A husband-and-wife team have announced they are opening a new fish and chip shop at Bristol's Cumberland Basin. Noah's seafood restaurant is set to open in place of the former Lockside cafe, which they described as a Bristol institution.
Daniel and Joie Rosser have taken over the riverside unit and will be ready to open next month. The venue on Brunel Lock Road was put up for sale last July, after 60 years of trading, with agents saying the closure was due to retirement.
It started life as a transport cafe in 1963 but had more recently been modernised. It became a popular breakfast spot with a decked terrace and stunning views of the Avon Gorge and start of the floating harbour.
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Lockside was run by the same family for nearly 20 years and previous owner Gary Brunton said he was inundated with messages from customers when he announced closure. Lockside featured in the sitcom Only Fools and Horses as Sid’s Cafe, and was previously known as The Venturers Rest and Popeye's Diner.
It will reopen as Noah's in April 2023, with room for approximately 60 covers inside. Updates on the exact opening date will be shared via its website noahsbristol.co.uk and @noahsbristol_ on social media.
The Rosser family already run The Scallop Shell in Bath, which they opened in 2015, but this will be the first standalone venture for the next generation husband-and-wife duo. They say they are "excited to breathe new life into this iconic building", informed by their experience in the fish and chip industry and working at high-end restaurants at home and abroad.
Daniel said: "We’ve had our sights set on a Bristol location for a while and we’re so excited to bring our fresh fish and seafood concept to this incredible venue with such a long history. As soon as we saw the building and the views out over the water to Clifton Suspension Bridge, we knew it would be perfect.
"It’s a huge investment for us but we’re so pleased with how it’s coming along so far. We don’t want to give too much away but can’t wait for the local community to come and experience it for themselves."
They say the environment will be 'accessible and relaxed', with Daniel overseeing the kitchen and Joie looking after the front of house. It will be open six days a week with a menu that changes daily, featuring familiar favourites from classic fish and chips, to grilled fish with simple dressings, fruits de mer, sharing plates and more.
Their aim will be to "showcase the best of British fish and shellfish sourced from the UK markets alongside the finest local produce".
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