'I'm like an accidental chef' – Owner of Pevensey Bay restaurant unveils fresh identity for the business

Nathan Scammell, 37, took over Massilia Bay, in Sea Road, in May 2026 without any prior experience in the hospitality industry.

He has now unveiled the restaurant’s new name – La Mora.

It’s named after William the Conqueror’s 11th-century flagship, which landed in Pevensey in 1066 before the Battle of Hastings, and was chosen to reflect the village’s history and the restaurant’s own journey.

The move towards ‘a more refined dining experience’ will include a new wine bar, and it officially launches on Wednesday, November 4.

Nathan has mainly worked in retail before this venture but has now taken over in the kitchen too, despite his only cooking experience coming at home.

“I’m like an accidental chef,” he said.

Originally from Wales, the 37-year-old used to holiday on the south coast and decided to move to the ‘magical place’ 10 years ago.

While acknowledging the valuable support from the local residents, he admitted that the new direction will aim to draw in customers from all over too.

Nathan said: “We want to become a destination worth travelling out of Eastbourne, Bexhill and places like that for.

“We get good support from the locals, but unfortunately there's not enough of us.”

La Mora will introduce ‘carefully crafted’ tasting menus following successful trials of ‘more upmarket’ dishes.

The restaurant’s fresh identity intends for a meal to become a fully-rounded experience, with a ‘greater emphasis on hospitality’.

But despite the sweeping changes, Nathan assured that the restaurant’s much-loved pizzas would remain on the menu.