Amble’s Fish Shack: New plans and investment ‘the town can be proud of’
It’s already the go-to lunch stop for media stars and sports personalities, and now Amble’s Fish Shack has big plans for the future.
Martin Charlton, chef and owner of the multi award-winning Old Boat House Group, talked to The Ambler about why he wants to knock down the quirky quayside restaurant, and build something more versatile in its place.
📷 Martin Charlton owner of Amble’s Fish Shack
Martin told us he hopes to create a new venue on the harbour which will provide a better space for dining, events and even teaching future hospitality students.
The current Fish Shack would be replaced by a new two-storey building created from shipping containers, reflecting the restaurant’s industrial surroundings. With a roof terrace and private dining/teaching space, it would allow a wide use of the facilities. But more importantly the new building would enable the team to better respond to changing seasons, weather conditions and customer demand, and, crucially, less time spent patching the old worn out structure. The shack may look rustic and charming with its collection of boat sheds and dining huts, but logistically and structurally, it is a challenge to maintain.
Martin explained why he wanted to knock down and start again:
“The Fish Shack has been part of the harbour for years and we love it, but the building has gone as far as it can. At the moment we work across a disjointed site. That makes day-to-day running difficult, and it’s especially hard for the team working in the outside huts. When the weather turns, the huts and boats often have to close, and that means staff shifts get cancelled.
“A single, purpose-built building fixes that. It gives our team a proper place to work whatever the weather, and it gives everyone a comfortable place to sit and enjoy the harbour on a wet, windy day as well as a sunny one.”
Martin acknowleged that times are tough in the hospitality sector. But he feels the time is right to invest, in order to secure jobs and even create new ones. With a background in catering and hospitality training, Martin wants to continue to help students gain skills for jobs in the sector, by providing apprenticeships for local young people.
📷 The new plans would use converted shipping containers to build a two storey building
He was also very proud of the new state of the art kitchen he hopes to install, describing it as “possibly the best kitchen in the UK”. He has worked directly with the manufacturer to provide exactly the space he needs. He explained:
“An efficient building with several different sources of income will make us far more resilient, and it will help secure jobs in Amble for decades to come. Rather than keep patching up the old site, we want to build something the town can be proud of for the next generation.”
“What this means for the community:
- More local jobs. We already employ 64 full and part-time staff, and the new building will add around 10 more full-time equivalent roles.
- Steadier work all year round. Fewer weather closures, plus new income streams that bring trade into the quieter shoulder months, mean more reliable hours and pay for our staff across the whole year. Those quieter months have always been the hardest time for them to get enough hours.
- A world-class kitchen in a world class setting . The kitchen is being built by Electrolux in Italy, with the centre island made by Electrolux in Switzerland. It will be one of the best kitchens in the UK, right here in Amble, and it means we can offer a more consistent catering service.
- Training young people. This is the part I’m most excited about. We plan to run a professional apprenticeship programme so some young people from the area can learn a real trade in a highly professional environment and we’d like to set up a foundation to support that in the long term.
- Space for the community. As well as a beautiful new restaurant, the building will have extra rooms for training, functions and events.
- More trade for the whole town. Bringing visitors and business to Amble outside the peak season helps everyone, including our local suppliers, producers and the other businesses around us.”
Martin encouraged people to have a look at the plans and comment if they want to. See the Northumberland County Council planning portal reference 26/03639/FUL .
Anna Williams
