Last chance to dine in popular Drysdale restaurant Merne as it kicks off farewell season

Merne at Lighthouse has been a popular wedding destination and function space for nearly a decade, but the owners have decided to wrap it up when their lease ends in 2026.

Merne Restaurant owners have decided not to renew their lease after 9 years of business, and will be finishing up in January 2026. Lyndon Betts, Sharon Fleet, Caleb Fleet, Head Chef Josh Smith and Michelle Ross. Picture: Mike Dugdale

A Drysdale restaurant that has been home to more than 250 weddings will close its doors in the new year, as the owners seek to finish up on their own terms.

Merne at Lighthouse overlooks olive groves and vineyards in the centre of the Bellarine Peninsula, and was opened in late 2016.

It is headed by chef Josh Smith and front of house manager and Ocean Grove resident Caleb Fleet.

The restaurant’s lease will expire at the end of January 2026, and the owners said they felt this signalled it was time to close this chapter of their lives.

Merne’s front of house manager and co-owner Caleb Fleet. Picture: Mike Dugdale

The owners said it had not been an easy decision, and reminisced about the connections they had built with guests throughout the restaurant’s life.

But, Mr Fleet said they had decided it was good to finish up “while we’re ahead”.

“We couldn’t see us being here for another three, six, nine years, so we just thought, let’s call it a day.”

“We just feel like we needed to go out on our own terms,” he said.

Both Mr Fleet and Mr Smith have had long careers in the restaurant industry, with Mr Smith bringing his experience at Gordon’s Ramsay’s Maze with him to Drysdale. Mr Fleet has worked in restaurants throughout the Geelong region for over 30 years.

Merne at Lighthouse’s idyllic setting in Drysdale. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Mr Fleet said that throughout their tenure they had been lucky with staffing, with most of their staff having been on-board for more than five years.

The team plans to “trade really strongly” for the remaining ten months of their lease, with three seasonal menus planned before they wrap up.

Mr Fleet said the restaurant had provided a relaxed setting for diners throughout its lifetime, with the owners hoping to give people an interesting, new and exciting menu.

He said the winter, spring and summer menus would be crafted around seasonal produce by Mr Smith, with a potential “best-of” menu to finish off the restaurant’s term.

Mr Fleet said connection with the local community had helped the restaurant thrive throughout the past decade.

He said staff have hosted about 250 weddings with many happy couples being long-term customers who continue return for wedding anniversaries.

A post on social media announcing Merne’s closure received more than 200 reactions.

Originally published as Last chance to dine in popular Drysdale restaurant Merne as it kicks off farewell season