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A much-loved cafe in South Tyneside has been given the civic seal of approval after it was named among the best coffee spots in the country.

The Clifton Coffee Shop, in Ocean Road, South Shields, has been listed among the UK's top 20 venues, following analysis of its online customer ratings.

The Mayor and Mayoress of South Tyneside, Councillor Pat Hay and Mrs Jean Copp, popped by to congratulate the business on their achievement.

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. Well done to the entire team at The Clifton."

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 the famous 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.

They 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."

The Clifton Coffee Shop is one of a number of hospitality businesses Â鶹ÊÓƵ has assisted to reopen in line with the roadmap out of lockdown. This has included issuing, and wavering the application fee, for more than 30 temporary pavement licences across the Borough.