HUSBAND and wife team Hadi and Dan Brooks are celebrating after their Old Town diner received an award from review website TripAdvisor honouring their customer service.

The couple, who opened The Café, in Devizes Road, 18 months ago, have been given a Certificate of Excellence, from the company which reviews hotels and restaurants across the world, because they consistently receive outstanding testimonials from their customers.

The Café, open seven days a week, is currently placed fourth on a list of 294 eateries across Swindon on TripAdvisor. It serves a selection of breakfasts, sandwiches and baguettes.

Hadi Brooks, 36, said: “Winning the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is a true source of pride for the entire team at The Café and we’d like to thank all of our customers who took the time to complete a review. It is always nice to get recognition and it came completely out of the blue when we found out on Thursday. We do our very best to ensure our customers enjoy great service and food when they visit.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to our staff who constantly maintain a high standard and it shows that all my nagging is worthwhile.”

TripAdvisor gives the certificate to businesses who maintain an overall rating of at least four out of five. The Café currently enjoys a five out of five rating.

“TripAdvisor is pleased to honour exceptional hospitality businesses for consistent excellence,” said Marc Charron, TripAdvisor president for business.

“The Certificate of Excellence award gives top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most, their customers.”

The Brooks, who have a three-year-old daughter Grace, set up the eaterie following the success of their neighbouring ice cream parlour Rays which they opened three years ago.

Hadi, who lives in Old Town, said: “I was a marketing manager and Dan was a teacher so it was a complete stab in the dark when we opened Rays. It worked but we realised an ice cream parlour probably wasn’t going to be enough to support the family so we opened the Café and we are really proud of them both.”

Across the two businesses the Brooks have eight staff and watched with sadness as fellow Old Town cafe Cakes and Ale, closed after less than a year in business, last month. The owners David and Marya Marriott said they were ‘killed by taxes’ despite enjoying good custom.

Hadi said: “It is really tough to balance all the numbers, especially when you’re just starting out, and I feel for them as it really isn’t easy.”