STEP back into the 1950s with the sounds of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison at a retro-American-style diner that has opened in Basingstoke’s Festival Place.

Ed’s Easy Diner has opened in the shopping centre’s Festival Square, complete with shiny chrome fittings, neon signs and its red and white colour scheme.

“We’ve had a super start,” said director of operations Andrew Guy, who is delighted with the complete refurbishment of the premises.

Andrew said the new diner is the tenth in the chain to open since the first flagship restaurant opened 25 years ago in London’s Soho.

When Andrew heard that there was a unit available at Festival Place, he knew there was a good opportunity to be had.

“It’s got a good reputation,” said Andrew. “I know some of the restaurants in Festival Place and I know they are doing very well.”

The restaurant can seat just over 60 people inside the restaurant with another 30 outside too.

In addition to its hamburgers, hot dogs and milkshakes, music plays a big part in the dining experience at Ed’s Easy Diner.

“We have genuine 1950s juke box dim selectors that we’ve brought in from America and had specially converted for our customers to choose songs from the 1950s and 1960s.”

It costs 20 pence to select a song, with the proceeds going to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOW) at the suggestion of Festival Place, as it is the shopping centre’s chosen charity of the year.

The diner company, which has been expanding in recent years, has plans to open up another branch in Southampton’s West Quay shopping centre later this year.