It’s an exciting time in Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City, with the full reopening of many venues this May, and highly anticipated events set to take place along the waterfront this summer. With the continued easing of restrictions on the roadmap out of lockdown, things are looking up as many businesses along Plymouth’s historic harbour can finally reopen their doors to customers from May 17th.
From Monday 12th April, we saw the return of many fantastic restaurants, cafes and eateries in Sutton Harbour with food and drink service permitted outdoors. Venues such as Boston Tea Party, The Stable and The Ship Inn welcomed back customers last month after being closed for the start of the year.
The next set of changes from Monday 17th May allow us to meet with up to 30 people outdoors, restaurants to reopen for indoor service, with the rule of six or two households, and venues such as the National Marine Aquarium are also able to finally reopen their doors.
Reopening of the National Marine Aquarium
The UK’s largest aquarium will be welcoming visitors back to explore their exciting exhibits from Monday 17th May. During the third national lockdown, the National Marine Aquarium has continued to connect with the public via Facebook Live, showing behind the scenes exclusives, Q&As and animal feedings. The aquarium also hosted weekly live home learning sessions when schools were closed and offered virtual tours with up to two households and virtual birthday parties.
Visitors can say hi to the 4,000 sea creatures in person with the reopening of the aquarium in line with the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown – you can book your tickets now. Visit the NMA website to find out more about the changes to tickets which now include three types – saver, standard and peak.
Update on food & drink venues
Many restaurants and cafes in Sutton Harbour have already reopened their outside seating areas for customers to enjoy delicious food and drinks while taking in stunning views of the harbour. From Monday 17th May, these venues can also welcome customers indoors, and for some without outdoor seating areas, this will be their first time trading in 2021.
From Tuesday 18th May, Daisy’s Tea Rooms and Coffee Shop will welcome back customers for the first time this year. The dog-friendly café will be serving up its delicious range of lunch foods, tasty cakes and popular afternoon tea options as well as restarting Sunday roasts. Make sure you keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates and how to book.
Miller and Carter Steakhouse is set to reopen with indoor service of tables for up to six people, or two households, from Monday 17th May. The steakhouse serves carefully sourced 30-day aged British and Irish beef on its extensive menu, which includes vegan and vegetarian options and a gluten free menu. Take a look at their website for more information and how to book.
Are you a fan of seafood? The Harbour Seafood Restaurant is fully reopening from Monday 17th May after offering a takeaway menu during lockdown. The restaurant offers an extensive range of fresh, sustainable seafood and is located on the quay side with views of the marina. Visit the website for the full menu and contact details.
Famous for its delicious range of breakfast foods and vegan/vegetarian dishes, Boston Tea Party has been serving customers at their outside patio since restrictions allowed last month, which has a fantastic view of the harbour. The café will welcome customers indoors from Monday 17th May, plus takeaways and collections are also available via their website and Deliveroo.
Grab a slice of the action at The Plymouth Stable. Serving up mouth-watering pizzas with sourdough bases, homemade tomato sauce and locally sourced toppings on their terrace and balcony overlooking the marina, with indoor seating available from 17th May. Plus, the restaurant has over 50 varieties of cider on offer, with a new drinks menu and a stunning view. No need to book, just turn up and grab a spot. Find out more on their website.
Sit right along the harbour’s edge on the eastern side of Sutton Harbour and enjoy dishes from Supha’s Street Food Emporium – indoor seating open from Monday 17th May. Book online via the Supha’s website and explore their extensive menu of street food-style dishes with Asian influences.
Open seven days a week, 12pm-7pm, Rockfish is serving up a mouth-watering menu of locally caught seafood which you can order easily through their app. And have you heard their large deck area now includes a new Salcombe Brewery bar? Customers will be welcomed indoors from Monday 17th May, you can learn more on their website.
You can enjoy food with a view at HonkyTonk Wine Library. The wine lounge has a new menu on offer and stunning views overlooking Sutton Harbour Marina, where you to enjoy their extensive selection of drinks and deli food. Visit their website to book your table.
Enjoy a range of traditional pub food whilst taking in the stunning view of the marina at The Ship Inn. With sheltered outdoor seating, The Ship is a great spot to enjoy some tasty food and drinks along the harbourside, with indoor service available from Monday 17th May. Visit their website for more information.
Don’t forget – the alfresco eateries dotted around the harbourside remain open for takeaway food and drink, including Cap’n Jaspers, The Greek, Louise’s Coffee and Donuts and Alfresco.
Supporting local businesses from home
You can continue to shop from local businesses online from the Call4Fish and Shop4Plymouth websites.
Locals can get seafood deliveries from city-based suppliers through the Call4Fish initiative which has been set up to help support the local fishing industry. Merchant units located at Plymouth Fisheries are offering deliveries and collections through the site. Click here to find out more.
Shop4Plymouth has been set up by Plymouth City Centre Company and Plymouth City Council, with support from Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, in a bid to reconnect the public with its local retailers, as well as supporting local businesses across the city. Shops, cafes and restaurants in the Sutton Harbour and Barbican area are featured on the site with information on offerings and contact details.
You can also support local businesses without spending a penny. Share the love on social media by engaging with your favourite waterfront businesses on their posts and share their content with your friends.
You can also #ShareaSmile to help do this. The Share a Smile campaign launched by our tenant PKF-Francis Clark aims to support tourism and leisure businesses and attractions across the South West by encouraging people to recommend their favourites on social media using #ShareaSmile. You can get involved by telling us your favourite places to visit along the harbour in just a few easy steps:
- Post your recommendation on Twitter or Instagram using #ShareaSmileSW
- Tag in the business name
- If you think particular friends or family would enjoy it, then tag them too
Enjoying the harbour responsibly
We’re fortunate in Sutton Harbour and indeed in Plymouth to have some of the most stunning and historic places around us which have helped to sustain us all during the Coronavirus pandemic. We must continue to use these responsibly, safely and in line with the Government’s latest advice, while at the same time supporting our local businesses who are continuing to trade.
Members of the public can take a walk through history on the Harbour Heritage Trail, a one-mile circuit route around Sutton Harbour, learning more about Plymouth’s maritime history and visiting some of its most famous waterfront landmarks. You can find the Heritage Trail on the Plymouth Trails app, available to download on the App Store or Google Play.
We encourage anyone visiting the harbour to ensure they are following Government guidelines on social distancing.
For updates on the latest Sutton Harbour activity, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
