We're highlighting the shortlisted cafes in our competition in the News & Star. Each of the establishments will be featured over ten issues.

THE Arches Coffee House has been nominated by News & Star readers as one of the ten finalists in its 'Best Cafe 2024' award.

The cafe, which is owned by Helen Francis, is located on Carlisle's Fisher Street and has been owned by the same family for 33 years. 

After learning that Arches Coffee House had been nominated for the News and Star's 'Best Cafe 2024' award, Helen was on hand to thank everyone who put the cafe forward.

She said: "We have got some fantastic customers.

"We have got customers that have been coming for many years. We have been here for 33 years under the same ownership so we have watched babies bring their babies in so I am not really shocked by the support because we get a lot of support from the local people.

"We have got staff who been here with us for 25 years so it is just consistency, they know what they're getting and it is just a friendly place."

Helen also shared her belief that Arches' commitment to maintaining cafe traditions is what has made it such a local success.

She said: "It's the consistency, the quality of the food, we only use good ingredients, we make most of the things ourselves.

"We have not really changed our menu a lot over the years so we are a traditional cafe which is very busy.

"We have watched all of these other cafes open and close and the latest trends and we have held firm and given traditional snacks, scones, foods and we have kept it the same and it has worked. We are very busy. "