Padstow And The Rick Stein Phenomenon
Having been a regular visitor to Padstow over so many years, it’s been interesting to watch the influence of internationally famous chef Rick Stein develop and evolve over the years. Its most obvious effect has been to create a micro economy in a county which generally offers low employment prospects.
Rick Stein was actually born in Oxfordshire, but relocated to Padstow at the age of 24, having fallen in love with the area on family stays at their nearby holiday home, even though one such visit ended in tragedy by way of his father’s suicide. Mobile discotheques and night clubs were among Stein’s early failed businesses before the first restaurant was opened mostly as a means of avoiding bankruptcy.
The Seafood Restaurant was a slow burning success but over the next decade Stein’s reputation as a chef grew, his major breakthrough coming in the mid 1970s when Stein appeared as a guest chef on a popular food travelogue TV programme. The BBC quickly signed him up for a series of his own in the same travelogue style, and the rest, as they say, is history.
As Padstow grew in popularity as a holiday and second home destination, the food bar was raised again and again due to Stein’s influence. Restaurants grew in both number and quality and even pub meals quickly became a cut above the average. Other renowned chefs, notably Paul Ainsworth and Nathan Outlaw, gravitated to the area.
For many years the local population here accepted their double edged gift: on the one hand their town had lost some of its identity, on the other, its micro economy delivered job opportunities all too rare in the South West generally. Latterly though, the numbers of migrant workers increased significantly to change the job market equation, yet in a very current post-Brexit post-COVID twist, that migration has reversed and there is right now a chronic shortage of staff in kitchens and dining rooms alike.
But the Stein empire on the face of it continues to thrive, as does the culinary world of Padstow with its micro economy. Stein’s original and main eatery, the Seafood Restaurant, is a superb destination where the guest is made to feel very special, in every possible way, and the food is just fabulous. And whilst it is of course a higher budget restaurant, these are not the eye watering prices of some, nor is the food the fussy twee meals of some Michelin star type destinations. Our visit there this weekend has served to reinforce our high opinion.
Padstow and Rick Stein have long been synonymous. Here’s just a hint of his influence throughout town….
12 Comments
Andrew Petcher
I thought that they called it Padstein now. I think he first appeared on a Keith Floyd programme. I have to say that he is one of my favourite TV chefs although he often makes me cringe with his cheesy style.
Phil & Michaela
Yes it was indeed Floyd. He can definitely be cheesy but he’s alright, and he certainly gets his restaurant just right.
Andrew Petcher
I especially like his weekend breaks.
wetanddustyroads
Wow, he really has an impact on Padstow! He is also a well-known chef here in South Africa and our food channel on TV regularly shows his food programs.
grandmisadventures
He certainly has made a name for himself there! Makes for a great circle of things with him and the town being so influenced and then so influencing the town.
Annie Berger
Great to see how effectively one man was able to revitalize Padstow but you do wonder at what cost to the local community in terms of changing the charm and personality of the town. Not sure if I were a resident of Padstow I’d be in favor of Stein this, Stein that times a hundred!
leightontravels
An interesting insight indeed as I only really know him by name and rarely watch cooking shows. Would definitely like to visit the original Stein joint!
Phil & Michaela
It’s very good indeed!
Toonsarah
I knew of course that Stein had had a significant impact on Padstow but I hadn’t realised quite how big! I’d love to try the Seafood Restaurant but there do seem from your photos to be a lot of other Steins too. I’d be curious to try Paul Ainsworth’s too, as I always enjoy seeing him on the Great British Menu!
Phil & Michaela
The Seafood Restaurant is really terrific; Ainsworth’s likewise but his is very expensive!
Alison
He also has a restaurant in New South Wales that we visited in Mollymook, Rick Stein at Bannister. We visited a few years back and it was exceptional.
Phil & Michaela
Yes we didn’t mention that but yes it seems that the Stein empire is extending down under!