The mystery of the disappearing fishmonger? UPDATE!

[Photo credit: Bill Keeling]

Bath, to my knowledge, does not have an established central fishmonger. So it is no surprise to hear that many of those who enjoy the fruits of the sea were regulars at the Thursday Fishmonger at Prior Park Garden Centre.

That is, until, to their surprise, Greig of Southern Fresh Seafood announces that it appears he isn’t welcome anymore.

The pictures accompanying this story come from Bill Keeling and were taken last year. More of him in a moment – but first letGeoffrey Wheatcroft fill in more details.

He writes: ” I’m not sure that I know it well enough as yet to be sure whether you would be interested in this, but the one thing which is really annoying me and weighing on me at the moment is the departure of Greig of Southern Fresh Seafood. 

He comes up very early from Weymouth to different towns, such as Warminster on Fridays, with a stall offering a very large variety of fish and seafood. I think of myself as something of a judge, and his wares are exceptionally good, quite apart from a five-star official rating for hygiene.  

Then he arrived in Bath, setting up his stall on Thursday mornings in the car park of the Garden Centre at the bottom of Ralph Allen Drive. We’ve been regular customers, and he’s really been something of a godsend, since Bath is not well stocked with fishmongers.

And then the week before last he said that it was his last day, as the Garden Centre had ended his invitation to use the car park, for which he was obviously paying them. No explanation seems to have been given, and I’ve so far been unable to get a reply from the Garden Centre. 

I’m trying to get this unhappy episode as much publicity as possible in the hope that he might be able to return.”

Geoffrey, it was Bill Keeling who first drew my attention to this mystery. He told me he too had written an email to Prior Park expressing his dismay but with – as yet – no response.

I too have approached the garden centre for comment – and also Greig of Southern Fresh Seafood.

He was quick to respond as follows: ” Thank you for the message.

Unfortunately, this is out of my hands; the garden centre has decided that they no longer wish for me to sell fish there.

I am currently looking for another location in Bath in order to keep on serving the wonderful folks of Bath, but I have not found anything yet. I will keep you updated on my progress. ‘

So Greig would love to hear from anyone who could host him.

Meanwhile, this morning I have received a statement from Prior Park Garden and Pet Centre. It reads as follows:

We hosted Greig here at Prior Park Garden and Pet Centre for a number of years and the agreement worked very well and was a popular draw for some of our customers.

As you will be aware, our car park is incredibly busy, and we were being made aware that disabled customers and families with young children in buggies were finding it difficult to park. We were also receiving some complaints about the odour.

We strive to understand and respond to our customers’ priorities, but it was becoming clear that Thursday mornings were becoming problematic.

Greig was given the three car parking spaces completely free – no rent or commission – and when it was muted that he should pay a nominal pitch charge, he declined.

It was then decided that, taking all into consideration we would give Grieg his free pitch until the end of August, but it was his decision to finish immediately.

It is our hope that Grieg will find a more suitable pitch in Bath, and we genuinely wish him all the best.”