We’re delighted to announce East Coast Shellfish (Scarborough) as the winner of Fishmonger of the Year at the My Local Awards 2026 Yorkshire.

This award celebrates businesses that combine quality, passion and a real commitment to their local industry, and East Coast Shellfish is a truly deserving winner. Since launching in 2022, this three-generation family-run business has quickly made its mark by championing sustainable Scarborough seafood and supporting the local fishing community in a meaningful way.

What makes East Coast Shellfish stand out is not just the freshness of its produce, but the bigger vision behind the business. From the start, the team has been passionate about showcasing the incredible range of seafood available on the Yorkshire coast and helping widen awareness of what local boats can land beyond the usual crab and lobster. That focus has helped create opportunities for local fishermen, while giving customers access to top-quality shellfish and seafood direct from Scarborough.

Built on local pride and a clear vision

East Coast Shellfish was established in 2022 with a simple but ambitious aim: to showcase the very best of local Scarborough seafood while helping strengthen the area’s fishing industry. From day one, this was about more than just selling fish. It was about creating a business that could support local boats, celebrate the variety of species landed on the coast and build something the family and the town could be proud of.

That local connection runs deep. Scarborough is the family’s hometown, and that pride in place clearly shines through in everything they do. For East Coast Shellfish, being a Scarborough trader means a great deal in itself. There is a strong sense that this business has been built not only for commercial success, but also for the good of the local area and the people whose livelihoods depend on the sea.

As a three-generation family business, East Coast Shellfish also brings together experience, energy and long-term commitment. They describe that mix of age and experience as the perfect blend for success, and it is easy to see why. There is tradition behind the business, but also momentum and ambition for the future.

Supporting local fishermen and sustainable seafood

One of the biggest reasons East Coast Shellfish has earned this recognition is its clear commitment to the local fishery. When the business first opened, securing supply was essential. The team wanted to work with local fishermen, and those fishermen responded with loyalty, guaranteeing supply and backing the business from the start.

That support has been a major milestone in the company’s journey. Without it, many of their goals would not have been possible. Today, East Coast Shellfish works with 11 marine fishing vessels, something they are rightly very proud of. That is not just an impressive number for a young business. It is proof that they have built strong relationships and become a trusted outlet for the local catch.

Their model also helps create a wider market for live shellfish, supporting species beyond the most typical and commercially expected choices. That matters for sustainability and for the resilience of the local industry. By helping broaden what is landed and sold, East Coast Shellfish is giving customers more choice while helping local fishing boats benefit from a more diverse and sustainable market.

Freshness, quality and trust

At the heart of East Coast Shellfish is a simple promise: customers can expect a high-quality product. In a trade like this, that matters enormously. People want confidence that what they are buying is fresh, responsibly sourced and worth taking home to the table.

The response from customers suggests East Coast Shellfish is delivering exactly that. One review they shared says it all: “Without doubt the freshest, best, shellfish at very reasonable prices. If you are in Scarborough give Chris a ring/WhatsApp and see what’s just been landed.” That kind of feedback is powerful because it captures the immediacy and quality that make businesses like this so special.

There is something genuinely exciting about seafood that has only just been landed, especially when it comes direct from a trusted local source. East Coast Shellfish has tapped into that brilliantly, giving customers access to Scarborough seafood at its best while keeping the process grounded in real relationships, knowledge and local pride.

A family business making its dream real

When asked about their proudest moment, East Coast Shellfish gave a simple but powerful answer: they took a dream and made it reality. That says a lot. Behind every young business is a huge amount of work, risk and determination, and family-run ventures often carry an extra layer of personal commitment because so much of the journey is shared.

Like any business, East Coast Shellfish faces daily challenges. But their response is rooted in determination, knowledge and passion, and that attitude has clearly helped them push forward. They may be a relatively new name compared with some long-established winners, but they have already shown the qualities that make independent businesses thrive: resilience, adaptability and a willingness to keep building every day.

This award is also a wonderful family achievement. The team said they were both pleased and shocked to win, and described it as a great family accomplishment. That sense of shared pride makes the recognition all the more special.

Part of Scarborough’s wider food community

East Coast Shellfish is also helping strengthen the local food scene in Scarborough through collaboration. They work with The Lookout on the Pier, which showcases their products and turns them into incredible dishes. Partnerships like that help celebrate local seafood in new ways, bringing producers, hospitality businesses and customers together around the quality of what Scarborough has to offer.

That wider community role is important. Businesses like East Coast Shellfish do not operate in isolation. They are part of a local network of fishermen, traders, chefs and customers who all benefit when quality local produce is championed properly. By supporting local boats and working with local food businesses, they are helping create a stronger and more connected coastal economy.

Looking ahead

East Coast Shellfish is not standing still. The business already has exciting plans to expand into processing its products and creating a ready-to-eat Scarborough product. That is a really promising next step, not only for the business itself but for the wider community too.

If those plans move forward, they could create more local jobs and add even more value to the seafood being landed locally. It is exactly the kind of ambition that helps young businesses grow while still staying rooted in the place they come from. There is a clear sense that East Coast Shellfish wants success to benefit more than just the business. They want it to support Scarborough as a whole.

Congratulations to East Coast Shellfish

At My Local Awards 2026 Yorkshire, we are proud to celebrate businesses that bring passion, quality and purpose to their local communities. East Coast Shellfish is a fantastic example of that.

In a short space of time, they have built a business that supports local fishermen, champions sustainable seafood and gives customers access to some of the freshest shellfish Scarborough has to offer. Their win reflects family dedication, local pride and a vision that is already making a real impact.

Congratulations to East Coast Shellfish (Scarborough), a highly deserving winner of Fishmonger of the Year 2026.

And finally, a message from the team: “We embrace every day and strive for a greater future, together we can do it.”