GULFPORT, FL — Years after closing its downtown St. Petersburg restaurant, The Moon Under Water is finally ready to welcome customers back as it reopens in a new location.
The beloved British restaurant, formerly a fixture on Beach Drive, will officially open its new Gulfport home to the public on Monday, Nov. 16, at 5 p.m., its owners announced on social media.
The restaurant is located at 2832 Beach Blvd. S., in the space formerly occupied by The Drunken Taco.
"It's been a long road getting here, and we genuinely cannot wait to welcome you all back to the Moon!" the owners wrote in their announcement.
Before opening to the public, the owners are hosting a private Friends & Family event on Saturday.
While the event is invitation-only and not open to the public, The Moon Under Water is giving away three tables for two to the preview, with each winning pair receiving a complimentary dinner and a glass of prosecco.
"A little VIP treatment before we officially open the doors," the owners wrote in their post.
Those interested in entering the giveaway can like, comment on and share the restaurant's announcement post. Winners are scheduled to be selected Thursday at 2 p.m.
The reopening marks a new chapter for the restaurant, which closed its original Beach Drive location in early 2021. The restaurant built a following for its British pub atmosphere and food before shutting down.
In September 2025, co-owner and chef Mike Crippin told Patch that he was working to bring the concept back, but to Gulfport this time, in partnership with Kevin Milkey, who also owns Grand Central Brewhouse.
Crippin previously served as executive chef at the original Moon Under Water and later co-owned The Studio Public House with his wife, Alison Crippin, in St. Petersburg's Grand Central District. That restaurant closed in 2025 after its landlord decided to sell the building for redevelopment rather than renew their lease.
The new Moon Under Water is considerably larger than its former home. At about 5,000 square feet, the Gulfport restaurant is roughly twice the size of the original and was designed to accommodate 250 to 300 guests, depending on the configuration.
The restaurant includes indoor and outdoor dining, a courtyard, two bars and stages for live entertainment. The owners hope to make the restaurant a destination for British food, live music and soccer viewing.
The menu was expected to feature nostalgic Moon Under Water favorites, along with some updated dishes and selections inspired by Studio Public House.
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