Stubbington cafe takes top spot for second year with a Good Food award

MEGA breakfasts served with friendly chat have seen an independent cafe scoop a top award for the second year running.
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Kathy’s, in Gosport Road, Stubbington, was named Overall Cafe Winner in the 2021 Good Food Award for Cafes.

Kathy’s was the only cafe in Hampshire to be named in the awards – and one of only a handful of cafes in the entire south of England.

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Owner Kathy Wingate, from Fareham, said: ‘It is amazing. We are so lucky to have such wonderful customers. We are only a little cafe, there is no passing footfall here, and we only have four members of staff, so to win these awards is brilliant.’

Second left, Kathy Wingate, owner of Kathy's Cafe with her team (l-r) Iustina Vasilescu, cafe assistant, Mia Chambers, manager, and Yasmin Lourenzo, cafe assistant, with their award as Overall Cafe Winner from the Good Food Awards.
Picture: Sarah Standing (091020-5223)Second left, Kathy Wingate, owner of Kathy's Cafe with her team (l-r) Iustina Vasilescu, cafe assistant, Mia Chambers, manager, and Yasmin Lourenzo, cafe assistant, with their award as Overall Cafe Winner from the Good Food Awards.
Picture: Sarah Standing (091020-5223)
Second left, Kathy Wingate, owner of Kathy's Cafe with her team (l-r) Iustina Vasilescu, cafe assistant, Mia Chambers, manager, and Yasmin Lourenzo, cafe assistant, with their award as Overall Cafe Winner from the Good Food Awards. Picture: Sarah Standing (091020-5223)

The business was started by Kathy in 2016, after she was inspired to change her life following the death of her boss Neale Calver.

The former dental nurse decided to strike out and open Kathy’s with the aim of bringing hearty, good quality food and friendly service to Stubbington.

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Dish Detective – here’s what The News thought of Kathy’s earlier this year

Now, Kathy, 42, said she couldn’t be prouder as a customer put her cafe forward for the awards, without her knowing, then the cafe went on to win after scoring highly on a mystery shop.

Kathy Wingate, owner of Kathy's Cafe in Stubbington.
Picture: Sarah Standing (091020-5246)Kathy Wingate, owner of Kathy's Cafe in Stubbington.
Picture: Sarah Standing (091020-5246)
Kathy Wingate, owner of Kathy's Cafe in Stubbington. Picture: Sarah Standing (091020-5246)
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Kathy said her team – Iustina Vasilescu, Mia Chambers, and Yasmin Lourenzo – all go out of their way to make sure customers’ needs are met.

She said their friendly nature, plus their excellent quality food, was their secret to success.

Kathy, mum to 21-year-old James, said: ‘We are not a greasy spoon cafe. Everything is clean and tidy. We have consistent five star hygiene ratings and we make the extra effort.

‘Our food is all freshly cooked - like our mega breakfasts which you get three of everything plus a drink for £12. It is all cooked to order. We do everything straight away so it is fresh and we use local ingredients.

Kathy's Cafe in Gosport Road, Stubbington.

Pictured is: Sharon Brown with her mum Margaret Hall enjoying some lunch at Kathy's Cafe.

Picture: Sarah Standing (091020-5252)Kathy's Cafe in Gosport Road, Stubbington.

Pictured is: Sharon Brown with her mum Margaret Hall enjoying some lunch at Kathy's Cafe.

Picture: Sarah Standing (091020-5252)
Kathy's Cafe in Gosport Road, Stubbington. Pictured is: Sharon Brown with her mum Margaret Hall enjoying some lunch at Kathy's Cafe. Picture: Sarah Standing (091020-5252)
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‘People enjoy it, I love talking to people, it is nice to see people coming back in wanting to chat.

‘We are so proud – you couldn’t do better than two Good Food awards.'

Last year the cafe also won a Good Food for Takeaways award.

Kathy's Cafe in Gosport Road, Stubbington.

Pictured is: (middle) Kathy Wingate, owner of Kathy's Cafe with her mum and dad Pauline and David Knight.

Picture: Sarah Standing (091020-5238)Kathy's Cafe in Gosport Road, Stubbington.

Pictured is: (middle) Kathy Wingate, owner of Kathy's Cafe with her mum and dad Pauline and David Knight.

Picture: Sarah Standing (091020-5238)
Kathy's Cafe in Gosport Road, Stubbington. Pictured is: (middle) Kathy Wingate, owner of Kathy's Cafe with her mum and dad Pauline and David Knight. Picture: Sarah Standing (091020-5238)

Kathy plans to refocus on the takeaway side of the business from Thursday, as lockdown restrictions will prevent them from having seated customers.

She said: ‘We will try and stick it out as best we can, and hopefully we can ride it out. It has been hard but we are so grateful to our loyal customers.'

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