The Bandstand – a popular Sandown eatery with sea views over The Bay – is to reopen in March, it has been announced. Last open back in March 2023, the ‘new’ Bandstand – located on Culver Parade – is to welcome customers again in less than 2 months’ time under new management. Purchased from the Isle of Wight Council in 2013, the premises underwent a thorough renovation before opening to customers in April 2015. The building was originally built around 1910 but had sadly fallen into disrepair after a café in the downstairs section closed in the mid-1970s. The sympathetic work undertaken to transform the tired, abandoned building into an attractive restaurant saw the couple win a conservation award in 2016. The business was put up for sale in November 2021 but now, in January 2024, a new beginning under new stewardship has been confirmed. Taking to their new Facebook page, The Bandstand has said:
“We are delighted to announce the reopening of The Bandstand in March 2024. “We will be offering unique food and drinks, all served in the most stunning location. We look forward to seeing you at The Bandstand very soon.”
It’s unknown who exactly is behind The Bandstand now, but further news is expected in the coming weeks…
This is great news so lovely myself and many other hippies used to sleep there about 1972 lots of fresh air… hopefully it will be not as drafty as it was then ha ha
Lovely. Good luck to the new owners, we’ll certainly be visiting. It would be brilliant if bubble and squeak is in the breakfast menu just like it used to be.
And fried bread
Hopefully this will minimise the amount of holiday makers that visit the awful Driftwood opposite. Absolute dire place. Worst rated place on trip advisor!
Lovely location. I hope the new management allows dogs as we tried to go in the bandstand once before with our dog and she wasn’t allowed so we never went back again.
It is for many people preferable to eat in a restaurant or cafe without dogs milling around and barking. Not everyone likes or trusts dogs.
The steps to it are very steep, I have witnessed an elderly lady slip, luckily that time not hurt but could so easily have been. I hope the access can be improved or better handrails fitted.
It is all about quality and price if they are to succeed
Quite a captive audience in that location as wonderful views, so likely being small the price can be high in the Summer anyway and still be full. As many are holiday makers who will likely only ever come here the once, quality then less important as most will never return good food or bad, not so for locals of course.