Paisley coffee shop is top of the Scots

A popular Paisley coffee house has been crowned the best cafe in Scotland — despite only opening eight months ago.

Staff at Brew, which is a feature in County Square thanks to its bright yellow shopfront, were left stunned after bagging the top accolade.

The cafe had been nominated for the regional Cafe of the Year at the Food Awards for Scotland — which they won.

But there was an even bigger cause for celebration at the event after they were also chosen as the national winners.

Brew was opened in December last year by best friends Johnathan Cranstoun, 24, and Emma Russell, 22.

Jonathan says they were both shocked by their win.

He said: “We couldn’t believe it.

“We were up for the regional best cafe award and we were delighted when we won, but we had no idea we would be in with a chance of winning the national award.

“We know some of the people who were nominated in the category and it was amazing for us to be in the same league.

“We have only been open eight months, so it was a total shock.

“When they announced we had won, everyone just started crying.

“It’s just so surreal to have won this.” Ten staff at the cafe, including Emma and Johnathan, attended the glamorous awards event at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel.

The ceremony celebrated top entrepreneurs who run some of the best restaurants, takeaways, pubs, hotel restaurants, cafes and bistros, creating thousands of jobs and driving Scotland’s economy.

Owners Emma and Johnathan have a background in cocktail bartending and hospitality and Brew was intended to be a hub to help to grow the love and knowledge for tea and coffee in Paisley.

The burgeoning coffee house also made the finals of the Scottish Cafe Awards for the best new Cafe in Scotland in May this year.

Johnathan added: “We have just gone from strength since we opened in December.”

Brew focuses on speciality teas — currently it has 12 varieties — and coffees, homemade breads and cakes.

The shop has also been laid out to provide space at every table for a wheelchair user or a pram to fit comfortably.

Johnathan added: “We employ two members of staff who are able to communicate using British Sign language and we have a small booklet under our till so that if those members are not working, our other staff have the basic skills to be able to communicate with anyone who comes in that may use BSL.”