Time took a giant step back for the opening of the Off Beat coffee bar.

Decked out in true Fifties style, the cafe in Sydney Street, Brighton, is the idea of Sharon Thomas.

She moved into Brighton four years ago following a day trip when she fell in love with the city. She soon gave up commuting to London and found a job waitressing while she formed a plan to open her own cafe.

She said: "I've always loved the older style cafes and coffee bars and was determined to open my own one day.

"I know there are a lot of cafes already in Brighton but I feel the Off Beat is offering something different. I got my inspiration from the late Fifties and early Sixties when the coffee bars were the places for people to meet.

"As a special opening offer I was selling coffee at the Sixties' price of one shilling or ten pence as it is now. I found glass coffee cups and other accessories to give it an authentic feel and the music from the juke box is from the same era.

"I've tried to make it as authentic as I could without turning it into a museum. I know Brighton has a long history but I think it enjoyed quite a reputation back in the Sixties. This is not like one of those chains of coffee shops you find in every High Street where everything is the same, whether it's in Cardiff or Brighton. This is special."

All food at the cafe is home-made by Sharon and her assistant Rosie Renshaw.

"We are keeping prices low but we not really in direct competition with cafes which offer meals and snacks. This a coffee, cakes and sandwiches meeting place."

Another authentic touch is Sharon's Vespa motor-scooter which she intends to use when the business starts to offer a takeaway service.