Fishes in Burnham Market to close

Fishes in Burnham Market is to close after more than 35 years of operating as a restaurant.

The seafood eaterie near the north Norfolk coast, which first opened in 1973, was taken over by chef-proprietor Matthew Owsley-Brown and his wife Caroline in 2001. 

Owsley-Brown previously worked for Rick Stein at his renowned Seafood Restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall, in the 1990s.

However, the couple have now sold the restaurant to an independent retailer, who will turn it into a clothes shop. Fishes will stop trading on 14 February.

Owsley-Brown told Caterersearch the couple had made the decision to sell the restaurant after finding it “increasingly difficult” to run it profitably in the current financial climate.

“Burnham Market is a very seasonal place and while the summers have been getting busier with increased numbers of UK tourists, out of season it has been quiet,” he said.

“We’ve changed the Fishes format to a more informal restaurant to respond to the market but owning a small independent restaurant is becoming increasing difficult to run profitably, particularly in this current climate.”

Owsley-Brown added the couple was “relieved” to have sold the restaurant in this uncertain time. 

“We’re looking for a new project now and are hoping to open a small country hotel in Norfolk,” he said.

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By Kerstin Kühn

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