A GREASY spoon serving a 45-piece fry up has been voted Britain’s best builder’s cafe.
The Hungry Hossee in Corby, Northamptonshire, which is celebrating its 20th birthday this year, took the inaugural title following a huge groundswell of support.
As part of the eight-month search, more than 10,000 people voted for their favourite builder’s cafe – with The Hungry Hossee taking the title by just 15 votes.
The breakfast features mountains of bread, bacon, hash browns, beans, tomatoes and sausages.
To celebrate their achievement, builder’s radio station Fix Radio placed commemorative stickers on the cafe’s shopfront window, recognising it as the best builder’s cafe in the UK.
Speaking after being crowned, owner Shelaine Crabtree said: “It feels absolutely amazing.
“Not only does it prove we’re the best, but it’s also going to put Corby, Northamptonshire, Chew back on the map.
“The team here at The Hungry Hossee works incredibly hard, and this morale boost is so well-deserved.
“I believe the secret lies in patience and consistency. The ambience is fantastic, and when you come in for a good breakfast, you’ll get exactly the same experience the next time you return.
“We have generations of customers now. I’m meeting children and grandchildren of our loyal patrons.
“We have visitors from all over the world – Vietnam, America, Australia – who always return and say hello.”
Jack Edwards, senior producer of the Bald Builders Breakfast who announced the result, saying: “Independent cafes like The Hungry Hossee are vital to their communities, not only for the quality food they offer but for bringing builders, tradespeople, and locals together.”
The announcement follows research of 2,000 adults which revealed the significant role builder’s cafes play in British culture, with 73 per cent of the belief their local cafe is the heart of the community.
And 75 per cent wish they could visit it more often, with people willing to travel an average of four miles for the perfect breakfast.
Nearly half (44 per cent) said the atmosphere of a cafe is just as important as the food, while affordability is crucial for 75 per cent of diners, the OnePoll.com research found.
When it comes to the ultimate fry-up, customers have identified the must-have components: eggs (84 per cent), sausages (82 per cent), bacon (80 per cent), and baked beans (67 per cent).
Hash browns (50 per cent) and grilled tomatoes (52 per cent) also made the list, while black pudding (29 per cent) and chips (eight per cent) ranked lower.
