WHEN La Capannina in Oxford's Cowley Road first opened in 1964, the Beatles conquered America, war was escalating in Vietnam and The Sun newspaper made its first run off the press.

Now the popular Italian restaurant - thought to be the city's first - has said farewell to its final customers, marking the end of more than 40 years of traditional Italian cuisine.

The couple who first opened the restaurant, Anna and Joe Arcucci, now 76 and 88 respectively, still live above La Capannina - which means "little hut".

Mrs Arcucci said: "I am not very happy that it is changing, but the time has caught up with us and we can't do it any more.

"A lot of customers have become friends after so long a time."

When Mr Arcucci turned 80, the couple decided to step back from the business and for the past seven years it was run by a former member of the waiting staff and his wife, Ciro and Frances Aprea - but the pair kept the same menu, the same chefs and much of the same staff.

Now the lease has been sold to the management team behind Mamma Mia's in Summertown, James Reilly and Martin Bunce, who will be reopening the restaurant as Fratelli's in the first week in September.

Mrs Arcucci said she had seen many changes over the years.

She said: "To start with, we were very busy, but for the last seven years it was only the weekend we were very busy.

"The atmosphere was very family-oriented, it was a family business and we were very happy to be here.

"The Cowley Road has changed a lot, it is much busier, there are a lot of Indian restaurants and chains and many more restaurants. I think it has changed for the better."

Mr Arcucci added: "When we opened, there was nothing here. People used to call it the back street of Oxford and said we were crazy to open a restaurant there."

The couple's daughter, Carmelina Lawton-Smith, who now lives in Headington, has fond memories of a childhood intrinsically linked with the restaurant.

She said: "I was four when it opened. It was much smaller then and my mother would send me out to the store room and I was constantly running out in the rain.

"We used to be the hub for the Italian community. Late at night there were card games played and we always had lots and lots of visitors because my parents would give anyone food, room, or a job if they needed it.

"It's sad to see a legacy go but my parents have been quite particular about who they were going to let it go to and it will stay in independent hands, serving the local community."

Mr Reilly and Mr Bunce both live in Oxford and said they aimed to cater for the people living in East Oxford rather than those visiting the Cowley Road.