(Image: T&A)
A Bradford café has celebrated a double awards triumph after being named among the best hospitality businesses in the country.
Café Jadore, on Chester Street in Bradford city centre, picked up two national honours within days of each other, adding to a growing list of accolades since opening four years ago.
Owner Raja Sakandar said the recognition was particularly special because it came from two separate industry bodies and reflected the hard work of the whole team.
Double awards success
The café was named Best Restaurant in Bradford at the British Restaurant Awards, continuing a remarkable run of success since opening.
Just days later, Café Jadore also received the Best Café Restaurant award at the British Asian Catering Awards.
Inside Café J’adore (Image: Newsquest)
Mr Sakandar said: "This year is a bit more special compared to the last wins because we didn't just win the Best Restaurant in Bradford award.
"We also won another award a couple of days later, so that's two awards in one week."
He added that the awards recognise much more than the food on offer.
"It's a very tough trade. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication and a lot of your social life.
Mr Sakandar said: "To win an award and be recognised makes you feel proud. It makes you feel like you've achieved something and that you're doing something right."
Brunch delights at Cafe J'adore (Image: Cafe J'adore)
From challenging beginnings to city centre success
Café Jadore opened four years ago with a concept that Mr Sakandar says was relatively new to Bradford at the time.
The venue combines a café atmosphere with an all-day menu featuring everything from English breakfasts and sandwiches to Asian-inspired dishes.
However, the business did not enjoy instant success.
"The first year and a half was really tough building the business," he said.
"There was nothing quite like it in Bradford when we initially opened.
"We wanted somewhere that catered for everyone but in a setting where people felt comfortable and looked after."
Mr Sakandar believes customer service has played a major role in the café's growth.
He said: "If you ask anybody about Café Jadore, one of the first things they'll probably mention is the service. For us, that's hugely important.
"The food needs to be good, but the service needs to be immaculate."
Expanding beyond Bradford
The success of the Bradford venue has led to the opening of a second Café Jadore site in Batley.
While Mr Sakandar described managing two locations as challenging, he said the new venture has enjoyed a stronger start than the original café.
He also praised the staff who have helped build the business, including several team members who have progressed from entry-level positions into management roles.
Mr Sakandar said: "We've got people who started as waiters and have gone on to become managers, we're proud that we've been able to help people develop and progress within the business."
From Cafe J'adore's dinner menu (Image: Cafe J'adore)
Bringing a new concept to the city
Mr Sakandar said the inspiration for Café Jadore came after travelling abroad and seeing modern café concepts across Europe and the Middle East.
After graduating from university and working in his family's restaurant businesses, he decided to bring something different to Bradford.
He said: "I'd seen these café-style restaurants in other countries and there was nothing quite like that here, it was difficult at first because people didn't really understand what we were trying to create, but being different is what eventually made us busy."
Social media helping attract visitors
Mr Sakandar also credited social media with helping the business reach new customers both locally and further afield.
He said visitors regularly travel from outside Bradford to experience the city's food scene, with online content helping put Café Jadore on their list of places to visit.
Mr Sakandar said: "Social media has made a massive difference. When people look up where to eat in Bradford, you want to be part of that conversation."
Looking ahead, Mr Sakandar said his focus remains on improving the customer experience while continuing to grow the brand.
"We're always thinking about what's next, always trying to improve," he said.
"In this business, you can never really switch off."