Over £500,000 will be spent on the new development which follows in the footsteps of other RockFish concepts in Dartmouth and Bristol. Tonks hopes this latest addition to the brand will encourage Aquarium visitors and Plymouth residents alike to choose local, sustainable seafood.
“It’s a fantastic site and somewhere where we feel we can make a real impact,” said Tonks. “Plymouth has some of the best fish in the UK which will be reflected on our menu.
“It’s great to have the support of the National Marine Aquarium, as our key ethos of encouraging marine conservation is so closely matched by the work that the Aquarium does both here in Plymouth and further afield.
Unique partnership
“It’s going to be a unique partnership, and one which we are very much looking forward to developing over the coming months.”
Rockfish Plymouth will be serving up a wide range of fantastic family seafood, most of which is sustainably sourced and certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), with much coming straight from local fishermen.
Dr David Gibson, managing director at the National Marine Aquarium, said: “We are delighted that Mitch Tonks has chosen to open his latest Rockfish restaurant here in Plymouth. His message of sourcing only the best sustainable seafood is something we wholeheartedly support.
Best quality
“Mitch has dedicated his career to ensuring that people not only enjoy the best quality seafood available but also that the fish he serves in his restaurants are caught using methods that cause as little damage to the marine environment as possible – helping to keep fish stocks at healthy levels.”
The development is also supported by the Sutton Harbour Company (SHC), which has welcomed the news of the planned restaurant opening. Charlotte Malcolm, SHC’s commercial manager, added: “Rockfish will be a great addition to the Harbour, and one which we are sure will prove very popular with both local residents and visitors to Plymouth.
“The restaurant will be a real asset to the area, reinforcing Plymouth’s reputation as a leading marine city, as well as reinforcing the National Marine Aquarium’s credentials as a leading authority on marine conservation and sustainable fishing.”
Mitch Tonks has three other restaurant to his name; RockFish Grill & Seafood Market in Bristol and The Seahorse and RockFish Seafood and Chipsin Dartmouth. He is also consultant cheffor the boutique hotel in Salcombe, South Sands. An opening date for the new RockFish restaurant in Plymouth is yet to be confirmed.