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We've decided to get to know some of our local business partners a bit better - and today we speak to Josh Deacon, group executive chef at Rockwater...
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Please tell us about your business and what you offer to visitors coming to Brighton
Rockwater Hove, part of the Rockwater family of beachside venues based along the UK’s south coast, is a short distance from Brighton and offers an extensive food and drinks menu just a stone’s throw away from the sea.
At Rockwater we’re striving to elevate the hospitality experience by combining great food and drink with a diverse programme of activities to improve health and wellbeing, making it an ideal coastal location for dining, socialising, and celebrating as well as relaxing and rejuvenating.
We have three separate dining experiences and spaces at Rockwater, allowing guests to enjoy a variety of food and atmospheres at the same destination.
The Bar and Kitchen serves an all-day brunch menu on weekends, ranging from eggs on toast and pancakes to meat and plant-based fry ups. The spring/summer lunch and dinner menu in the Bar and Kitchen features seasonal produce. Favourites include small plates such as fish slider and burrata, alongside large plates such as crab linguine and spring veg risotto, as well as pizzas.
The Roof Terrace overlooks Hove’s Blue Flag beach and features a retractable roof and glass doors that can be fully opened to let the outside in. A separate menu is available on the Roof Terrace and includes seafood sharing platters such as oysters and fruits de mer; as well as land, sea and earth themed dishes including grilled chicken yakitori, seared scallops and grilled hispi cabbage.
The Lodge, also with a fully retractable roof, is a lounge-style space overlooking lawns and leads out on to a patio complete with ski gondolas to offer extra seating. The Lodge provides a selection of baked goods, toasted focaccias, pizzas, and bar snacks.
We also have the takeaway facility Shacks by the Shore, open from 7.30am to sunset, which serves hotdogs, seafood, and salads.
What do you like most about what you do?
As well as cooking, I have a passion for championing local producers and believe in using the best ingredients to create delicious, seasonally driven menus. Rockwater Hove is a spectacular beachside location, and this presents incredible opportunities for me and my kitchen teams to create a destination dining experience.
I enjoy menu development immensely, and an exciting part of that role has been supporting management to develop and bring the forthcoming Rockwater Sandbanks venue to fruition.
What is the best thing about your work?
The team that Rockwater has built feels more like a family than a group of colleagues, and the wealth of experience that we have within the business aids us to stand out from the crowd. On top of that, seeing guests leave happy after enjoying an experience with us gives me and the team the best satisfaction.
What is your average day like, or is it never average?
It is never an average day for me at Rockwater, which is something that I really like and thrive on. There’s always a new task to work on or a bespoke to menu to curate for a guest.
What would you like to be doing as an alternative career?
I think I would really enjoy being a firefighter as an alternative career. It’s a line of work where you’re constantly challenged and need to be able to think quickly.
What is next for you and the business?
Next on the list is the opening our Sandbanks venue in Dorset later this year, as well as the continual development of new menus to ensure our standards are pushed higher and higher to deliver a first-class experience to our guests.
What do you like most about Brighton and what is the best thing you like to do in the city?
I really like the lanes in Brighton. The unique bars, coffee shops, and art galleries including HELM, which is owned by Rockwater’s founder Luke Davis, really make Brighton what it is today. Both the atmosphere and general vibe are always so energetic in the lanes and across the city. My favourite thing to do in the city is visiting the Brighton Fringe.
Thank you!
Related
Rockwater is your beachside home in Hove and offers so much more than just another bar or restaurant.
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