A CAFÉ in South Lakeland has won an award that recognises it as being in the top ten per cent of eateries worldwide.

Review website Tripadvisor has granted Green’s Cafe & Bistro in Grasmere a Travellers’ Choice award.

The honour is bestowed upon businesses with a rating of at least four out of five on the site.

"It was a nice surprise," said Robin Stuart, who owns Green's with partner Karen Healy.

"I'm delighted really, particularly at the moment, because everybody is working so hard.

"Not only for myself and Karen, but for the rest of our staff, and not just for the staff that are currently with us but for the staff we have had in the past that have been and moved on."

Mr Stuart, 53, described his team of staff at the café as 'pretty amazing'.

"We make most of our food ourselves," he said.

"All of the cakes, we make ourselves.

"A lot of the dishes we make from scratch, and to be doing that when it is as busy and as challenging as it is at the moment is pretty amazing."

He said Green's, which is situated in College Street, was 'built on repeat customers'.

"Most of our customers have been with us since we started, which is 13 years," he said.

"Quite a lot of our customers, we have seen their kids grow up."

Around ten per cent of businesses on Tripadvisor receive a Travellers’ Choice award.

To qualify, a business must have been on the website for at least one year and have received a minimum number of reviews over the 12-month period for which data is analysed.

Thai Kitchen in Lakeland was also bestowed the honour.

A spokesman for the takeaway, based at Kendal's Dockray Hall Industrial Estate, said: "We worked hard over the past 12 months to give you our best service and quality of food through difficult times for everyone.

"Thank you for all your reviews that have made this possible."

It has previously been reported that The Old Stamp House, situated in Ambleside, had been named the best fine-dining restaurant in the world as part of the awards.

Windermere’s Homeground came seventh in the Best Brunch Restaurant category.

“It’s no secret that the restaurant industry has taken a hit over the past year or so, but the good news is that would-be diners all over the world are hungrier than ever to dine out again,” said Martin Verdon-Roe, general manager of hospitality solutions at Tripadvisor.

“There is so much good out there to explore this summer and beyond."