RESIDENTS in Chard had their say and recently voted to name the Chard and Ilminster News’ Café of the Year.

Eleos Café, based on 28 Fore Street in Chard, was the winner of the competition.

Sharon Vaux, owner and manager, said: “We are all over the moon, we just can’t believe it.

“The café will be 11 years old this year. I took the running of it in April, but I’ve been here six and a half years.

“The community is brilliant. We have so many loyal customers and that’s what keeps us going.

“It is a very friendly café and people just love spending time here. I wouldn’t have taken it if I didn’t think it was worthwhile.

“We are very, very busy. We are just in shock. It’s a team effort, I want to thank all the girls here, it’s not just about individuals.

“We also went through Covid, and that was hard, but thanks to all of our customers we are still going.”

Nominations are in and the list below includes 10 cafes from the Chard, Ilminster, and surrounding areas.

Voting is set to take place in the weeks of August 14 and August 25.

The cafes nominated were:

• Monks Yard, Horton Cross, Ilminster

• Sweet Surprise, Silver Street, Ilminster

• A Bite to Eat, Fore Street, Chard

• Eleos Café, Fore Street, Chard

• Barleymows Farm Shop, Snowdon Hill Farm, Chard

• The Potting Shed Café, Chard Garden Centre, Cuttiford’s Door

• Stuarts Café, Dillington Estates, Ilminster

• Seavington Community Café, Water Street, Seavington

• Five Senses, Holyrood Street, Chard

• No 57, East Street, Ilminster