Awkward reason Rick Stein's flagship restaurant doesn't have his name on it
Nestled in the heart of the quaint Cornish fishing village of Padstow, or Padstein as it's come to be known by tourists and locals alike, is Rick Stein’s The Seafood Restaurant.
Opened by the 79-year-old celebrity cook and his first wife, Jill Stein, 76, back in 1975, the flashship eatery on the quay is revered for its classic seafood dishes, such as Lobster Thermidor, and excellent wine pairings.
Prior to celebrating its 50th birthday in 2025, the 3-Rosette restaurant earned the coveted AA Food Service Award for its excellent standards of restaurant services and hospitality.
The restaurateurs have since opened up three more eateries in Padstow: St Petroc’s Bistro, offering revellers a classic bistro dining experience with ‘the finest local Cornish produce’, and Rick Stein’s Cafe.
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Stein’s Fish & Chips can also be found on the coast overlooking the Camel Estuary, boasting both an informal sit-down area and takeaway services.
In the town over, you will find The Cornish Arms, a local pub serving St Austell Brewery beer to residents and holidaymakers of St Merryn.
In a new interview with The Times, Jill, who recently co-authored The Seafood Restaurant Cookbook with her ex, explained why the iconic Seafood institution has never, and probably never will, carry the ‘Rick Stein’ brand.
She claimed that Padstow locals were initially ‘sensitive’ to the ‘Padstein’ nickname, agreeing that her and the chef’s brand was perhaps ‘too dominant’ for the quiet town.
“Personally, I’ve always said, ‘Keep the brand name out of a town like Padstow.’
“That’s why the Seafood Restaurant is called the Seafood Restaurant. It’s not called Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant.”
Jill and Rick, who divorced in 2007, currently work on the Stein brand with their son Ed, 47, who manages refurbishments, Jack, 45, who serves as chef director, and Charlie, 40, who heads up the wine cellar.
Kate, who is married to the pair’s eldest son, works with Jill on interiors, while Rick’s wife, Sarah Burns, whom he married in 2011 despite her being 20 years his junior, helps run the Australian branch of the business.
According to Jill’s interview with The Times, running the company is just ‘as stressful as ever’.
Apparently, costs have rocketed and the employers’ national insurance tax rise was ‘a killer’.
As a result, the Stein companies made greater losses in 2024 than the year before and their restaurant in Marlborough, Wiltshire, closed.
Jill and Rick’s latest venture, The Seafood Restaurant Cookbook, is set for release on 18 June.
“With evocative photography and tales of life at the quayside's edge of seafood cookery, this is a glorious celebration of five decades of the world famous Cornish restaurant from the legendary chef and television icon, Rick Stein, and his ex-wife and business partner, Jill Stein,” a synopsis from publishing house Bloomsbury reads.
“Spanning the half century of the restaurant's existence at the quayside in Padstow, this is a must-have cookbook and keepsake for all lovers of Rick Stein and The Seafood Restaurant.”
It features ten signature recipes from each decade, including prune tart with armagnac, black risotto, steamed bream, and mouthwatering monkfish vindaloo.
Earlier this week, Rick announced Cookery Course, a book including 150 recipes over the star’s 60-year career, would be published by BBC Books, an imprint of Ebury.
“Whether you're cooking a simple weeknight dinner or hosting a lavish dinner party, Rick Stein's Cookery Course will prepare you to make delicious meals with confidence,” an Amazon listing reads.
Rick Stein’s Cookery Course: Recipes and techniques from a lifetime in the kitchen is set for release on 29 October 2026.
Topics: Celebrity, Restaurants and bars, UK Food
Ella Scott