The boss of a popular Italian restaurant is retiring after almost 50 years and has put the business up for auction.

Angelo Borrello, who runs Dino’s in Castle Street, Dover, with his wife Lorna, says he will miss their loyal customers who have “treated us like family”.

Among the famous faces through the doors over the years have been Formula One champion James Hunt and Alison Streeter MBE - one of thousands of Channel swimmers to load up on carbs there.

The family’s departure will mark the end of an era which started in 1977 when Angelo’s father Dino and Clara opened the venue.

Angelo told KentOnline that age and ill health have prevented the restaurant from reaching its 50th anniversary.

The 66-year-old said: “We want to thank our customers. We’ve been inundated with bookings and it’s been unbelievable.

“We followed in my mother and father's footsteps and what they were doing, we were doing, because it worked and everybody was happy.

“It's more like a family with customers. They treated us like family and that was lovely.

“We've got lots of kids that have come in saying they've grown up in here because they've been coming since they were babies and then they've grown up to be parents themselves and have their own families.

“Now that makes you feel old.”

Angelo’s parents left Italy when he was a child and worked in restaurants in Soho and Folkestone before being offered the chance to own their bistro in Dover, which they launched in May 1977.

Using traditional, unwritten recipes from the southern Italian town of Malvito, Dino and Clara became legends of the area with Angelo joining the business – though it was not a decision entirely of his own making.

“Italians don't have a choice - it's either in here or out there,” he joked.

With Dino travelling the world to work in the industry, it often fell to Clara and Angelo to hold down the fort. They were later joined by Lorna when she married into the family.

Throughout their time at the restaurant, Angelo and Lorna have seen a dramatic shift in business with changes in the port industry.

The days of seeing masses of shipping agents and freight traffic pass through have long gone.

But regular visitors such as an Arsenal fan club and masses of Channel swimmers – who fill up on pasta or pizza before taking to the water – have helped keep the restaurant busy.

“Through Covid, we managed because we were the only restaurant in Dover that was still open doing takeaways,” said Angelo.

“You can't predict anything since the pandemic. What's going to happen one week to the next - it's just so different.”

Dino died in 2016 and Clara passed away three years later. With Angelo and Lorna retiring and their sons choosing to follow their own path, the building will be auctioned on December 9 by Clive Emson with a guide price of £170,000.

The couple do not think a new owner will keep it as a restaurant.

“It won't be the same. I think a restaurant is atmosphere, food, and I don't think you'll get that again,” said Lorna.

“If you look up the road, all of Castle Street has been developed into flats and apartments.

“But you know, we've done all we can, not just for us, but for the community.

“Angelo and the food have been the key to our success.”