A NEW seafront restaurant that’s been keeping quiet over the last two months is ready to throw open its doors to guests.

Brighton Beach Club in the old Milkmaid Pavilion in Kings Road, which used to be the Italian restaurant, Al Fresco, has had a new facelift and offers a completely different dining experience to its predecessor.

After only seven weeks of work, the tables are set and the bars are prepped to serve anyone interested in trying out what the new restaurant has to offer.

Leotitia Raymonde Hunte, general manager said: “We offer something for everyone at Brighton Beach Club.

“The menu offers enough food options to suit everyone’s taste.

“We have mixed grill options, fresh fish, vegetarian and vegan options. It will be difficult to not find something that suits you.

“The same chef that cooked for Al Fresco, John Dixon, is still with us but sourcing and making food that offers a different experience for guests compared to what used to be here.

“And hopefully a good one.”

The Brighton Beach Club boasts two different style restaurants, each with their own menu.

Their upstairs restaurant, which includes new raised level seating for better sea views, is more for the dining experience.

New beach-style wooden tables line the upstairs restaurant room, panelled with windows offering diners a 360 degree view.

Leotitia said: “ Although our upstairs restaurant is more for dining we still want it to be a relaxed environment.

“We don’t want it to be too formal.

“It’s meant to have a fun, hip atmosphere.

Leotitia said her favourite time at the restaurant is in the evening.

She said: “It’s beautiful when all the lights are turned on.

“It’s a very cosy place to visit during these wintery days.

“I am really looking forward to the summer when we will get amazing views of the sunsets.”

Main dishes on the upstairs menu include “pan fried monkfish”, “chestnut, butterbean, chickpea and cumin strudel” and “slow braised feather blade of beef in red wine”.

Their desserts range from exotic “coconut and vanilla pannacotta” to a range of local Sussex cheeses.

Leotitia said: “Downstairs the restaurant is much more of a brasserie style.

“We serve more casual food options such as classic burgers and fish and chips.

“So its a great place to pop in to for a relaxed lunch or dinner. “It is also a nice to just sit and enjoy a coffee during the day time and watch the stormy sea views at this time of year.

“We are bringing more blankets and snug cushions in to create more of a cosy atmosphere downstairs.”

Leotitia said although the two restaurants are different, the options on both menus are available no matter where you decide to sit.

She said: “We want our guests to feel comfortable when they come here and feel that they can have whatever they want.”

City Pub, which owns Brighton Beach Club, has also completely converted both bars which now hold more than 40 different craft beers, world wines all sold by the glass and a list of cocktails that refresh every week just to “spice things up”.

Helen Sprason, operations manager said: “Our downstairs bar is the perfect place to come and enjoy a cocktail or a glass of wine in the evening.

“We can’t wait to see guests mingling and enjoying the newly-developed space.

“It looks great and we’ve got it really cosy for this time of year.”

Helen said while they are a new restaurant offering something different, they still want to hold on to some traditions.

She said: “We wanted to do something to link to the old milk pavilion, which this building used to be, so we decided to serve a range of different milkshakes for our guests to enjoy, all of which are vegan.”

Brighton Beach Club also has a craft corner for children to entertain themselves.

Helen said: “We pride ourselves on the fact that we have something for everyone here.

“A lot of families like to go out together at the weekends and it’s great to be able to provide a space that everyone can enjoy together.”

The new seaside restaurant hosts monthly craft competitions for the children and the winners are given four free tickets to the Brighton adventure centre, Phileas Fogg.

Helen said: “Our first craft challenge once the restaurant opens is going to be ‘who can make the best gingerbread man’ and the lucky winner will get their tickets and a free sit down meal.”

Brighton Beach Club hosted a launch party yesterday which welcomed invited guests to trial the food, including much-loved Brighton DJ Fatboy Slim (Norman Cook).

They have also hosted a couple of weddings prior to opening which went “really well” according to Helen.

The restaurant officially opens tomorrow for guests to book a table and enjoy a new dining experience.