The owner of a café bistro in Norfolk "cried on stage" after her business was named the best of its kind in England.

Shelly's Bistro in Swaffham was one of the finalists in the Café/Bistro of the Year (East) category at the Food Awards England 2023.

Owner Michelle Czarnecki was delighted when her business was named the region's best at the ceremony in Birmingham on Monday night. 

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While she was walking off the stage, she was invited back up to pick up the overall award for being the best café/bistro in the whole of England. 

Dereham Times: Shelly's Bistro team Bianca Leverett, Emelia Claxton and Michelle Czarnecki at The Food Awards England 2023Shelly's Bistro team Bianca Leverett, Emelia Claxton and Michelle Czarnecki at The Food Awards England 2023 (Image: Supplied)

Mrs Czarnecki opened the business in September 2017 and she was also nominated in the East category in 2022, but narrowly missed out on the win. 

She said: "I was shocked enough to win the region category, let alone the whole country and I cried on the stage.

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"It is a huge achievement for a tiny little bistro in the middle of Swaffham.

"Everyone says our breakfast is the best in Swaffham and now we can say it is the best in the country."

Elsewhere in Norfolk, Wells Crab House in Wells-next-the-Sea was named both the best restaurant and the best seafood establishment in the region.