A POPULAR Newton Abbot business has celebrated 20 years of trading in the town.

Karen Brady, owner of Bank Street’s Country Table, opened the doors to her cafe for the first time in March 1996.

Since then she has worked hard and built her business up to make it what it is today, a thriving cafe in the heart of the town.

Since 1996, Karen’s workforce has jumped from just seven to the 27 members of staff she employs today.

The cafe’s employees and customers, along with Karen and her husband Alan, marked the milestone birthday with the mayor Cllr Mike Ryan and his wife Lin, the town crier Cllr Ken Purchase and his wife Dolcie.

Karen said: ‘Our ethos has always been to use quality products and to source as much as possible locally.

‘We make our food from recipes – not packets, and that’s something we are very proud of.

‘Our cafe has become a popular meeting place for friends and family, many meet to have one of our freshly cooked breakfasts or just a coffee.’

But Karen hasn’t just got the Country Table in Bank Street, her business empire stretches a little further.

‘In 2003 we expanded into the vacant premises adjoining the cafe. Then in November 2009 we opened up a small cafe in Newton Abbot Community Hospital and in June 2012 we opened another cafe within the Newton Abbot Library’, she said.

The town centre development manager, Sally Henley, said: ‘There was a fantastic atmosphere at the Country Table on Wednesday.

‘Customers were coming in with cards congratulating Karen and Alan and the team and the cafe was truly buzzing.

‘I had the dish of the day for lunch, which was the same as when the cafe opened 20 years ago – a tomato and lentil bake.

‘Music outside, tasters and a prize draw added to the sense of occasion and everyone applauded the mayor when he made a short speech of congratulation.’

The mayor presented Karen with a certificate for serving the people of the town for the last 20 years.