Dawlish's much-loved Cove Café is staying open – and will be operating all year round, not just during the spring and summer season.

The beach café at Coryton Cove had a three-year lease that was due to run out at the end of October.

But on Monday, November 2, owners Marco and Naomi Censi posted on Facebook that they had secured the new lease after negotiations with Teignbridge District Council.

Marco told Dawlish Nub News he had been granted the lease two months ago, but they had saved the good news until this week.

Live music and food events planned for next summer

They are now planning a host of events next year.

Marco said: "From April or May, we'll have 10 events through the summer, all free, with live music.

"We're going to build a hut at the back with a proper kitchen and a wood-fired pizza oven, and we'll have a pizza night, fish and chips, pasta…."

He said he was also looking forward to being open throughout the year, so that people could enjoy the café on sunny winter days.

Delighted reactions from Facebook users

The post on Facebook has attracted dozens of congratulatory comments, many from people who have spent summer holidays in Dawlish and fallen in love with the Cove Café and its live music events.

The café started three years ago with just a small trailer, and has been trading only between March and October, with the trailer being kept in storage for the rest of the year.

Now, with its new lease, it is able to stay open during lockdown for takeaway food and drinks – and the team are busy planning for the new kitchen hut and the events they will be hosting next summer.