The Sandwich Mill at Shaddongate in Carlisle has made the top ten of the competition.

Sarah Orsila, the owner of the shop, said: "We offer all sorts at The Sandwich Mill, we're open 7am until 2pm, so we offer both breakfast and lunch.

"We've got everything from bacon rolls to breakfast wraps, which are really popular where we are.

"At lunchtime, we do the usual baguettes and rolls, but we also offer burgers and burritos.

Sandwich Mill

"We promote a lot of the food we sell on social media through our Facebook page.

"It's amazing to make the finals of the News & Star's Best Sandwich Shop competition this year, I can't believe it.

"I feel completely overwhelmed by the support of our customers.

"After 17 years of owning the shop, we moved to Spain, but it was too far for us, so we came back and opened our shop again.

Star Best Sandwich Shop

"It was our shop again, and the support from our customers has just been amazing."

Readers are urged to show their support for their favourite sandwich spot across north and west Cumbria.

Joy Yates, regional editor for Newsquest Cumbria, said: "Sandwiches are a staple choice for a quick, filling, tasty lunch, so it's no surprise we eat billions annually in the UK alone.

"Reports show among our most favourite fillings are BLT, chicken salad, tuna mayonnaise, fish finger, cheese and pickle, and egg and cress.

Newsquest Cumbria

"Then there are the bread options - do you prefer wraps, buns, baguettes, sourdough bread, rye, ciabatta, brioche, muffins?

"And, of course, where do you buy your number one sandwich?

"There are so many places you can buy your lunch, but if you have a go-to favourite, show your appreciation by nominating them for our Best Sandwich Shop promotion.

"Show them you recognise their efforts and nominate them right now."

Best Sandwich Shop

The shop with the most votes will be crowned Best Sandwich Shop 2026.

It was our shop again, and the support from our customers has just been amazing.

Reading the wider picture

Restaurants live and die on repeat visits, which makes consistency considerably more valuable than any single moment of brilliance.

The short version

  • The Sandwich Mill at Shaddongate in Carlisle has made the top ten of the competition
  • Sarah Orsila, the owner of the shop, said: "We offer all sorts at The Sandwich Mill, we're open 7am until 2pm
  • "We've got everything from bacon rolls to breakfast wraps, which are really popular where we are
  • "At lunchtime, we do the usual baguettes and rolls, but we also offer burgers and burritos
  • "We promote a lot of the food we sell on social media through our Facebook page

The numbers worth knowing

  • "After 17 years of owning the shop, we moved to Spain, but it was too far for us, so we came back and opened our shop again
  • The shop with the most votes will be crowned Best Sandwich Shop 2026

In short

How this plays out in the dining room will take time to become clear. For now it is a development worth following rather than judging.