A TOWN’S oldest cafe is to reopen as a Continental eaterie.

Anty Richards cafe closed at the end of 2008 due to a decline in trade, but under new owners Lica and Ramona Ianos, it reopens today as the Continental Maestro.

Like the original owner, Anty Richards, whose real name was Angelo Rissetto and moved to Darlington from Italy, the new owners are also immigrants, who have come from Gyla, in Hungary.

Mr Richards, whose ran a successful ice cream business, opened the cafe in 1928.

Mr and Mrs Ianos will run the business with chef Emerick Bock, who has previously worked at fivestar hotels.

The couple moved to England five years ago and came to Darlington because of Mrs Ianos’ job as a nurse.

She said: “We wanted to try a something new for Darlington.

“We’ve got a range of traditional continental dishes such as goulash from Hungary. We also make our own sausages.

“We hope a lot of the European people in the town will like it, but anyone who likes good food will enjoy it.”

The cafe will be open from 8am until midnight and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner to eat in or take out.