Cafe serves up an award

Two award-winning cafe owners celebrated a national award by one of them marrying a customer she met there.

Rebecca Chandler and Susan Dunn, of Lodge Farm, Holbeach, are celebrating after being named Small Truck Stop of the Year by Truckstop magazine.

Over 30 eateries across the country gained public votes to be considered for the award before a mystery diner attended to grade them.

The pair met while working at the Little Chef at Sutterton and took on Lodge Farm when the place Susan’s sister worked at in the 1970s became available 12 years ago.

“It was a real leap of faith,” said Rebecca. “But we’ve had a great deal of success.

“We just enjoy being with people and doing what we do.”

“We’ve a great team that all pulls together and provide a service that the customers like,” added Susan.

“Getting the award is brilliant.

“We’ve been runners up three times before so it’s great to actually win it.

“It’s all so exciting and we didn’t even know we had been nominated.”

The pair continued right through COVID, carry out a meals on wheels service and are open seven days a week including serving up a Sunday carvery.

They did have a few days off last week though after Rebecca married John.

“He was one of the first customers I met in the cafe,” she said.