New owner and fresh plans for Isle of Wight's Sandown Boulevard

The 1980s-style venue is situated on Sandown beach, operating out of the OYO Marina ­— formerly the Marina Bay Hotel.

Neil Bradley, 43, has taken over from former owners Parita and Vipul Patel, and has big plans for his first business venture.

Neil has lived on the Island since he was ten years old, and has been in hospitality all his working life.

• Read more: New Miami-themed Sandown Beach Boulevard the place for foodies

“I started at Ryde Superbowl, cleaning shoes, and worked my way up through various management positions, and was general manager there for around ten years,” said Neil.

“Then I went freelance as a hospitality consultant, and worked with various companies, helping them develop their businesses.

Rollin Pizza’s Luke Freer, Samir Shawarma’s Joe Samir, and Doogie Howes of Bangin Burgers. (Image: Neil Bradley.)

Sandown Boulevard food court. (Image: Neil Bradley.)

“I studied in mixology – the art of making cocktails – and built an events company around two years ago.

“Then I saw Sandown Boulevard had become available. The owners were moving away and wanted me to look after the hotel side of it, and the boulevard.

“I took it on back in July, close to the summer, so not much time to make big infrastructural changes.

“We’ve developed the cocktail menus and brought in three new vendors.

“They’re all Island businesses who use local butchers and have really put their all into it.

Some of the food and drinks on offer at Sandown Boulevard. (Image: Neil Bradley.)

Sandown Boulevard pizza. (Image: Neil Bradley.)

“We want to try and trade as much as we can throughout the year.

“This really is the only street food court on the Isle of Wight. It’s a huge concept on the mainland.

“The summer has not been great, tourist and weather-wise, and it’s an outside-dependant venue, but it is what it is, and it’s been fine.

“We really want locals to support it. We have full outside heating, covering, we have plenty of space inside and there’s something for everyone.  

“The people that come love it. It’s just about getting the awareness out that we’re here and trading.

“If you want these things on the Island to work, come and support them.

“We do DJ nights on Fridays and Saturdays and are looking to start up some bottomless brunches in September.

“It’s exciting. The plan is to build it up and be open all year round, and we’re hoping to stay open this winter.

“It’s something different. There’s nothing else quite like it on the Island.”