That is the view of one happy customer who has nominated staff at the St Mary’s Butts branch in the town centre for a Reading Retail Award.

The sandwhich shop boasts two stores in the town with another sitting at Harris Arcade and has been a feature in the retail market for 22 years.

Opening at dawn at around 6am they have had customers coming in early for their breakfast at 6.05am and can now count them as friends rather than clients.

Ian Chewings, manager of the St Mary’s Butts branch and brother Mark who is propietor with Nick Sanders, said the whole business is a family affair.

He said: “Our customers are friends now and people we have known for years. You get to know them and to have a laugh and a joke with them. We’ve been invited to barbecues and weddings, all sorts of things.”

Staff were nominated for the Service with a Smile award with the customer nominating them saying: “Even at 7am they are cheerful and welcoming. It really helps start my day.”

Mr Chewings added: “It’s a happy place to work and some of the members of staff are family members and so it’s really family friendly.”

Also put forward for the category sponsored by Reading Buses is Dale Leer from Goldsmiths in The Oracle.

Mr Leer was nominated for his “professionalism and attention to detail”

with the customer who nominating him adding: “He made me feel at ease but what impresses me the most is that the natural way he does his job. Not once do I feel pressured into buying when I look at Rolex watches and this is the reason I will go back time and time again.”

The awards, backed by The Oracle, theeventcrew.co.uk and The Reading

Chronicle, are free to enter and whether a large department store or independent beauty salon, baker, cafe or car dealer, those in the centre of town, out of town, rural locations and virtual stores based in the Reading Borough are eligible to take part.

The awards feature five winners chosen solely by public vote and seven industry awards open to retailer nominations.

All the winners are chosen by an independent judging panel of experts and all those short-listed will be invited to attend thie glittering awards ceremony at The Hilton Hotel, Reading in September.

Nominations close on Monday, July 7.

To nominate visit www.readingretailawards.co.uk or pick up a nomination form in stores across the borough.

Here is a full list of categories.

Shoppers can nominate in the following categories:

My favourite coffee shop

The lovely lunch – casual dining

Service with a smile

The shop I can’t live without

Restaurant of the year

Businesses can enter:

Promotional initiative of the year

Independent retailer of the year

Multiple retailer of the year

Visual display or design of the year

Shooting star

Manager of the year

Trainee of the year