A POPULAR Sandbanks restaurant is reopening under new ownership - just months after shutting its doors for good. 

Lazy Jacks restaurant and bar will reopen its doors to customers on Friday, March 29, at 10am.

The venue in Panorama Road has undergone a full refurbishment and rebranding.

Merle Crampton, along with his business partner Mr Prior, decided to retain the restaurant's previous name.

A lazy jack is a type of rigging which is used on boats to raise the main sail.

Merle said: "Being based on the grounds of Sandbanks Yacht Club, we thought it was a great name with which to continue to trade."

The new Lazy Jacks has been described as 'a stylish and relaxed bar and restaurant on Sandbanks Peninsula with waterside views. Specialising in hand-stretched sourdough Neapolitan pizza, daily seafood specials.'

Bournemouth Echo: sea bass with charred asparagus, seasonal greens and a white wine and crayfish sauce.

Merle said: "We are really excited to be opening and are very much looking forward to welcoming guests from the local area and beyond to come and visit and enjoy what we have to offer.

"Hospitality is a very challenging industry at the moment.

"We are excited to take on the venture and form great relationships with customers."

The previous owners were forced to close their restaurant in November 2023.

In a post on social media, the previous owners wrote: "It is with great sadness that Lazy Jacks has had to close its doors for the final time.

"Due to the economic climate, it has proved too difficult to continue.

"We would like to thank all our customers, friends, and family for all their support over the years. It's been greatly appreciated."

The new owners said they took over the premises early this year and 'saw an opportunity.'

Merle is from the Bournemouth and Poole area and was the co-founder of the original Café Shore eatery in Sandbanks.

He added: "We thought we could do something with the venue and create a nice restaurant.

"So, we approached, and we were lucky enough to be able to secure the site."

Merle said they spent eight weeks refurbishing the venue and made a few structural tweaks.

The pair have cultivated an 'exciting new menu' with classic English dishes with a focus on fresh seafood.

Merle added: "We're not trying to reinvent the menu, but we're trying to elevate the offer a little."