The boss of the South West’s famous Rockfish seafood restaurant chain says the hospitality industry will bounce back strongly in 2021 – as he reveals plans for three outdoor venues including a 100-seater bar in Plymouth.
Mitch Tonks said he is working on plans to create a 100-cover outdoor bar, in conjunction with Salcombe Brewery, at his restaurant , in Plymouth.
He is planning for the 100-cover affair, and two similar ones outside his Rockfish eatery and the Seahorse in Dartmouth, to be ready in time for April 12 when outdoor venues are allowed to operate under the Government’s “roadmap” out of lockdown.
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Mr Tonks said he is planning to continue the ventures after May 17, when restaurants can open indoors, and is working on plans for gigs and film shows to be staged al fresco in Plymouth.
“In Plymouth there will be a covered, outside bar, 100 covers, in collaboration with Salcombe Brewery,” he said. “We are doing a big refit, it will be fantastic. And it will be great for Plymouth, one of the most attractive outside spaces in the city.
“We will have a full range of Salcombe beers, seafood, and bands at weekends, and films later in the year.”
He is also aiming to and Sidmouth, from 2022, and sees his plans as evidence of the level of confidence in the South West hospitality sector as the nation begins to open up following the third coronavirus lockdown.
But he said that while his business, and others, should return to profitability in a post-Covid economy, it will take a further two years to fully recuperate from the economic damage caused during the past year.
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“I’m confident we are on the road to recovery,” Mr Tonks said. “There is a lot of pent-up demand and I think the South West will enjoy a mini boom. It’s going to be a great year for the South West. We are optimistic for ourselves and fellow traders.
“I’m pretty sure it (the roadmap) is going to plan and we seem to be on top of vaccinations. We will open the three outdoor spaces, and then indoor from May 17 and are then looking forward to June when it will be back to normal.”
But he added that it will take “a couple of years” for businesses to recover from the losses sustained during lockdown.
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“Business levels will recover,” he predicted. “We will be profitable. But we have build a fair amount of debt and that will have to be paid off.”
But Rockfish will move ahead with its plans for new restaurants and outdoor areas and Mr Tonks said more developments will be announced soon.
“We have other plans,” he said. “We are optimistic and will accelerate plans if anything, when we come out of lockdown.”
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He said people have missed human contact during the pandemic year and will value it more once they can interact again. And he said businesses, such as his, are now well equipped to open safely, having learned during the pandemic, and prepared to handle any future Covid-related issues.
Mr Tonks believes he need for social distancing will evaporate by the summer but may still remain – voluntarily.
“People have got used to social distancing,” he said. “So I think it will become social etiquette.”