As well as the locals extending their famous Highland welcome to the newcomers, the team were specially honoured on Saturday 22nd April when they received a surprise visit from King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Ballater is the closest village to the Balmoral Estate - the Scottish home of the Royal Family.
The support for this new venture was warmly welcomed by the FISH SHOP team and Artfarm CEO Ewan Venters, who said: “We were really thrilled to be able to show His Majesty King Charles and Queen Camilla around Fish Shop on Saturday in advance of our opening this weekend.
"Sharing the values of our sister property, the Fife Arms, in neighbouring Braemar, community is at the heart of everything we do, and bearing in mind the Royal Family’s long association with Royal Deeside, we are deeply honoured that they came to show their support for this local restaurant and fishmonger”
FISH SHOP, which is both a restaurant and fishmonger, will open Saturday 29th April at 3 Netherly Place in the heart of Ballater, just east of the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland.
Celebrating the heritage and traditions of fishing in Scotland, FISH SHOP has been launched for those who enjoy freshly caught seafood which is ethically sourced. It is the latest venture from Artfarm, the company behind The Fife Arms in Braemar, Mount St. Restaurant and The Audley Public House in London.
Designed to cater to locals and residents of Ballater, alongside the many seasonal visitors, FISH SHOP will offer a modern, laid-back 40-cover seafood restaurant with an adjoining fishmonger.
FISH SHOP is committed to stocking only the very best sustainably-sourced fish from day and short-trip boats, as well as creel-caught and hand-dived crustacea. All meat will be free-range and locally sourced. It has a commitment to being low-waste from fit-out to packaging; even their smoking techniques use zero-emission charcoal.
Managed by the husband-and-wife team, Executive Chef Marcus and General Manager Jasmine Sherry, the restaurant menu will focus on shellfish and day boat fish, with the addition of select game, meat and vegetables from surrounding farms and estates. Dishes like Partan Bree, Velvet crab soup; Cape Wrath oysters or BBQ whole plaice, Shetland mussels, samphire will celebrate the seasonal best from Scotland and the British Isles.
Drinks will include biodynamic and low carbon footprint wines carefully selected from British and European vineyards, including Maid of Bruton Rosé, Bacchus and Sparkling Rosé from their vineyard in Somerset; Blanc de Noirs from Ancre Hill Estates in Monmouthshire, Wales; Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut ‘Terroirs’ from Agrapart & Fils in Champagne or Domaine des Capreoles ‘Diaclasse’ Regnie from Beaujolais, with spirits and beers like Eight Land Organic Spirits and 6 Degrees North Brewery from micro-breweries and distilleries within Scotland.
Russell Sage Studio has designed interiors with high eco-credentials in finishes, furniture, and lighting. Design elements will centre on a contemporary colour palette with highlights of natural wood, black and antique bronze found on floors and tabletops. All paint used is zero VOC, and coverings on banquettes and bar stools use low-carbon leather from Muirhead near Glasgow. All timber and timber veneers are FSC-certified, and table bases are reclaimed and resealed. Wall lights and portholes have been salvaged from ships, and fabrics are made from natural linen and cotton manufactured in Ayrshire.
A group table has also been included at the back of the restaurant, partially blurred by a recycled cast net. Seating up to 12 guests, the table was created from a salvaged, old ‘tender boat’ that was once pulled around Ardnamurchan and the Western Isles and has been in storage for over two decades.
Local artist Helen Jackson was commissioned to create a 120 basket-weave fish shoal suspended from the ceiling, floating above the dining room, using willow she had grown herself.
The adjoining fishmonger will offer seafood from the same boats and providers as the restaurant, with a seasonal selection of fish and shellfish arriving early each morning. A range of seaweeds, preserved seafood, Scottish Blackthorn Seasalt, other store cupboard essentials and daily deliveries of seasonal vegetables can also be found alongside a selection of wine.
The fishmonger will also offer freshly prepared fish dishes e.g. a dozen Cape Wrath oysters mignonette, lemon, tabasco: FISH SHOP fish pie or Fillet of Peterhead hake topped with an Invercauld Estate wild garlic crust for local delivery, or collection in-store.
FISH SHOP is a proud supporter of both the River Dee Trust which is the focus for intensive freshwater conservation actions to help save the iconic Atlantic Salmon by providing a thriving river supporting abundant biodiversity, improving the river both for this and future generations. They also support the Ocean Recovery Project which aims to empower beach cleaners, increase recycling rates and develop new techniques for recycling “hard to recycle” plastics.
Guests are invited to make a discretionary donation of £1 per table towards these two charities which will be matched by FISH SHOP.
FISH SHOP is at ground level and is fully accessible for everyone.
FISH SHOP
3 Netherley Place,
Ballater, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, AB35 5QE
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