New restaurant led by rising young chef to open at the end of historic pier

A new restaurant led by a rising young chef is moving into the end of a historic pier.

Ebb is preparing to open in the Grade II-listed Southern Pavilion on Worthing Pier, providing sweeping views of the Sussex coast.

The restaurant is the latest venture from the team behind the popular Perch on the Pier venue, and will sit above Perch in a residency space known as The Nest.

Perch’s owner Alex Coombes said: “We’re incredibly proud of the pier and everything it represents.

“To be part of its ongoing story, and to help shape what it becomes, is something we take seriously.”

The opening is particularly significant, as Mr Coombes has entered into business with Perch chief operations officer Damian Wilkins, as part of a new co-ownership partnership.

Mr Wilkins, who has been with Perch for more than a decade, said that stepping into the venture as a partner felt like a natural progression.

He added: “I’ve been part of building this business for over ten years.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve created together, and even more excited about where we’re taking it next.”

An artist impression of the proposed interior at Ebb (Image: Pattern House)

Ebb will take over The Nest, which is a residency spot used to launch up-and-coming chefs.

It follows the previous success of chef Johnny Stanford, who used the site to launch his restaurant Tern before moving to a standalone venue in Worthing last December, following a successful crowdfunding campaign.

Mr Coombes said: “We’re incredibly proud of what Johnny achieved here.

“Seeing him go on to open his own space in Worthing is exactly what The Nest was created for.

“We are delighted to watch the Tern Crowdfunder grow and grow, and the community Johnny and Sophie have built for ultra-fine dining in Worthing is fantastic.

“It’s a tough act to follow, but we’re thrilled to be championing a new direction and another phenomenal talent into the renovated space”

Ebb will be run by head chef Charlie Simmonds, whose experience includes high-profile stints at Wiston Estate and The Pass at South Lodge.

Mr Simmonds has planned a menu of small sharing plates built around Sussex produce, from local farms to day-boat fish, focusing on seasonality and clarity of flavour.

Dishes will revolve on a regular basis, reflecting what is seasonally best at any given time.

Mr Simmonds said: “There’s a lot in my background, from French technique to modern British and global influences.

“But it always comes back to sourcing the best produce and treating it with respect.

“It’s about giving people a great experience without making it feel like it’s not for them.

“No one should ever feel like they don’t belong in a restaurant.”

He added that Ebb would be based around sourcing “exceptional” produce and letting it speak for itself.

The restaurant will focus on “exceptional” Sussex produce (Image: Pattern House)

Brighton studio Pattern House has designed the intimate 36-seat dining room to place guests at the centre of its coastal setting.

The team is preparing for a soft launch to fine-tune the menu before the full opening.

General manager Ella Debaes will lead front-of-house operations at the new venue, after originally starting with Perch as a Saturday girl while at university.

She said: “It’s been a privilege to welcome and get to know so many guests through those doors, and now I’ve returned to the Perch team for this new, exciting project.

“To have the opportunity to open a destination dining spot like Ebb feels really special.”

She added that she had been drawn to the restaurant’s small, intimate setting and said: “We’ll all be working every service together, getting to know our guests even more and creating something much more personal.”

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The Perch group first opened Perch on the Pier in Worthing in 2022, after renovating the south pavilion.

It previously opened its first restaurant in Lancing in 2015, and launched Perch on the Parade, on Worthing Beach, in 2023.

Mr Coombes said: “We’ve always believed and invested in Worthing.

“Ebb is another milestone in that journey and a new step for dining on the pier.

“Relaxed, ingredient-led and quietly ambitious.”

For all the latest information on Ebb, visit www.ebb.restaurant

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