BEACHGOERS in Southbourne may have noticed a double-decker bus painted in tropical looking colours parked along the beach.
It is in fact part of the new SOBO Beach pop-up restaurant which is currently being built – with an expected opening date at some point in late June.
SOBO Beach, which is being built on the site where the now demolished Bistro on the Beach was, is a new restaurant and bar which will aim to bring a flavour of Miami to Southbourne.
The restaurant’s operations manager Rich Slater, whose portfolio includes The Boathouse in Christchurch and Beach House in Mudeford Quay, told the Echo to expect an opening date “hopefully at some point in late June.”
He added it would have been sooner, had the council agreed to the plans earlier.
Rich added: “The council didn’t approve of SOBO until May 6, so we’ve not had a lot of time complete everything.
“We couldn’t even buy anything for the restaurant because we didn’t know if we could have the site.
“Things are made even slower this year because of shortages everywhere. If we wanted a certain type of barbeque this time last year, we probably could’ve got it.
“Now we have to wait.
“Right now, it’s all hands-on deck as we work hard to get open as soon as possible.
SOBO Beach will feature ‘FlaminGo Grill’ and ‘Wok-Shack’ kitchens in two shipping containers, onje yellow and one blue.
The open-top double-decker bus will provide a full bar and VIP lounge.
SOBO Beach has applied for alcoholic drinks to be served from 10am to 10pm each day, and for live and recorded music happening from 12 noon to 10pm every day.
Between 30 and 50 jobs for chefs and waiting staff will also be created at the restaurant during the peak season this summer, with applicants being accepted right now.
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