A new seafood restaurant has opened in Padstow, Cornwall, from chef Alex Aitken, who started his working life as a trawlerman. The Jetty, in the Padstow Harbour Hotel, will focus on local Porthilly oysters, Padstow lobsters and fish caught by day boats.

A self-taught chef, Alex made his name with Le Poussin in Brockenhurst, which he opened in the 1980s and operated for 15 years. He now runs three other Jetty restaurants in Harbour Hotels across southern England, earning strong ratings in the 2024 Harden’s guide for “consistently high-quality” and “excellent value seafood” .

The Jetty Padstow has 60 covers, a bar, terrace and lawn, and serves some of Alex’s signature dishes including ‘cockle popcorn’.

He said: “As we open the doors to The Jetty Padstow, I’m excited to bring our coastal dining experience to this vibrant part of the UK. Padstow’s culinary heritage is well revered and our focus will be on serving fresh, locally sourced seafood, paired with innovative flavours that celebrate the essence of the Cornish coast. We are aiming to create a new dining destination where both hotel guests and visitors alike can enjoy amazing Cornish produce in a setting that is relaxed, warm and welcoming.”