About Beach

Beach Byron Bay celebrates incredible local produce, cooked with imagination and passion, in one of the most spectacular beachfront locations on the East Coast of Australia.

With unparalleled waterfront views, Beach Byron Bay offers healthy, casual options via the Kiosk during the day, while the Restaurant offers a very special dining experience for waterside long lunches, sunset drinks, and dinner.

Meet the Beach Team

Beach Team

Beach Byron Bay is supported by a longstanding team of warm, knowledgeable, professional staff who are known for delivering personal and authentic dining experiences and events in Byron.

Beach Byron Bay is co-owned by Ben and Belinda Kirkwood together with Fink, a leading Australian restaurant group including Bennelong, Firedoor, OTTO Brisbane, OTTO Sydney and Quay.

BELINDA KIRKWOOD

DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER

With nearly two decades of experience, Belinda’s reputation for creating unique weddings and events with style and innovation is well documented and trusted. Clients, including Mercedes Benz, Optus, Westpac, Canon, Volkswagen, Rio Tinto, and L’Oreal speak of her consummate professionalism, personal attentiveness, and brilliant organisational skills.

BEN KIRKWOOD

DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER

Ben’s commitment to hospitality has seen him take leadership roles in a number of campaigns working with various groups including Tourism NSW, Northern Rivers Tourism, Restaurant and Catering Association of NSW as well as being active locally as a board member for Byron United (Chamber of Commerce), board member for Byron Visitor Centre, Vice President of the Local Tourism Organisation (Byron Shire), Chair of Restaurant and Cafe sub-committee of Byron United and Vice President of Artscape Biennial (outdoor sculpture exhibition).

ALANNA SAPWELL

HEAD CHEF

Prior to joining the Beach Byron Bay team as Head Chef in February 2022, Alanna Sapwell was named Gourmet Traveller’s Best New Talent, Courier Mail’s Chef of the Year and delicious.’ Unearthed Next Gen Chef. After training in Queensland, Italy and Japan, Alanna worked in various highly-regarded venues including Saint Peter and Arc Dining. Her pop-up restaurant Esmay saw great success, followed by a national tour with Good Food Month.

Alanna’s dedication to hyper-seasonal, ethically raised and locally sourced produce is evident in her menus at Beach Byron Bay.

SEAMUS BRANDT

HEAD OF BEVERAGE

Seamus joined the Fink family in 2018 as Assistant Sommelier at Quay, before assuming the role of Head Sommelier at Bennelong in 2019 where he developed the wine list and team to an award-winning standard. Seamus has achieved both the Level Three Advanced Sommelier Certification through the Court of Master Sommeliers, and the Wine Spirits & Education Trust of Level Three certification. In mid-2021, Seamus embraced a sea change and moved north to join Beach Byron Bay and is now our Head of Beverage.