Worthing coffee shop wins best café in the country award
A coffee shop in Worthing town centre has been named the best café in the UK.
Iconic Coffee, in Chapel Road, received the honour at the Official UK Small Business Awards (SBA) finals in Birmingham earlier this month.
Owner Steve Buchus said it was an achievement in itself to have found out they had been shortlisted as finalists back in May, so winning was the icing on the cake.
He added: “We attended the 'gold' carpet event and in between the three-course dinner, we watched every other small business category reveal its winner until the final and largest category was announced at the end of the second half of the evening.
“The giant screen revealed places from 10th to 2nd. I wasn't expecting anything and would have liked 6th or 4th, either comfortably in the top 10 or top 5. But as the names scrolled and I didn't see ours, I thought that was it for us. Until I heard host Sian speak words I'll never forget: ‘And the winner is... ICONIC COFFEE'
“I screamed and literally ran to the stage, fist pumping the air as I went (she did ask for energy).”
Iconic Coffee opened as Project: Caffeine in October 2024, but changed its name after a few months.
Steve is a coffee industry veteran, with 25 years of experience under his belt.