DISCUSSIONS have been held between Bournemouth council and “a number of new restaurant operators” looking to set up their business on the seafront, its cabinet member for tourism has said.

The revelation at Tuesday’s meeting of the council followed criticism of the “tired and overpriced” beachside cafes and restaurants in the town by a fellow councillor.

Cllr Nick Rose hit out at the “poor service” offered by existing eateries and called for the council to follow Brighton’s example, praising its range of smaller seafront businesses.

He urged the council to encourage new restaurants and cafes to set up shop even if they were just pop-up summer ventures.

“In my opinion, a significant number of the ones that we have are tired and overpriced, offer poor service for food and are in no way able to cope with the influx of tourists during peak periods,” he said.

“Why can’t we aspire to offer facilities like Brighton does where small businesses have the opportunity to rent small premises to offer a variety of food and drink and who will take pride in what they do and the service that they offer as it is their livelihood and their businesses and their residents they’re dealing with on a day-to-day basis?”

Responding to the criticism, the council’s cabinet member for tourism Cllr Pat Oakley said that more than £12m had been invested in the seafront area and that talks had been held with companies interested in opening premises in the town.

In 2013 the council adopted its strategy aimed at creating a “world class seafront experience” which has seen several leisure developments along the coast including cafes and kiosks.

Cllr Oakley said: “This has helped to encourage private sector operators to continue to invest in our seafront, whether that be the RockReef or the extension to the Oceanarium.

“We are currently in discussions with a number of new restaurant operators for the seafront and our existing operators are also looking to expand and open up new premises.”

In 2015, Chineside opened at Durley Chine following a £900,000 investment by the council.