A MALVERN café taken over by a new owner just over a year ago has been named the best in central England.
Poolbrook Kitchen and Coffee Shop fought off the competition to become Best Café in Central England at the Central England Prestige Awards.
Owner Andrew Oliver, who took over in July 2025 after his parents stepped back to retire, said he was “very delighted” to receive the accolade and thanked local businesses, customers and the wider community for their support.
“I wouldn’t be here without the support of other local businesses and the community,” he said.
“Over the past three years I have grown so much in maturity and confidence.”
The Malvern café has built a loyal following since opening in April 2023 and was recognised by judges for its customer service, innovation and overall excellence.
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The Prestige Awards celebrate small and medium-sized businesses which have demonstrated outstanding performance over the previous 12 months.
Mr Oliver, 33, has overseen several significant changes in the business, including a transformation earlier this year with the support of chef Felice Tocchini, owner and head chef of Feli’s in Stoulton.
Andrew Oliver has had significant support in recent months from Felice Tocchini (Image: NQ)
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Looking ahead, Mr Oliver said customers can expect more supper clubs and themed evenings as the business continues to expand its offering.
Announcing the award, Poolbrook Kitchen and Coffee Shop described the recognition as “beyond anything we could have imagined”.
In a message shared with supporters, the café thanked those who had nominated the business and paid tribute to customers who had visited for breakfast or coffee, recommended the venue to friends, or supported it online.
The café also thanked its staff, both past and present, describing the award as a shared achievement.
“Poolbrook has always been about more than food and drink,” the statement said.
“It’s about kindness, community and creating somewhere everyone is welcome.”
Mr Oliver said the award marked a proud milestone in the café’s journey from its beginnings in 2023 to being recognised as the Best Café in Central England for 2026/27, and promised customers that “exciting things are on the horizon” for the popular Malvern business.
