THE co-owner of a Colchester restaurant is celebrating 25 years with his business.

Paul Self, manager of Sloppy Joe’s American Diner, worked his way up from washing dishes with the High Street restaurant to buying shares in the company.

The 37-year-old father, who has lived in Colchester since he was six, celebrated the anniversary at a special party for staff, friends and family last week.

Mr Self started in the kitchens at the 120-cover restaurant at the age of 15. He continued to work there throughout his teens and while studying catering at Colchester Institute.

After 18 months in Switzerland, he returned to Sloppy Joe’s to take on a management post.

Since then he has overseen the running of the restaurant, which serves 100,000 customers a year.

He said: “It has gone really quickly. In fact it has flown by.

“I arrive there at 7am and before you know it, it’s time to go home. It goes so fast, but I’m never sat there twiddling my thumbs.

“I was born and bred in the town and I guess that makes you feel even more passionately about it. I don’t do it for the money. I do it because I enjoy it.

“I’m a real people person and I meet so many people doing the job I do. But the party was not just a thank you for me, it was a thank you to everybody.

“The staff are such a large part of why the business is still going.

“They are the main contact for our customers every week.”

He said the restaurant trade has changed dramatically in Colchester since he started work in the Eighties “In 1988 there were very few restaurants out there, as eating out wasn’t done that often.

“Unlike some big chains, we are not tied down, so if we want to change something we can do it.

“If our customers ask for a new item we can start selling it the next day.”

Mr Self has been challenging Colcestrians’ tastebuds.

Catfish was recently on the menu as well as the usual steaks, burgers and Mexican dishes.

He said: “I’m trying to encourage people to try new things.”