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Restaurant launch - Catch at the Old Fish Market, Weymouth

Catch at the Old Fish Market opened in June 2021 amidst the colour and energy of Weymouth’s working quayside. It offers an authentic sea-to-plate dining experience serving fish and shellfish with unequivocal local provenance and landed just a few feet from the restaurant kitchen. Head Chef Mike Naidoo was inspired by the quality of local produce to Dorset to open the restaurant after years at Jason Atherton’s Pollen Street Social.

Although Dorset is a haven of top quality local food, Weymouth does not have a reputation for fine dining and the owners of Catch want to create a destination restaurant that also supports the local fishing industry. . Within a few months of opening, the team secured a Michelin Guide listing for its commitment to “Sustainable Gastronomy.”

We began working with Catch in autumn 2021, a few months after opening. We developed several themes for the PR campaign to launch the new restaurant:

  • Restaurant Reviews: Invitations to restaurant critics in national newspapers and magazines. Secured a review in the Financial Times by Tim Hayward, Sainsbury’s Magazine etc

  • Profile raising: Building a profile for head chef Mike Naidoo with interviews, recipe placement and profile opportunities including Delicious magazine, The Caterer, Code Hospitality

  • Establish Catch at the Old Fish Market as a destination restaurant in Dorset, linking with local tourism organisations and accommodation. Securing coverage in Coast magazine, Elle magazine, The Dorset Guidebook.

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Chef Gareth Ward / Ynyshir Michelin-Star Restaurant - PR

Gareth Ward - Ynyshir

Gareth Ward - Ynyshir

I offered PR for Michelin-star restaurants Ynyshir in Wales between June 2017 and December 2019.

 Ynyshir is a destination restaurant and rooms, led by chef Gareth Ward and Amelia Eiriksson. Over the last two years, Ynyshir has been through significant refurbishment, with each stage moving further away from a traditional country house hotel, towards an exceptional destination. These developments have been recognised by numerous awards. In 2017 Ynyshir was awarded five AA Rosettes - the first ever restaurant in Wales to achieve that accolade and one of only three restaurants in the UK to reach that standard. Ynyshir also scooped the Decanter/Hine Restaurant of the Year 2017 and  The AA Wine Award for Wales 2017-18. It has retained its Michelin Star and is number 12 in the Good Food Guide 2018. 

Our focuswas to:

  • Reposition Ynyshir as a destination restaurant, not country house hotel.

  • Secure visits and reviews focussed on the tasting menu and cooking techniques in food press and luxury publications such as The Telegraph Ultra, Food & Travel, Country & Town House.

  • Raise Gareth's Profile as a Chef to Watch with interviews and profile pieces.

  • Secure appearances for Gareth at major events like Hotelympia and Abergavenny Food Festival.

  • Explore opportunities for Gareth to appear on radio and television.

  • Advise on website content and use of social media.

Working with Peers Communications.

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