A popular tourist attraction, located in Stafford town centre, has received a five-star hygiene rating.

The Soup Kitchen, which has been providing delicious, hearty meals to the people of Stafford for the past 40 years, has been praised by the Food Standards Agency.

An inspection carried out by the FSA last month, awarded the cafe a rating of 'Very Good' across all three categories (hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and building and the management of food safety).

Inspectors were impressed by the environment in which food was being prepared, how food was being stored and the cleanliness of the cafe.

The building was erected in the 16th Century, later becoming a soup kitchen.

Funded and opened by Sir Thomas Salt, the soup kitchen provided help and support to the poor and was first recorded on the census in 1871.

In the 1980s, The Soup Kitchen cafe was opened by the Sandy family who have been dishing up tasty homemade food for locals and visitors ever since.

A post on the coffee house's Facebook page said: "We just want to say a huge thank you to our amazing team.

Download our Nub News App!

- It’s FREE and available now
- Breaking news notifications
- Your Town in Your Pocket

"We're so lucky to have such dedicated staff who show up every single day—rain or shine—with a smile on their faces and a willingness to give 110 percent.

"We truly appreciate everything you do!"