffee and cake, snacks or a Sunday Roast!’
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, Lasagne and Sunday Roasts.
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.
For more information or to book a table call 01449 711257.
