The Moon Under Water, the British pub that spent more than two decades pouring pints and serving curry on Beach Drive in downtown St. Petersburg, is set to reopen Monday at 5 p.m. at 2832 Beach Boulevard South in Gulfport. The new address puts the revived restaurant inside the building most recently occupied by The Drunken Taco, which closed in September 2025, marking the pub's return after nearly five years away.
A Familiar Team Brings Back a St. Pete Staple
The reopening is being led by former executive chef Mike Crippin and his wife Alison Crippin, who handled human resources and office operations, alongside Kevin and Jeanne Milkey, owners of Grand Central Brewhouse, according to St Pete Rising. Mike and Alison Crippin worked at the original Moon Under Water for two decades, with Mike serving as executive chef for more than 20 years. Kevin Milkey has said the group initially hoped to reopen the pub near its former downtown St. Pete location, and looked at spaces in the Edge District and Grand Central District before settling on Gulfport after exploring several options.
The Moon Under Water first opened in 1997 at 332 Beach Drive NE, founded by Alan and Suzanne Lucas, who had moved from Wales to St. Petersburg. The pub operated for nearly 25 years before closing in 2021, and the original space was later taken over by Ceviche. Kevin Milkey purchased the Gulfport property in April 2026 for $2.4 million, according to the same report.
Bigger Space, British Pub Decor, and a Sports Hub
The new location measures approximately 5,000 square feet, which Patch reported is roughly twice the size of the original restaurant, with Mike Crippin saying the space could seat between 250 and 300 people depending on configuration. Per St Pete Rising, the building has been renovated with traditional British pub decor and now includes a large dining room, two indoor bars, and a covered courtyard with its own bar. The front bar and dining room are being redesigned as a traditional British pub, as reported by ilovetheburg.com.
A dedicated sports area will contain approximately 20 televisions split between the inside and the patio, with plans to show Premier League soccer, Tampa Bay Rowdies matches, NFL games and college football. The building previously hosted Sea Dog Cantina before The Drunken Taco moved in, and that most recent tenant closed following a change in ownership in summer 2024, according to The Gabber.
Curries, Cask Ales, and a Return to the Old Menu
Mike Crippin plans to bring back many of the dishes longtime regulars remember, including fish and chips, shepherd's pie, bangers and mash, and Indian curries such as tikka masala and vindaloo. The menu will also add lighter fare along with more vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free choices, while still featuring the classic dishes that built the pub's following, per The Gabber's reporting. Earlier coverage from the outlet had projected a January or February 2026 opening, while the Tampa Bay Times had separately reported an early 2026 target before the Nov. 16 date was set.
On the drink side, the restaurant will offer more than 20 taps of local craft beer alongside British and Irish ales, specialty scotches, bourbons, Irish whiskeys and a London gin bar. The pub plans to serve lunch and dinner daily, with weekend brunch and a late-night menu expected to follow once staff settle in, a timeline ilovetheburg.com reported as being added after launch. Two stages, one indoors and one outside, are planned to host live music on weekends as part of the broader relaunch.
For a neighborhood that has watched one tenant after another cycle through the Beach Boulevard building, the return of a name with roots stretching back to 1997 in St. Petersburg carries some weight. Gulfport diners will find out Monday evening whether the new space lives up to the original's reputation for curry, ale and conversation.
