A COWDENBEATH café has celebrated success after beating off competition from the Scottish Parliament to win the title of Best Work Place in Scotland.

The Forty Twa Café received the honour at the Forth Awards 2023 which was held earlier this month in the Usher Hall to celebrate the best of Edinburgh and the East.

The Cowdenbeath eatery won one of 11 awards at the prestigious event which included performances from Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud, Jason Donavan, the Snuts and UK chart topping duo LF System.

READ MORE: Forty Twa Cafe opens on High Street

It was named winner of the Best Work Place category ahead of fellow nominees the Scottish Parliament and Care Bears Edinburgh to win the accolade.

Central Fife Times:

Café owner Gary Spence was delighted with the success and recognition – despite staff thinking it was a wind up when they got the phone call to inform them of their nomination.

"I am completely over the moon," he said. "Things like that are one in a lifetime things.

"I am not 100 per cent certain how it all worked. I do believe it was nominations but I am not sure. We all went through, myself, Lindsay, and all of our staff.

"It is massively overwhelming for being open 15 months to be winning best café in Fife through the Scottish Business Awards. Then for the Forth Awards, all within 15 months.

"There have been businesses going for years and years who haven't experienced this."

Gary and his partner Lesley Hamilton opened up the café in July 2022 after converting the former betting shop on the High Street.

Since then, they have gone from strength to strength and were, earlier this year, named the best Cafe in Fife at the Scottish Business Awards.

They missed out on the title of Best Café in Scotland at the national awards which were held in Glasgow last month but the team have been left stunned with the success they have achieved.

Gary said a major part of the business has been creating a place were their customers feel comfortable to come and spend time in the café.

"Our customers feel like they can come in and it is home to them," he added. "It is not like a lot of places were they just take your money. They have a rapport with our staff and enjoy that."

Forth Awards organisers said that the café played an "integral" part in the local community.

They stated: "Staff from the business, rallied round to nominate the café for their efforts to create a strong a supportive and inclusive place to work. Staff at the café feel valued and supported with their personal lives.

"Owners Gary and Lesley opened the café in 2022 and it also plays an integral part of the community by supplying free meals to families that struggle."