A19 Hartlepool OK Diner set to close later this year with the loss of 10 jobs

The OK Diner, on the southbound carriageway of the A19, at Elwick services, near Hartlepool, will shut in the middle of April after the lease expired.

Meanwhile, the landlord Ron Perry says they have other “exciting” plans in the pipeline for the site.

Dafydd Lawrie, director of OK Diners, told the Mail: “I can confirm that we will be closing our Elwick site mid April.

“Our lease has expired and our landlord has given us notice to quit and we have been unable to find a suitable roadside location in the area.

"Regrettably we will loose 10 staff in total some who have worked for us for 20 years.”

OK Diners are themed on traditional 18050s American style diners and the Elwick restaurant is one of nine branches nationally.

Mr Perry said: “We are sorry to lose them. They have been here a very long time, about 24 years.

"But I think it has come to a natural end. We are looking to do something a little bit more diverse and exciting.”

Mr Perry said upcoming plans for the site include additional secure HVG parking and EV charging as well as other plans that he could not expand on at this time.

Family-run Ron Perry operates a number of services on both sides of the A19 which have grown over the years to include petrol stations, workshops, vehicle recovery, HGV overnight parking and self-storage.