A POPULAR South Marston cafe has been voted the best of the best by Adver readers.

Throughout the year, we asked you to nominate and vote for the best small businesses in Swindon in different categories each month from March to July.

Staff at the Spitfire Cafe celebrated winning the Best Cafes and Coffee Shops round back in March.

They then faced stiff competition from the winners of every other category for the chance to be crowned Swindon’s Finest.

Lesley Allcorn, who owns the cafe in the South Marston Industrial Estate, was overjoyed.

Lesley said: “I’m so excited, we were up against charity shops, newsagents and hairdressers so I never thought we’d win.

“This is amazing, thank you to everyone who voted for us in both rounds.

“Running the cafe has been a real joy, it’s a good life.

“Our regular customers come here day in and day out, they’re more like friends than customers.

“Sometimes people come in a bit down in the dumps, but they leave with a smile.

“You have to have a sense of humour to work here - or be a bit mad - because most of the time we’re having a laugh.”

The cafe came out on top after receiving 60 per cent of the final vote.

Other finalists included Prospect Hospice, the Britz chippy, the Platinum Hair and Beauty hair salon, and Harrison’s newsagents.

Lesley added: “We know a lot of people on the industrial estate, but we still have people who pop in for the first time and say ‘I had no idea this was here!’ “It’s been challenging at times, especially when the recession began.

“Out of the five cafes I had, this is the only one that’s still going.

“We have a great team here, they’re brilliant, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have them.

“I think that’s the main reason people have voted for us - the staff.

“We’re also not mega-expensive and all our sandwiches and baguettes are made-to-order right in front of the customers.

“People seem to like what we’re doing and they keep coming back, which is a good sign.”

Adver readers were full of praise for the cafe when they sent in their votes and explained why the cafe deserved to win.

Kim Mills said: “Lovely cafe, friendly staff.

“They all work so hard and they so deserve this award.”

Andrew Richards said: “They are the best of the best in Swindon, very good service.”

Tom Hinton said: “Lovely staff, faultless breakfast, always clean and always something to laugh about.”

Robert Goldstone said: “They are all very pleasant people and the food is brill.”

Derek Ramsay said: “Best staff you could get anywhere, food and service first-class.”

Thomas Willis said: “The service is always friendly and the highlight of my day.”

The cafe was set up on the site of the former Spitfire factory’s canteen, which is where it got its name.

According to Lesley, the deeds to the building state that anything set up on this site must be called Spitfire Cafe.