Weymouth could become a top ‘foodie’ destination with a range of quality restaurants an award-winning chef has claimed.

Respected chef and restaurateur Mitch Tonks, who is launching a new venture in Weymouth this summer, compared what is happening in the resort to places like Padstow in Cornwall which has an international reputation thanks to TV chef Rick Stein establishing businesses there.

As well as creating 50 jobs and providing investment, Mr Tonks’ Rockfish restaurant – on the site of the old Dorothy Inn on the seafront – will undoubtedly help to raise the profile of Weymouth as an area of excellence for seafood.

Ahead of its opening at the end of July, Rockfish will be selling monkfish burgers and crab tacos at the Dorset Seafood Festival. Mr Tonks will be doing a joint demo with friend and chef Mark Hix, a former Weymouth College student who is also a successful restaurateur. The harbourside event, happening this year on the weekend of July 13-14, – is now one of the largest food festivals in the country.

The Echo reported last week how the Crab House Café at Ferrybridge beat the likes of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant to be named ‘Restaurant of the Year’ at a top awards ceremony. The Crab House Café was also one of the west Dorset eateries to make it into the prestigious Trencherman’s Guide.

Mr Tonks said in the future he can see Weymouth becoming a destination for ‘foodies’.

He added: “There’s a lot of talent out there and chefs thinking let’s try and make this work somewhere else. It wouldn’t surprise me if we see talent coming from London to beautiful places like this.”

Renovation work is underway to transform the former Dorothy Inn into one of his award-winning restaurants. Around £600,000 is being invested.

Mr Tonks took a break from the project to discuss what people can expect.

He said: “We want to bring something different and unique to what we think is already a vibrant town. Weymouth is a lovely place, it felt like a logical move to come this way. We have been looking at Weymouth over the years and thinking will it ever work? But you get a little brave and think - let’s do it.”

Mr Tonks said the new restaurant will offer ‘middle-of-the-road dining’.

He said: “You will be able to eat fish and chips with you family or you can sit and eat Dover Sole with a glass of wine. Rockfish sits between a fish and chip shop and a high-end restaurant, no one has bridged that gap before.”

Mr Tonks added: “We spend a lot of time training people, so all our staff will be armed with a host of knowledge about the fish we serve. One thing we realised from the beginning is that we need to open all year round. The locals want to feel as though you’re opening for them, not just for the summer.

“We want people to be able to eat fish next to a log fire on a rainy day looking over the bay. People don’t stop eating fish just because it’s January.

“Guests will have a view of the kitchen and the seafood. I can already see this is going to be my favourite restaurant.”

Generous donation:

During Mr Tonks’ latest visit to Weymouth he made a charity donation to Weymouth RNLI Lifeboat Station.

A cheque of £2,500 was presented to lifeboat coxswain Andy Sargent.

A spokesperson for Rockfish said: ‘At Rockfish we believe in being a part of our community and supporting local charities is part of that belief. We work hard to make a positive contribution where we can. Each of our restaurants is proud to support a local charity. On our menus we let all of our customers know that they can help support these local charities if they’d like to by paying an optional £1 table donation on their bill – it is optional but we are delighted that so many guests choose to help support these great causes.”