An independent coffee shop opened by a teenager has been named the best café in the East of England just a year after opening.
Callum Kelman was 18 when he opened Bea's Coffee Barn in Kings Langley last summer, promising to serve "quality coffee and cakes" in front of "magnificent views".
This week has seen the business announce that it has been named Best Cafe in the East of England at the 2026 England's Business Awards - the second straight year it has been recognised at the awards.
Callum said: "A huge, heartfelt thank you to every single person who has supported us, believed in us, visited us, recommended us, shared our posts, left reviews, and been part of our journey so far.
"And of course, a massive thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for us. Your support means more than you’ll ever know. "
- Flying start for 18-year-old's new independent coffee shop
- 18-year-old set to open new coffee shop this weekend
He added that he was "incredibly proud" of the win, paying tribute to his "amazing team" and "wonderful customers".
In a Watford Observer interview before last summer's opening, the teen said: "Five generations of my family have worked on this farm and I thought it would be nice to celebrate that by opening a shop here, initially serving coffee and cakes."
Opening hours are from 8am to 4.30pm during the week and 10am to 2.30pm on Saturdays, with the shop closed on Sundays.
Bea's Coffee Barn is highly rated on Google, with a score of 4.8 from 38 reviews.
One five-star review reads: "Stunning coffee barn, very clean and toilets are immaculate. Amazing staff with fantastic service. Cakes are huge and such good value for money and so nice."
They added that it has "lovely seating" and said they would "100 per cent" recommend it.
Another satisfied customer wrote: "Love this little gem nestled away in the countryside. Friendly staff, lovely food and amazing cakes all at a good affordable price."
The café's website says: "We pride ourselves on creating a peaceful escape from the daily rush, blending rustic charm with a curated selection of fine ales and comforting bites."
Share