FOOD + DRINK
from SEA to PLATE cont.
Luisa Wright of Chapmans of Sevenoaks, Borough Green
We’ re a local company with a national infrastructure. All our produce is sourced responsibly( with emphasis on using local fishing boats across the Kent and Sussex coasts) and taken immediately to our state-of-the-art processing facility in Borough Green. From there it leaves in our fleet of vans and crosses the M25 before dawn to deliver directly to some of the finest restaurants in London. We also distribute to top quality pubs, restaurants and hotels all the way across Kent and the South East, including our own Seafood Bar and Brasserie.
The most important factor about our growth so far is that it’ s been natural and organic. Expansion through reputation. We only source the best, freshest fish straight from the boats and are always working to keep food miles as low as possible, and traceability as clear as possible. We deliver six days per week, and operate a 24- hour phone service to take orders. We offer constant updates on the fish markets and fresh catches, so busy chefs can just give us a call at the end of their evening shift to receive an order of fresh fish the next day.
25 years ago, when Keith Chapman first opened his fish market stall, he never would have expected
Chapman’ s to become what it is today. He started out sourcing fish from local boats, and selling it himself from a stall. This continued for a while but soon enough, his reputation spread and local pubs and restaurants began asking him to supply their kitchens. Eventually this became so successful that he couldn’ t maintain both the stall and the distribution business, so he was forced to choose. He chose distribution, and it worked out pretty well.
Starting with just himself and his van, he soon had to add more drivers, more vans, more suppliers. This gradual growth, based on consistently good quality and service, went on for just over 12 years until Dave Theze joined the business. Dave has a background in fish wholesale and brokerage and he used that experience to expand the business further. Before long, Chapman’ s had 35 staff, 13 vans, a stateof-the-art depot and started supplying more and more top-quality restaurants across the South East of England and London.
We’ re immensely proud of our restaurant. It offers simple, well-cooked fresh seafood in a friendly, informal atmosphere. Expect a fantastic range of locally sourced produce, generous portion sizes and warm, attentive service. We serve the freshest fish, straight from the boats, and a range of fantastic beers, wines and spirits to accompany it – many of which are locally made too. Located beside the beautiful Westgate Towers in Canterbury, we are conveniently close to Canterbury West train station and there’ s plenty of parking available nearby.
The key restaurants we supply in Kent are: The West House( try the cured mackerel fillet with charcoal beetroot, pickled rhubarb, horseradish and smoked dashi) Rocksalt( including dishes such as creamed smoked coley thermidor with a poached egg) Fish on the Green( for example, steamed fillet of turbot with local asparagus, shitake mushrooms, chive veloute and a side of Nicola potatoes) The Sportsman( braised brill fillet with a mussel and bacon tartare) Chapman’ s( including green Thai fish curry with steamed rice)
Chapman’ s of Sevenoaks Old Otford Road Sevenoaks TN14 5EW 01732 743319 www. chapmansofsevenoaks. co. uk
@ chapmans2
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