A popular roadside café has reopened under new management with plans to take it back in time to a 1970s theme diner.

The Tuck Inn along the A2 in Newington was closed last week ahead of the business changing hands.

It was originally thought the previous owners were aiming to retire but they actually decided to sell due to staffing issues.

Now after 24 years they are passing on the baton to Paula Goldfinch and her partner Roy Golding.

They previously owned Mickey's Diner on the A249 in Detling but are now hoping to continue the previous owners' success at the Tuck Inn, which has 4.5 stars and rave reviews of its good value, no-frills Sunday lunches and breakfasts on TripAdvisor.

Paula said: "We used to come here as customers so to actually have it now is absolutely amazing.

"I can't believe we're here. It feels weird, the fact we own it now still hasn't sunk in."

She is hoping to bring her expertise in the service industry, saying: "My first job was as a waitress and I loved it.

"My family have owned catering businesses like pubs and such so it's like I have a genetic thing.

"I was then a teaching assistant before getting back into catering with a place on Sheppey which I built up.

"We then had the Detling diner and built that up over four years and now we're here."

The couple have signed a 10-year lease on the building and are looking to make the café their own.

Their plan is to change the décor to fit a 1970s theme – displaying psychedelic paintings and other known memorabilia.

They also hope to play music from that decade for customers to enjoy.

As for the iconic Tuck Inn sign above the door, Paula made it clear there were no current plans to change it.

But the inside remodel is on hold until the New Year as they want to settle in at first.

Paula added: "January and February, from our experience, are usually the quietest months so we were hoping to get away then and have it decorated in that time."

It has been a quick turnover for the Paula as they closed the diner in Detling on Sunday meaning they had just two days to move in and get everything ready.

But Paula has been helped by the previous owners in making the transition as smooth as possible.

She said: "They're both here now helping us and they're going to stay for a few days to help get us started.

"They owned it for a long time and it feels weird coming in and taking their stuff down and changing it.

"We don't want to erase their memories but we want to build on it and make new ones."

But as excited as Paula is, she knows the size of the legacy she is taking over from.

She said: "The previous owners had the queue going outside the door.

"They've been successful here for 24 years and now our aim is to build on that.

"They are a hard act to follow and we are under no illusion – so fingers-crossed we'll do them justice."