A couple who have poured their heart and soul into their Norwich restaurant are retiring, 32 years to the day after opening their business.

Eastern Daily Press: Don Pepe Restaurant, St Benedicts Street, NorwichPhoto:Antony KellyCopy:Frances EvansFor:EN NewsEN pics © 2005(01603) 772435Don Pepe Restaurant, St Benedicts Street, NorwichPhoto:Antony KellyCopy:Frances EvansFor:EN NewsEN pics © 2005(01603) 772435 (Image: ARCHANT NORFOLK PHOTOGRAPHIC © 2005)

Maria and Jose Millan opened Don Pepe with their friend more than three decades ago.

They have seen their children grow up in the kitchen of the St Benedicts street eatery, seen countless proposals, and welcomed hundreds of customers which they call "family".

Mr Millan said: "I think we've managed to be here so long because people come in and they feel like they're walking into a friend's house.

"We haven't changed anything in 32 years. We haven't changed what's on the menu, we haven't changed the interior, we haven't even changed who supplies our coffee. Every time we've talked about it our customers said 'No, we love it the way it is.'"

Eastern Daily Press: Don Pepe Restaurant, St Benedicts Street, Norwich. Owner Jose MillanPhoto:Antony KellyCopy:Frances EvansFor:EN NewsEN pics © 2005(01603) 772435Don Pepe Restaurant, St Benedicts Street, Norwich. Owner Jose MillanPhoto:Antony KellyCopy:Frances EvansFor:EN NewsEN pics © 2005(01603) 772435 (Image: ARCHANT NORFOLK PHOTOGRAPHIC © 2005)

The couple travelled to England from north west Spain three months after they were married.

Mrs Millan was just 19, and Mr Millan was 23. The pair said they would stay for a year, but nearly 50 years later have built their home and family.

"We had two children while we ran this restaurant," Mrs Millan said.

"My daughter always wanted to help in the kitchen. I remember when she was about five and couldn't reach the counters I would put two tins on the floor so she could reach into the sink and help me wash up."

Eastern Daily Press: Don Pepe in St Benedicts Street is closing down after 32 years in business. Picture: Victoria PertusaDon Pepe in St Benedicts Street is closing down after 32 years in business. Picture: Victoria Pertusa (Image: Archant)

The pair say their plans for retirement consist of simply "taking it easy".

"We've had too many happy memories in here to count," she said. "We've had a lot of proposals at the table for two in the window. Only last week we had a table of 24 who came in, all the girls were in flamenco outfits and the boys were dressed as matadors, we just always have had such good fun."

The restaurant has been bought already, and will reopen as a redecorated Spanish restaurant in the late summer.

"We just want to say thank you to all of our customers for supporting us for all these years," Mrs Millan said. "They're like a big family to us."

Eastern Daily Press: Don Pepe in St Benedicts Street is closing down after 32 years in business. Picture: Victoria PertusaDon Pepe in St Benedicts Street is closing down after 32 years in business. Picture: Victoria Pertusa (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Don Pepe in St Benedicts Street is closing down after 32 years in business. Picture: Victoria PertusaDon Pepe in St Benedicts Street is closing down after 32 years in business. Picture: Victoria Pertusa (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Don Pepe in St Benedicts Street is closing down after 32 years in business. Picture: Victoria PertusaDon Pepe in St Benedicts Street is closing down after 32 years in business. Picture: Victoria Pertusa (Image: Archant)