THE owners of a Burnham-on-Sea restaurant which suddenly closed after being open for just three months said they are moving on to a new venture.

Jimi Dean-Scully and Craig Peters from Burnham opened The Lounge on College Street in January in place of The Mitre which had been in the town for a number of years.

The newly refurbished restaurant and the owner's focus on local produce proved to be a hit with residents but after just three months in business it suddenly closed on April 1.

Jimi Dean-Scully, co owner of The Lounge said the couple took the decision to close the venue after he got a job offer he couldn't refuse.

"As much as The Lounge began to take off and we had amazing feedback/reviews we couldn’t pass on the opportunity that was offered to us," Jimi said.

"I was asked to come back to Swanage to pursue my entertainment career with accommodation included as well as offering Craig a number of roles to choose from.

"We are so happy in the new place we call home, Burnham will be our past, Dorset will be our future."

The couple completely refurbished the restaurant and created a fresh new menu in just nine days after they decided to take on the venue on New Years Day last year. 

Jimi and Craig are due to get married in November and said they are happy to be moving to Dorset to start a new life.

"We really enjoyed our time at The Lounge but an opportunity arose in Dorset and we had to take it or we would have regretted it," Craig said.

"We had amazing feedback and the restaurant was doing well but we came to the decision to end our 15 years in Burnham and start a fresh new life."

Jimi and Craig have remained tight lipped about who will move into the venue but have confirmed a new owner has been found.

It is believed The Lounge will reopen on May 1.