A NEW restaurant is to open in Bournemouth town centre – weeks after an 80s-themed eatery which opened its doors earlier this year closed down.

Sri Lankan street food restaurant the Coconut Tree will take over the site of the former Brunch Club cafe in Old Christchurch Road.

The Brunch Club opened at the site several months ago.

The Coconut Tree's brand director Anna Garrod said there are already branches in cities including Cardiff, Bristol and Oxford.

“We are delighted to announce that our sixth site will be located right in the heart of Bournemouth, less than a mile away from the seafront," she said.

"It will be the first time we’ve been able to show off our island vibes and warm Sri Lankan hospitality in a seaside setting, and we couldn’t be more excited about joining the community here.”

The restaurant offers Sri Lankan food and fiery cocktails, nicknamed 'cocotails'. The menu offers smaller tapas-style plates including 'hot battered spicy cuttlefish', 'Jaffna goat curry with potato' and 'hoppers' – bowl-shaped coconut pancakes served with sambal and salsa.

Guardian food critic Jay Rayner called the eatery, which was founded by five friends, "laid back and full of charm".

In September, vegan restaurant Cafe Thrive, which was based in Richmond Hill, shut suddenly.

The premises was previously occupied by New Orleans-inspired eatery The Bayou, which also closed before its first anniversary.

Before that it was Mexican restaurant Coriander. The eatery had been there for more than 30 years.

In February, Mexigo Burrito Bar shut down after trading in Holdenhurst Road for five years.