A CAF? and bistro has put Rhuddlan’s High Street on the foodie map by being named as the best in North Wales.

Java Square, based in the Rear Fondella Buildings on the High Street, won the best café bistro in North Wales accolade at the Food Awards Wales final in Cardiff.

Jackie Burnham, Java Square’s co-owner, said: “It’s massive for Rhuddlan. It really puts us as a town on the map.”

Owner of the nearby Rejuva beauty salon and a Rhuddlan Town councillor, Jackie set up the business just two and half years ago with her sister, business manager Gill Jarvis.

They managed to get it up and running while still working full-time in other jobs.

Since opening Java Square, the sisters have worked closely with other Rhuddlan businesses and strived to use locally sourced produce – from as far way as Llandudno – in their recipes.

They managed to make it to the final last year, but were unable to attend their first awards ceremony.

Part of this year’s successful campaign was hinged on a write up included on the Food Awards Wales website, which described their businesses to people across the country.

Jackie added: “We’re not entirely sure how the winner is decided, but we were told it was a combination of votes and the quality of our story – so voters and judges must have liked what we had to say about ourselves.”

To mark their success in the awards – held at Cardiff’s Exchange Hotel – Jackie and staff members Linda Ainsworth and Debbie Bailey were presented with a bouquet of flowers by the Mayor of Rhuddlan, Cllr Andy Smith, on behalf of the town.

Jackie said: “The mayor was absolutely overjoyed about us winning the award.

“We’re one of the few high streets in the area who have a full high street – without any empty shops.

“Hopefully people can come and appreciate how rich our town is with businesses and we’re very proud to win this for the town.”