Bournemouth’s first oyster bar and restaurant opens its doors
The British Business Bank has helped Koi Sakana get up and running
Bournemouth’s first oyster bar and restaurant has opened in the Triangle following investment from the British Business Bank.
Owners of Koi Sakana - Japanese for “Love Fish” – said it was a “weight off of their shoulders” as they didn’t have any other financial support.
The Business Bank was set up to help local businesses grow by offering loans from £25,000 right up to equity investments of £5 million to those that might not otherwise receive investment.
Daniel Morley and his girlfriend Charlotte Mills told us they couldn’t believe Koi Sakana had been chosen for the investment: “When you’re putting the business plan together, you're like, ‘Is this going to work? Am I doing this right?’ so when we found out it was a massive relief.
“They The British Business Bank thought it was a great idea and we were going to do really well which just reinforced the idea that we were doing the right thing.”
Despite both being from Bournemouth, the couple met in Australia and bonded over their mutual love of seafood, even having their first date in a fish market.
Former engineer turned head chef, Daniel spent time shucking oysters while living in Australia and it was there the idea for Koi Sakana was born.
He said: “When I went to Australia the seafood there was abundant. I was eating it every day and going to the fish market all the time. Then, when I came home, I realised there's nothing like that here.”
Opening the oyster bar and restaurant was a “no brainer,” Daniel said after learning Brownsea Island is rich with oysters and shellfish.
The couple have enjoyed a successful first month, Charlotte said: “It's still picking up but everyone that's come in has loved the décor, they’ve loved the food and they’ve loved the wine.
“We're excited for the rest of the summer with all the tourism and some people that have come down for the weekend have still chosen to come here which is amazing considering we've only been open for a month.”