Dermot's seafood joint closes its doors

Staff at Fishy Fishy, a seafood restaurant in The Lanes, arrived at work on Monday, to be told they had lost their jobs. The restaurant closed with immediate effect, and a note was soon pinned up on the door, which read: 'After seven happy years here on East St, Fishy Fishy is moving on to pastures new.'

Fishy Fishy opened in 2009, co-owned by TV presenter Dermot O'Leary, and two of his friends James Ginzler and Paul Shovlin.

Things were going well and the friends opened another restaurant in Poole, and released a seafood cookbook.

But three years ago, disaster struck, and the Poole eatery closed its doors.

Mr O'Leary said it was down to 'the financial climate', but said at the time the Brighton branch was going strong.

The current directors of Fishy Fishy Limited, according to Company House, are Mr O'Leary, Mr Ginzler, a landscape gardener from Brighton, and James Gallimore, a financial consultant from London. Mr Shovlin resigned as a director in April 2012.

Records show Fishy Fishy Limited was at risk of being dissolved in November 2014, but the company managed to turn things around.

This week, Mr O'Leary said: 'After seven years Fishy Fishy is moving on from our 36 East Street location. We'd like to thank all of our customers, staff and the good people of Brighton for their loyalty and support. Future plans are currently in discussion.'

He also said staff had been given fully paid notice after the decision was taken to close