Hetty & Betty, which is a family-run cafe and restaurant based in Whitby, has been shortlisted for the UK’s best high street small business at this year’s Small Awards.

Now in its fifth year, The Small Awards is a nationwide search for the smallest and greatest firms in the UK, from all industries and sectors. It is organised annually by Small Business Britain, which champions, inspires and accelerates small businesses in the UK.

The Hetty & Betty family business originally began as Mills Cafe in 1928 and has been serving Whitby Fish and Chips ever since. The cafe & restaurant also specialises in creative Afternoon Teas – including the Whitby Fish and Chips Afternoon Tea.

It has also been chosen as one of five finalists for the ‘High Street Hero’ award, sponsored by TSB, that recognises a small business that has a proven record of contributing towards the success of their local high street.

Owner Lois Mee said: “After such a tumultuous year, to have been chosen as a finalist for such an amazing award is a huge honour. We are very proud of our work to promote our business, our street and the other businesses on it. We are really looking forward to the award presentation on 13th May where the winner will be announced, and we’re keeping everything crossed, but whatever the result we are immensely proud at being named as a finalist.”

With eleven unique categories, the Small Awards celebrate the dynamism of the UK’s small business sector, across everything from longstanding family businesses and innovation-led start-ups, to social enterprise champions.

“The Small Awards exist to celebrate and champion the amazing contribution of fantastic small firms like Hetty & Betty. We received a record number of applications this year, with an incredibly high standard of entry, so all of the small businesses shortlisted should be rightly proud of this achievement.” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain.

Judged by a panel of leading enterprise experts, the winners of all award categories, along with the overall winner of Small Business of the Year, will be announced on 13 May 2021.