AFTER months of speculation about the new Rick Stein restaurant in Sandbanks, the Daily Echo was given a sneak preview ahead of the official opening at the weekend.

The long-awaited 200-seater restaurant is set to open its doors to the public on Saturday November 28 following a champagne and canapés reception on Friday evening for invited guests.

In pictures: See all our images from inside the restaurant here

Around 60 people from local businesses were invited to an informal lunch yesterday as part of the new staff’s training programme.

Rick’s interior designer ex-wife Jill has completely transformed the former Café Shore restaurant on the Poole peninsula.

Bournemouth Echo:

The style is coastal chic with crisp white napery, large oil canvases and finishing touches such as the wall wreaths made out of mussel shells and a stone fish mosaic built into the floor.

There is an open kitchen on the main floor and assorted tables and chairs offering panoramic views across the harbour.

The menu features a mixture of cold or hot starters and salads such as sea bass ceviche and seared scallops with Serrano ham in a sherry vinegar dressing.

Bournemouth Echo:

For mains there are seafood restaurant classics such as a whole lobster thermidor and John Dory Alla Carlina as well as a selection of shellfish and crustacean on ice or steamed.

If you’re not a fish fan there is a selection of Rick’s favourite meat dishes such as the 10oz steak and a small selection of desserts including chocolate pave and bread and butter pudding.

The general consensus from the diners was that the restaurant had exceeded all their expectations.

Bournemouth Echo:

This is the second restaurant outside Cornwall to be opened by the charismatic fish maestro.

Rick’s empire now includes five restaurants, accommodation, retail outlets and a cookery school.

But it remains a family-run operation. All three sons are involved in the business. Executive chef and Rick's middle son, Jack Stein, is overseeing the kitchen and his youngest son Charles is supplying some of the wines for the restaurant.

To find out more about Rick Stein’s new restaurant, see Taste in the Daily Echo this Saturday.