FANS of a popular seafront cafe have been anxious after it closed its doors to customers.

There was concern on the faces of people passing Marrocco's in King’s Esplanade, Hove this weekend as customers realised that the quaint Italian was not open for business.

But regulars need not panic, as the cafe is set to reopen again on Tuesday, May 11 after being closed for a period of renovation.

A sign on the door of the café reads: “We are closed for a few days to finish our internal refurbishments and exterior paintwork.

“We will reopen again on Tuesday the 11th. Look forward to seeing you then. Thank you.”

Marrocco's has been open for takeaway and collection services while restrictions on indoor dining remain, and staff have been serving its ice-cream from a counter.

Customers will once again be able to eat inside from May, 17.

Marrocco's which has since seen the inclusion of an Italian restaurant, has been a staple of Brighton and Hove life for generations, with customers known to queue for more than 30 minutes in the summer to get their ice creams.

Founder Renato Marrocco moved to Brighton from Cassino in Southern Italy and bought his first cafe on the corner of East Street, before setting his heart on a small seafront café and opened Marrocco’s, in 1969.

The cafe became a popular haunt for celebrities, with comedian Tommy Cooper and Laurence Olivier among Mr Marrocco’s customers.

Marrocco’s now has a Rockstar neighbour too, after Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour moved into his new multi-million-pound seafront home last year.

The café is now run by Renato’s son Peter Marrocco.