The owner of Devon restaurant chain Rockfish has revealed plans for yet another seaside venue, while two other sites remain in limbo. The latest plans are to transform a family-run beachfront café into another branch of the seafood restaurant.

Mary Stenson www.devonlive.com 

Mitch Tonks, CEO of Rockfish, submitted plans to revamp the Longboat Café on Budleigh Salterton seafront to East Devon District Council (EDDC) last month. The proposals are for an extension to the existing building, which will be an external dining space with a retractable roof and windows.

The application also says that there are hopes of replacing the shelter next door which has been subject to a planning wrangle between EDDC and the Longboat Café. On its Facebook page, the owners of the Longboat Café say it was built during the pandemic to help the business survive during social-distancing measures, as part of then-temporary measures which allowed moveable structures to be erected next to cafes, pubs and restaurants without planning permission. In 2021, the government made these measures permanent.

The owners of the business say they considered the structure to be moveable as it had been built on wheels but EDDC considered it permanent as it had been secured to the ground to prevent it from being blown out to sea. There is currently an enforcement notice from EDDC in place on the shelter for “unauthorised work”.

In the planning application by Rockfish, it says: “This application seeks to gain planning consent for this thoughtful design proposal which aims to offer a delightful and flexible seafront experience, blending effortlessly with the existing buildings.

“This planning application presents an opportunity to replace the current shelter (which has an enforcement notice) with a much more sensible and appropriate solution.”

Rockfish has eight restaurants across Devon and Dorset, all of which are in coastal or riverside locations. On its website, the chain has three new venues which are set to “open soon” in Salcombe, Sidmouth and Topsham.

Last month, it was confirmed that the Salcombe branch was gearing up to open in time for the summer season, with refurbishment having already started on the premises on Island Street. Meanwhile, opening dates are yet to be announced for the other two sites.

Rockfish purchased the former L’Estuaire Bistro and Bar site on Topsham Quay in June 2022 and has been displaying signs in the doors for many months. With no work appearing to have taken place since, Rockfish said in January that the project had only just entered the design and planning stages.

Plans to transform Drill Hall on Sidmouth seafront into a Rockfish restaurant were recommended for approval in November 2023 but the project was set back by concerns over flood risks. EDDC said it had withdrawn the application but, along with Rockfish, remained committed to redeveloping the site.

The full application for the Longboat Café can be viewed on EDDC’s website here.