A FAMILY-run cafe which staved off developers and opened 18 months ago has won Start-up of the Year Award in the whole of the South West.

The Cricklade Club, which is run and owned by husband-and-wife team Simon and Talia Maddison, won the accolade at the South West Business Awards, held at the Swindon Hilton Hotel.

The couple bought the building earlier this year when its original owner was given notice to quit after running a pub there for almost 20 years.

When it closed in January 2017 many in the town feared the social aspect of the venue would be lost.

At the time of buying old pub, in the centre of Cricklade, they found out there were two other buyers interested, both of them were bigger developers.

But Simon, who owns his own events company Planet Pursuits, and Talia owning a catering company, Cotswold Cooks, it seemed like a recipe for success.

"We never intended to make an award-winning venue," said Simon.

"We purchased the building as office space for the Travel and Event company and the Event Hall for potential parties, the café was really supposed to be a side-line, I’m really in shock we won", he added.

The venue has been hosting regular events, including a weekly summer supper club and secret wine club, and hires out the 200-capacity function room which required extensive renovations by the team to update it from its former use.

It has also been given a more youthful energy after daughter Eva and niece Sophie joined the family venture as the main cooks.

"My new young team have made it all happen at the club, I’ve just given them business backing and advice," said Simon.

"They took what was supposed to be a café and turned it into a cool vibrant café/bar and venue, it’s all down to them," he added.

The café is focused on sourcing all its produce from local suppliers, with some only travelling a short distance from the family's farm in Purton, freshly baked sourdough from a baker in Lechlade, and meat from the local Cricklade butcher.

The cafe is on 38 High Street, Cricklade, SN6 6AY. For more information about the venue and what's on go to www.thecrickladeclub.co.uk

The awards also gave special recognition to the Gurkhas for their contribution to the county and local community.