Man says hope of opening Newhaven Italian and fish restaurant has been dashed by council

By Izzi Vaughan
Published 27th Jan 2023, 12:05 BST
Updated 27th Jan 2023, 12:05 BST
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A Newhaven resident says he could be facing a loss of his beach-side Italian and fish restaurant due to the actions of Lewes District Council.

Nick Jones says Lewes District Council (LDC) has taken over his project and acquired the land on West Quay Beach, Newhaven, and is planning to lease the business back to him under unacceptable terms.

Nick was planning a restaurant serving fish and Italian food, and to build toilets and showers for those using the beach.

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He says he was hoping to own the business himself, and had previously agreed a 25-year lease with Newhaven Port and Properties (NPP). He is unwilling to sign the lease on the council’s terms, and says this means he will lose his business.

Newhaven, West Quay. Photo: Izzi VaughanNewhaven, West Quay. Photo: Izzi Vaughan
Newhaven, West Quay. Photo: Izzi Vaughan

Rosnick Ltd, Nick’s company, assisted LDC with the bid for a portion of the Levelling Up Fund (LUF), and their bid was confirmed as successful in October 2021.

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He said: “We were obviously over the moon, that we could finally deliver something innovative and that the whole town could be proud of.”

He added: “Having lived in the area for near on 50 years, I had a real fondness for the site. I had been so sad to see the demise of an area that should have been one of Newhaven’s golden nuggets.”

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He proposed his plan for a new restaurant in November 2020 to Newhaven Port and Properties (NPP), together with Rosario Borrelli from the Luna Rosa restaurant, and it was confirmed the following March.