A mainstay in the Marsascala culinary scene, pizzeria il-Fanal Restaurant closed its doors permanently on Sunday, its management shared in a social media post on its closing day.

Throughout its almost 33 years of "continuous service”, the restaurant has served “tens if not hundreds of thousands of customers”. Its management added that it is grateful for all of them for “choosing il-Fanal for their dining experience”.

“A lot of you, especially our regulars we’ve grown close with, and all of you will be dearly missed,” it said.

Located right next to Marsascala’s seafront, the restaurant was a staple for many, offering a range of cuisines, including Mediterranean classics like pizza all the way to Chinese food.

Rumours of its closing started to emerge in social media groups on Saturday, leading to customers heading to the restaurant for a final meal there last weekend, as it closed its doors for the final time on Sunday at 11pm.

“It’s been an amazing and beautiful experience but it’s now time to experience and enjoy new things,” the restaurant’s management concluded.

The announcement was met by a number of comments on social media from regular customers, with many expressing their sadness at the news, while also sharing their “lovely memories” at Il-Fanal.