Weymouth: Hard times sees resort's restaurants close

The owners have confirmed they have closed the seafood restaurant for good

Two family-run restaurants in a seaside resort have been forced to close.

Owners of seafood restaurant Crustacean and pizzeria The Loft, both in Weymouth, cited cost of living pressures and a drop in trade during the winter.

The owners, who had run both businesses, said after two years it was "with deep regret" they were closing.

They had "hoped to push through these hard times into another busy season but that has not prevailed".

The Loft was a pizza restaurant overlooking Weymouth Harbour

Posting details of the closures online, they added: "We have had lots of fun across the two years between the two places and have loved meeting the new faces and of course the regulars...

"That has now unfortunately got to come to an end with how seasonal Weymouth has become and the current economy."

They hoped new owners would take over the restaurants "and blossom them back into a success".

Spiralling costs and a fall in sponsorship has also seen the town's seafood festival scrapped.

Founded in 2008, Seafeast attracted 10,000 visitors last summer.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].