A retail manager has swapped the high street for hospitality with the purchase of a restaurant.
Eastbourne’s Nathan Scammell spent 20 years helping others run successful businesses before deciding it was time to run his own.
He has taken over Massilia Bay Restaurant and Bar in Pevensey Bay and is now building a venue he hopes will become a favourite with both visitors and the community.
Mr Scammell said: "If you’d asked me a year ago where my career was heading, opening a restaurant probably wouldn’t have been on the list.
"I'm not one for small incremental changes, but I have taken the plunge, and I am so glad that I have.
"It’s been a steep learning curve, a big shift from running someone else’s business to putting your own name, time and money on the line.
"There's been a mix of excitement and nerves but I am absolutely loving it, and I'm working with a great team."
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Massilia Bay, located on Sea Road, specialises in pizza and pasta, but the menu includes a variety of other options too as summer approaches, including Ploughman's, Cornish Pasties and sausage rolls.
Mr Scammell said: "Pevensey Bay is a fantastic place and we have a lovely beach and holiday parks, so it gets very busy this time of year.
"In fact, it's busy all year round. Pevensey Bay is a great village and has so much to offer, I'm really looking forward to becoming an integral part of the local community."
A key part of that connection is sourcing ingredients from East Sussex suppliers.
Massilia Bay currently works with Holy Cow! Ice Cream Company in Seaford, Liquid Spirit Coffee Roasters in Polegate, Orange Blossom Bakeshop in Hailsham and TEA23 in Eastbourne.
Mr Scammell said: "We offer a full dining experience, and I guess that fresh pizza is probably our speciality. We have special lunch menus and we offer an authentic experience in a very relaxed setting.
"We are open Wednesday to Sunday from noon until 9pm. Please come and try us out, you will love it."
