A coffee shop with "the best service in town" has been nominated for the Lancashire Telegraph's Best Coffee Shop 2024.

A total of 10 coffee shops are battling it out to be named as our best of the year, and Rhode Island Coffee in Blackburn is among your finalists.

The store in The Mall, Lord Street West, has been serving its loyal customers for the past seven years, while current store manager Beth Hunt has led her team for the last 18 months.

She said: "We have the best coffee and we have the best service in town.

"We do actually have the best coffee, if you go around you can taste it's better.

"[To win] would be something special because we're a new team here. I've only been here for a year and a half, so it would show that all this hard work is paying off.

"It would be a nice honour and nice to be able to tell our loyal customers."

After beginning life as a single coffee shop in Altrincham, Rhode Island Coffee has spread to now have eight locations across the North West.

Each branch is doing its bit to bring in more local customers.

Beth said: "We've got a new managing director so we're trying to get Rhode Island more 'out there'. We've got more social media coverage.

"I've teamed up with Discovering Blackburn to get more posts out there and try and bring people in.

"We've got a loyalty card scheme too so if you get nine stamps you get a free coffee on us."

With eight team members overall, and usually three on a shift at any one time, it will take a good working unit to ensure the shop's success.

Beth highlighted her colleague Rachel as someone who has stepped up since her arrival last year.

She said: "Rachel has been with me for a year and she's been really good. She's a very hard worker. 

"She had experience in a National Trust cafe before but I've worked with her here on how to keep calm and have a laugh with customers.

"She's blossomed, that's for sure."

Beth also wanted to thank those whose nominations got Rhode Island Coffee into our top 10, saying: "It feels amazing. It's nice to be recognised in the town."

Over the coming days, we will be featuring each of the finalists in the Best Coffee Shop competition.

To vote, pick up a paper copy of the Lancashire Telegraph. Once all votes have been counted a winner will be announced next month.