Norfolk, UK
We bought the Rocky Bottoms site in 2004 and have owned and managed this unique restaurant since 2015. It is an independent family business headed-up by my husband Richard Matthew and myself, Ali.
Today, we are not making bricks, but as family business using local resources we see ourselves as the current custodians of this beautiful cliff-top site.
My husband Richard has been a fisherman for over 35 years. Fishing off the coast of Weybourne, he is one of a very few still using a traditional Norfolk double-ended crab boat. We loved the fresh produce he brought in daily, but most of the catch went off to trade. Not many locals could access it and we wanted locals to be able to buy the freshest seafood directly from us. An incomparable experience to buying supermarket fish!
Originally we set up a seafood counter for off-sales. It was remains ever popular. Our current business seemed to grow organically from this simple idea.
Today Rocky Bottoms restaurant offers delicious food for lunch and dinner, including daily specials, light bites and a children’s menu. With meat and vegetarian options, we are not exclusively seafood, but most of our customers would probably say the star of the show is our fresh seafood. We would probably agree.
We are only open March to November in line with the local fishing season. To open outside of this season would be nonsensical for us and against the ethos of Rocky Bottoms as a local sustainable restaurant.
Whilst much of Richard’s daily catch remains on-site, he also provides delicious seafood throughout Norfolk. His role contributing to a network of local produce suppliers means that we have the inside track on the best seasonal produce which goes straight on the specials’ board. Our short-chain supply network has the feeling of a local cooperative – all championing the freshest local food.
We are a local family business the local community is very important to us, they are our customers, colleagues and promoters.
When you visit Rocky Bottoms we hope that our informal friendly ethos is evident from the outset. It’s important to us that our customers understand the philosophy behind Rocky Bottoms; we always wanted to get Richard’s fresh seafood to locals and a friendly welcome sets the tone for the relaxed eating-experience we want to deliver.
Fresh seafood does not have to be elitist. On the cliff top, with children running around, excellent produce, great cooking, can make fine food more accessible to locals.
Find out more about us and what we do here on our website: Rocky Bottoms
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