THE former Rick Stein Fish and Chip shop in Falmouth is to reopen as a brand new 'Apres Sea' restaurant bar after the Cornish chef gave up the lease on the site.

Rick Stein has announced that he was not re-opening the fish and chip shop at Maritime House on Discovery Quay in a statement on its website, however all his former staff are being taken on by the new business called Kona.

The statement by Rick Stein said: "I am very happy that The Taphouse has taken over our wonderful site and team in Falmouth. As we opened our first ‘nationwide restaurant’ in the summer; Stein’s At Home, bringing our simple, easy to cook, dining experience into homes across the country, our teams need to work on growing this area further to ensure we ‘pandemic proof’ the company and our other restaurants for the future."

The new venture at the site has been set up by a group of Cornish boys with experience in the industry and opens on May 17 when further restrictions are lifted. The main partner is George Parry from St Agnes.

A spokesman for Kona told the Packet that the new venture was going to be a bar, restaurant, coffee shop which will be focussing Poke Bowls, Hawaiian themed super healthy lifestyles with an 'Apres Sea' vibe decor style.

"It will be a watersports, ocean activity based decor focusing on healthy food," he said. "There will be DJs every evening playing terrace music, acoustic artists, takeaway coffees from the front.

He said someone they knew let them know the site was coming up for grabs as Rick Stein was focussing elsewhere.

"We have taken on all the existing staff so we are working closely with them," he said. "We're Cornish boys that are doing it. George Parry will be main owner running the place. We are really looking forward to being in the square with all the neighbours there, they all seem like a pretty cool people we are really keen to get involved there.

"Not at all apprehensive about opening, we have plenty of experience. It's going to be all good to go. We've got a great offering and really excited about people coming to see us and experience what we have to offer: the food and drink and big focus on cocktails and a major line-up of world beers and fresh exciting food hopefully bringing another dimension to the already great Falmouth nightlife.

"We are all confident that it is going to go well and really looking forward to it."

Rick Stein closed his Porthleven restaurant in June last year but it was never officially announced that the Falmouth restaurant was to close until now.