Harrogate seafood restaurant aims to make a splash overseas

Harrogate seafood restaurant Fisk is aiming to cast its net into international waters after enjoying rapid growth since its launch in 2016.

Four months ago joint owners Stuart and Kanyana Williams made their first nationwide move to a second, larger venue in the Cheshire village of Prestbury.

Self-funded on their first venture and keen to make sure the business’s cashflow remained unaffected by expansion, the duo started to search around for alternative finance options that could help as a temporary measure.

“I wanted to make sure that we could finance things such as the new restaurant fittings,” says Stuart.

“I didn’t want to compromise on quality and decided a small amount of funding could help with cashflow whilst we renovated our second restaurant.”

He decided to take an advance with iZettle, the small business commerce platform.

“We’ve been using iZettle to take card and cash payments and manage Fisk’s finances since opening 18 months ago. Data from our transactions enabled iZettle to offer us an advance and in the click of a button I was able to take out £25,000.

“Having two restaurants means that we can pay back the advance quickly and move on to our next projects.”

Williams already has his eye on a new location for Fisk in the home counties and is in talks regarding expansion to the Middle East.

“Fisk is Scandinavian for fish so a move there makes perfect sense. I’ve definitely got my eye on certain areas within the Nordics for Fisk’s next venture and we have been approached by an existing operator in the Middle East about a possible venue there,” he added.

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