A WINCHESTER institution is on the market.

Tom's Deli on St George's Street has been running for more than 30 years

But owner Tom Romita, 68, is looking to retire and the business is being marketed.

Mr Romita did not want to discuss the sale with the Chronicle when approached.

He opened the business as a newsagent in the late 1980s before gradually converting it into a delicatessen utilising his family links with the Puglia region in southern Italy and then more recently as an Italian cafe/restaurant, using the space between the premises and St George's Street.

The city council aided the expansion by paving over a large part of the area and putting in planters.

The cafe seats 30 and the forecourt another 50.

It is being marketed at offers in the region of £100,000 with a ten-year lease estimated at £19,000 a year, with negotiations ongoing with the landlords, Winchester City Council.

The online marketing says: "In enthusiastic hands it is considered that the business still offers plenty of potential, with scope to open in the afternoon and for later evening opening. In addition, the premises would lend themselves readily suitable for many styles of cuisine, having the benefit of both full-on and off licences."

Setting aside lockdown, when back to normal the restaurant opens for morning coffee at 9am, through lunch to 3pm, re-opening in the evening from 6pm, with last orders at 9.30 pm. During winter the restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday.