STAFF at the Ferry Boat Cafe at the Esthwaite Water Trout Fishery are celebrating after being named ‘cafe of the year’ by members of a popular cycling club.

Each year, the ever growing Kendal and District Cycle Scene (KDCS) cast their votes for their cafe of the year as a way of celebrating the tradition of cyclists calling at such establishments for refreshments during often gruelling cycle runs.

And this year, the Ferry Boat Cafe came out on top, pipping runners up Holland’s Cafe in Coniston and the Orton Scar Cafe in Orton Village, to the prized trophy, a metal sculpture of a cyclist.

The cafe is owned by Jill Robertson and has been operating for three years having been built up from scratch, and she and hard working friend Jude Brown run it together.

“Jill and Jude always offer a warm welcome, good food and drink with a lovely warm wood burning stove and tables and chairs inside out with great views over Esthwaite Water,” said KDCS chair Steve Warner.

KDCS now has more than 100 members and put on a road ride every week supplemented from May to September with easy Tuesday evening rides.