For ages, the people living in and around Scarborough have waited for someone to flick the switch and allow new great venues to turn the strip by the sand into something other than a wasteland.

The strip that used to be bustling with youngsters hitting the seedy yet fun Lookout bar back in the day. The strip that is now half empty, somewhat scary after dark, and features multiple kebab and fish and chips joints.

Up the north side of the strip, sits the new-ish Ocean One bar. A surfy venue with a relaxed attitude, views of the ocean, cheap food and a desire to keep out troublemakers and those who have had a few. Too many.

It's not sleek. It's not sophisticated. And that's how the beach-loving locals like it.

When the bar first opened, after a period of wrangling with the local authorities that was long even for this town, people (like me) who live nearby started venturing back to the area.

Because the bar is a nice place to sit and have a beer, whilst enjoying some sun or a sunset. Cheapish cocktails aren't the kind you'd find at Must Winebar, but the owners aren't trying to be like all the upmarket bars in the city.

General manager Chris Hilton said shooters were off the menu, and the staff took seriously the responsible service of alcohol. They did not want to attract the kind of person who wants to come out, get smashed and cause some drama. This was Scarborough, relaxed and surfy style.

"Those types of people, who go out and it's not fun anymore, it's drama, is something we are trying to get rid of in the area," he said.

What's different about this place is the lack of pretension. You don't have to get frocked up to rock up. Everyone is just hanging, drinking beers and eating pizza (they sell about 350 per week).

Speaking of the pizzas they make, the most expensive is $14. $14! Imagine. And they're pretty tasty. Pretty big. They're not what you'd get at La Lola. But you don't pay what you'd pay at La Lola.

With light live music almost every night, this is the kind of place where you can catch up with friends and actually hear what they're saying.

Super casual, the bar attracts all types.

Let's hope more quality venues pop up there shortly.