The Pickled Kipper café opens in Southwold High Street

Lucy Jones has opened The Pickled Kipper in Southwold High Street, replacing the former Café 51. 

Ms Jones, from Southwold, has been working in the hospitality industry for the last 20 years.

Lucy Jones (right) has a number of years experience in hospitality (Image: Lucy Jones)

"The pickled kipper doesn't exist, so it is very much a play on words of there is nothing to compare it to," said Ms Jones, when asked about the meaning behind the name.

"I have been in the hospitality industry for 20 to 25 years. I have had a catering franchise at Southwold Golf Club.

"We adapted to a meals on wheels service during Covid and then the opportunity came along to take the lease here so we thought 'right let's get on the High Street."

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The café has been easing into life in the coastal town, having opened about two weeks ago and is also being run by Lucy Mewse. 

Ms Jones said: "We've already seen return customers three times over.

"It's been absolutely amazing. Everyone is loving the name, loving the decor, just the whole design and buzz of it."

A section of its menu will be dedicated to fish, while there will also be dishes with origins from the land. 

There will also be a traditional café offering of open sandwiches, jacket potatoes, puddings and cold and hot drinks. 

Ms Jones added people will also be able to get takeaways, as well put on events in the future. 

"We do sandwiches, jacket potatoes, so it is not just fish. It is very much full cafe vibe and then with a lot of extra fish bits on the menu.

"There is still some bits of work that we need to do, but we just wanted to get open. The breakfast trade is going well and then the lunch trade is going really well.

"There will seafood evenings coming in the summer."