FISH SHOP - restaurant & fishmonger coming to Ballater • Foodie Explorers

Highland setting for new restaurant and fishmonger

A new restaurant and fishmonger named FISH SHOP will open on Saturday 29th April at 3 Netherly Place in the heart of Ballater, just east of the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland.

FISH SHOP is the latest venture from Artfarm, the company behind The Fife Arms in Braemar, Mount St. Restaurant and The Audley Public House in London.

The 40-cover seafood restaurant with an adjoining fishmonger has been designed not only for residents of Ballater but visitors as well. They are committed to stocking only 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 is committed to being low-waste from fit-out to packaging; even 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 such as Partan Bree, Velvet crab soup; Cape Wrath oysters or BBQ whole plaice, Shetland mussels, and samphire while meat dishes will include pork from local Balnault Farm or seasonal game from neighbouring estates.

Drinks will include biodynamic and low carbon footprint wines chosen from British and European vineyards, including Maid of Bruton Rosé, Bacchus and Sparkling Rosé from our 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 such as Eight Land Organic Spirits and 6 Degrees North Brewery from micro-breweries and distilleries within Scotland.

The eco credentials extend to the fit-out with Russell Sage Studio 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.

Supporting 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 and 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.