The double award winning coffee shop where customers become friends

What more could you ask for in a coffee shop?

Hot on the heels of scooping St Helens’ Best for Afternoon Tea at the end of August, Lindsey Pye and her hard working team are celebrating after Nirvana Coffee Shop took a second Best of 2023 title.

Each week, we will be searching for the best St Helens has to offer in different categories and we’ve given out 20 awards for 2023.

The winners so far:

Best for Hair – Hair by Alice Michelle

Best for Pies – Blackburn’s

Best for Nails – Kreative Kirsty

Best for Roast Dinner – The Brown Edge Pub

Best for Cocktails – The Townhouse

Best for Breakfast – Shakey J’s

Best for Fitness – Ashley-James Ward

Best for Fish and Chips – Paul’s Fishbar

Best for Tattoos – White Rabbit Tattoo Studio

Best for Pizza – Dial-A-Pizza

Best for Pets – The Dog House

Best Independent Shop or Business – Stone Tyres

Best for Dessert – Antonia’s Cakes

Best for Beauty – Chantel Louise

Best for Kids – Jo Jingles Warrington, St Helens and Wigan

Best Gym – Ruskin Fitness Club

Best Beer Garden – The Dam

Best for Afternoon Tea - Nirvana Coffee Shop

Best for Burgers – Shakey J’s

Voting for St Helens’ Best for Curry is currently taking place and we’re also looking for nominations in our latest search - Best Pub or Bar.

Next on the menu was the search for St Helens’ Best Café or Coffee Shop took the latest Best of 2023 crown – making them double award winners.

Lindsey and Sophie always give customers a warm welcome at Nirvana Coffee Shop

Lindsey Pye has been the owner of Nirvana Coffee Shop on Lowfield Lane since she first opened the doors in November 2016.

Lindsey, who is 48 and grew up in Sutton, said: “We are a friendly place providing a warm welcome within a lovely environment and pleasant surroundings.

“We provide freshly made sandwiches and wraps, paninis and flat breads as well as jacket potatoes, triple layer sandwiches, milkshakes and afternoon tea.

Lindsey has been a chef since I left school and studied St Helens College mainly working in hotels.

She said: “I had a big ambition to open my own coffee shop so that’s exactly what I did!

“We pride ourselves on our freshly made food and exceptional customer service.

“Our afternoon tea features a selection of sandwiches, wraps and other savouries together with freshly made cakes, buttered scones with clotted cream and jam and a choice of any hot drink from the menu or a cold drink from the fridge.

“Our customers also love the milkshakes topped with doughnuts!”

Customers are spoilt for choice when they visit Nirvana

When Lindsey saw the premises on Lowfield Lane it was an empty shell that she was able to make her own, starting from scratch to create her now award-winning coffee shop.

Lindsey said: “It’s the staff and the customers that make Nirvana special – they even become friends.

“And of course, the tasty food we serve every day at affordable prices.

“I’m so proud of how far Nirvana has come as a business – starting from nothing seven years ago to winning awards.”

But what do customers think about Nirvana Coffee Shop? Why did they want the venue to win another award?

Nirvana Coffe Shop, which opened in November 2016

One review on their Facebook page said: “Tasty food and plenty of it and it’s always beautifully presented.

“I would highly recommend trying it - you won’t be disappointed!”

Another said: “Highly recommend this afternoon tea - great selection and great value for money.”

Lindsey said: “We pride ourselves that we serve in the local community and our customers always leave happy.

“We were absolutely buzzing to hear we’d made the shortlist for St Helens’ Best for Afternoon Tea as we have just been told we received a 5* rating from environmental health.

“To make a second shortlist and then win a second award is just amazing.

“My supervisor Sophie King and I did a happy dance in the kitchen and then returned to serving our customers with an even bigger smile!

“I’m so excited for all my staff – we’re thrilled to win another award – and we’d like to thank all our lovely customers for all their support and votes, not only over the last few weeks but since we opened seven years ago.

“A huge thank you to every single person that took time to vote and show their support – it really does mean the world to us.”

For more details go to facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057071785463

Some of the popular items on the menu at Nirvana