There was a real sense of excitement at the Fish Market Cafe on Tuesday 7 July as Louise and Keith Chapman, together with Rozzy Wyatt and the team, welcomed guests to celebrate the opening of the Seafood Bar’s impressive new indoor event space.
Created to bring people together, the stylish new venue has been designed to host a wide range of occasions from birthday parties and family celebrations to business launches, private events and community gatherings. It will also become home to a series of special in-house experiences, including evenings with guest chefs, tasting events and other unique occasions that promise to add another exciting dimension to the popular seafood destination.
Rozzy Wyatt spoke at the event, introducing herself and her new role as events manager. “I want to tell you a bit about why Keith and Louise have opened this room.
“Since first coming to Rye six years ago, Keith and Louise have increased the staff here from two to around twenty. They also work with schools and colleges, offering placement opportunities and employment to young people with special needs. Their aim has always been to try to maximise the benefits of locally caught fish for all who live and work in Rye.
“There are still plenty of fish in our local waters, but it is an increasingly hard job fishing them, due to warming sea temperatures and, dare I mention it, Brexit, which increased costs, administration and regulations enormously.
“Happily, the fishermen are still going out to sea, and they need places to bring their catch. There are fish landing daily from 30 small day fishing boats from all along our Sussex and Kent coastline, bringing in delicious delights including lobsters, my personal favourite, crabs, clams, skate, seabass and of course scallops.
“Keith and Louise are passionate about their local community and they care deeply about the fishermen who bring in the daily catch.
“The significant investment they have made into developing this site, with the shop, seafood bar and this new indoor event space, is what brings in the funds to keep this place as a guaranteed home for the local fishermen to bring in everything they land. So please raise a glass to Keith and Louise as we smash the proverbial bottle on the boat to launch this new and exciting venture here at Rye Fish Market, the home of our local seafood for years to come.”
Image Credits: Kt bruce .