South Shields coffee shop celebrates after being named among top 20 in the UK

The Clifton Hotel and Coffee Shop on Ocean Road has been listed among the UK’s top 20 coffee shops, following analysis of its online customer ratings.

In recognition of its achievement, the Mayor and Mayoress of South Tyneside, Councillor Pat Hay and Mrs Jean Copp, popped by to congratulate the business.

The Mayor said: “It was wonderful to visit The Clifton Coffee Shop, to show our support and to celebrate such great news.

“We have some fantastic places to eat and drink across South Tyneside.

"Recognition such as this can go a long way to supporting hospitality businesses to bounce back from what has been an extremely challenging and turbulent year.

"They are also a huge boost for the recovery of the borough’s tourism sector, with many people looking to enjoy a staycation in the UK this summer.

“To be highlighted among the best places in the country to enjoy a coffee and a bite to eat is a tremendous achievement.”

The Clifton Coffee Shop was listed by retailer Coffee Friend for its top customer ratings on TripAdvisor – receiving 4.5 out of 5, and 228 ‘excellent’ ratings, out of a total of 294 reviews.

It places the business among many well-known places to eat, such as Betty’s Tearoom in Harrogate.

Owners Scott and Liz Carlucci, who also run The Clifton Hotel on the same site, reopened in April, alongside many other hospitality businesses, to provide outdoor service with a new pavement seating area.

They have also recently expanded their hotel accommodation as well as introduced a series of additional covid measures to ensure the safety of their guests.

Scott said: “We were delighted to welcome the Mayor and Mayoress to our café and thank them for their support.

“This past year has certainly been a tough one, but we were determined to get through it.

"We have worked really hard to enhance the experience for our customers, to help keep them safe and to reopen with a renewed sense of positivity.

“South Shields is a great place with so many wonderful people.

"It has been lovely to see our loyal regulars coming in once again while welcoming new customers to our venue.”

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