A NEW café is being fitted out at the entrance to Boscombe Pier, and once again the name is inspired by the Surf Reef.

The malfunctioning reef has already inspired restaurant/bars called Urban Reef and Reef Encounter and the newcomer will be called Reefside.

Rob Shearman, 46, is one of the men behind the venture, with business partner Van (CORR) Hubball, 36.

He said: “We were probably one of the first to come up with the name before the reef was even built but we waited to see what was going to happen for a couple of years because it was quite controversial.

“I have run the catering on the pier for the past few years.”

Reefside will offer burgers, fish and chips, sandwiches and snacks, and also have a shop.

Rob said: “We are not a restaurant and we will not be open in the evenings – we will be serving the bucket and spade brigade.”

He said they had taken a 25-year lease and were investing a quarter of a million pounds in the pier, which is a Grade II listed building. He said the pier front would look largely the same as it does now.