A London eatery which boasted that it was the first Maltese café in the city shut its doors for the last time yesterday. 

Parparellu's pastizzi, hobż biż-żejt and timpana kept Maltese expats well-fed and won it TripAdvisor certificates of excellence for two years on the trot. 

Parparellu no more: customers found this notice when visiting yesterday. Photo: Gary Leaver

But after four years, the Fulham Palace Road-based cafe has now shut down, with its owners saying the decision had been taken "with some sadness but no regrets." 

"The time has come for Leroy and I to start our next exciting journey," owner Joseph Pace wrote on the cafe's Facebook page.

"Parparellu was named in honour of my father, the late Mr Anthony Pace. I always felt that he has been looking after us all these years. I am sure he would have been proud of Parparellu." 

The announcement prompted dismay from various customers who had grown accustomed to the cafe offering them a taste of Malta. 

"Thanks for your friendship, your kannoli and your kinnie! Will miss you both very very much," one fan wrote, while another recalled the "warm welcome and delicious ravjul" they always found there.