SAUSAGES and bacon from a local butcher, free range farm eggs and Heinz baked beans served with thick toast with lashings of real butter – that’s how to make an award-winning breakfast.

The full English breakfast at Shakey J’s in Newton-le-Willows has toasted the competition once again this year and is still St Helens Star’s Best for Breakfast.

In April, we launched our Best of 2024 competition.

This year’s search for St Helens Star’s best in a whole host of categories started with hair and At Gems was crowned our first winner quickly followed by Burchall’s and their pies.

Next up were picture perfect nails with Nails by Mandy taking the title, The Moss Bank is officially Best for Roast Dinners and we toasted Cinema Bar for their cocktails.

Then we moved onto breakfast with customers and readers sending their nominations and votes for their favourite venues to get the day off to the perfect start.

Voting for St Helens’ Best for Fish and Chips is currently taking place and we’re also looking for nominations in our latest search - Best Beer Garden.

Vote for St Helens’ Best for Fish and Chips 2024

Nominate your favourite for St Helens’ Best Beer Garden 2024

Twelve brilliant breakfasts made the shortlist with Shakey J’s taking this year’s coveted crown after winning two top honours last year.

Chris Jackson and his partner Claire Maguire opened Shakey J’s as a milkshake bar in 2016 in Newton-le-Willows.

Two years ago, the couple made the decision to move a few doors down High Street to bigger premises and expand the business.

Shakey Js first opened on the High Street in Newton-le-Willows in 2016

Shakey J's first opened on the High Street in Newton-le-Willows in 2016

Chris, who is born and bred in Newton-le-Willows, said: “We are a family friendly, family-run American style diner serving fresh local and homemade produce cooked to order.

“We have free arcade games and other board games and toys to keep little ones – and older ones – entertained.

“We opened the business after struggling to dine out with our own family.

“Our children range from four to 22 so finding a restaurant that they would all enjoy was a challenge.

“With this in mind Shakey J’s was born – somewhere you could take your kids but your gran would enjoy too.”

Shakey J’s award-winning breakfast – it won the same award last year and recorded back-to-back wins by retaining their title – is a full English.

Shakey Js special breakfast

Shakey J's special breakfast

It’s the most popular breakfast dish on the menu closely followed by the All American as well as the healthier breakfast wrap.

Chris said: “We only ever use fresh meat delivered daily by our local butcher, Heinz beans is a must for us, and we use lashings of real butter on thick cut toast.

“Our eggs are collected from our local farm and you can absolutely tell the difference in quality.”

What do customers think of Shakey J’s? Why did they think they deserve to win one of this year’s awards?

There’s something for everyone at Shakey J’s where the “staff are friendly and it’s always a warm and fun environment”.

One nomination said: “The breakfasts here are top notch.”

Chris, who is 36, said: “Our staff love the diner as much as we do and we receive so many lovely comments about service.

“We are all invested in Shakey J’s and proud of what we do – we couldn’t have created such a welcoming and family feel without our fabulous team.

“We think we retain such a good level of repeat custom not only because our customers know they are going to be eating the best local produce cooked to order but they will also receive a wonderful friendly service with a smile.

“We are lucky enough to now call many of our regular customer our good friends.

“Being able to work together every day in something we are so proud to of created is definitely a highlight of the business.”

The talented team at Shakey Js

The talented team at Shakey J's

The team at Shakey J’s was thrilled to be nominated for the second year in a row for St Helens Star’s Best for Breakfast and are celebrating after managing to take the title again this year.

Chris, who also won last year’s Best for Burgers, said: “A huge thank you to all our loyal customers who took the time to vote for us.

“It means so much to us to know you still love what we do.

“We are continuously growing and perfecting what we do – your support is so greatly appreciated.”