A CAFÉ which survived lockdown has seen its hard work pay off as it has been crowned the best in the county.

Table, in Earls Colne High Street, won the best café in Essex in the Muddy Stilettos Awards 2022.

Founded by friends Sarah Mansi from Bures and Ella Martin from Colne Engaine, the café originally planned to open in March 2020 before the first lockdown hit.

Ella said: “When lockdown hit we had to park it up and it was awful, we thought we weren’t going to survive.

“We didn’t open until June 2020, and is through blood, sweat and tears which have got us to where we are, that’s for sure.”

The café is hugely popular in the village, and it is through the support of friends and family who all voted that it won the best café in Essex award.

Ella said: “We have such a loyal customer following and value our customer service so highly.

“We are friends with all our customers and make it a fun place to hang out.

“The café has grown to nine to ten staff now, and two sites, with one a café and the other a commercial kitchen and office space.

“We will have another Table somewhere someday as well, everyone in the local area wants us to open more.

“This award just shows that hard work pays off, and we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for our staff, our customer’s support, and our friends and family.

“We are a real lockdown success, which not many people can say.”

To follow the café or find out more, visit @we.are.table on Instagram.