Mitch Tonks' Rockfish secures investment ahead of southern expansion

Mitch Tonks' Rockfish has secured investment from asset management firm Gresham House Ventures as the brand looks to expand over a four-year period.

Rockfish currently has five coastal sites in the south-west, but is looking to expand into 16 sites overall, with a number of locations identified in the south of England. The first, in Exeter Quays, is scheduled for launch on 18 March.

Gresham will serve as a minority investor after the firm, which experienced double-figure like-for-likes in 2018. Alongside Tonks the board includes Henry Dimbleby, formerly of Leon; Steve Leadbeater, formerly of Findus, and chairman Will Beckett, co-founder of Hawksmoor.

Tonks said: "Our goal at Rockfish is to change the way people experience seafood in the UK, and I'm delighted that the Gresham House Ventures team has bought into our vision and our ethos of sustainable sourcing, local seafood cooked on the day it was landed, and strong ethical and community values."

Associate director at Gresham House Tom Makey added: "Mitch and the team at Rockfish have developed a fantastic seafood offering that really resonates with customers, with high-quality cooking, sustainable and locally sourced ingredients all delivered from superb waterside locations.

"The Gresham House Ventures team actively supports investment in the hospitality sector and we are looking forward to bringing that experience to the Rockfish team's goals of growing a business that is one of the industry's real success stories."

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