Owners of a long-standing restaurant are urgently seeking a new home as their landlord wants to reclaim the land for development.

The American Diner in Kennington has been told to move as soon as possible by the Longacres Bybrook Barn garden centre, which is its neighbour and landlord.

The 1940s mobile restaurant was brought over from New Jersey and originally ran in Covent Garden as a Fatboy's Diner.

VIDEO: Owner MDM "Royal" Karim speaks out

It has been in Kennington for 20 years and has become a popular pitstop among car clubs, attracting customers from as far afield as Essex and Milton Keynes.

Owner MDM "Royal" Karim said: "They need to use the land behind us and they can't get to it with us there.

"The landlord is a reasonable man, but Longacres is a business and we understand that.

"I've been talking to everyone, but finding a new location is proving hard."

Mr Karim, who lives in Willesborough, has been asked to move by the garden centre so they can develop the plot.

He added: "I do genuinely love this diner.

"I used to work here before I bought it so this is my family and my life. I have come at midnight by myself some nights to clean the place and I'm ready to do anything for it.

"It's an actual gem and it's unique. We're only small but a great attraction."

Having already secured quotes for a crane, Mr Karim is all set to move.

He added: "A change of location would definitely impact the business. I'm hoping for the best but it'll upset a lot of my customers because they are mostly from around here. Then again, when you have that pressure on your shoulders there's not much you can do

"I'd prefer to stay in Ashford because everything is here, but all the locations coming to us are outside of the area. As you can imagine, after 20 years we have regulars and we host car club nights, which are our main things.

"I love my staff, and some of my chefs have been working here for five years. They are lovely people and if we move too far away then I'm worried for them."

Despite repeated attempts, Longacres would not provide the Kentish Express with a comment.

If you know of any possible locations the diner could move to, please contact Mr Karim by calling 01233 877985 or emailing americandiner1941@gmail.com