The Rick Stein Group
The Rick Stein Group is a privately-held UK family hospitality business founded in 1975, operating 10+ seafood restaurants, accommodation properties, an online fishmongers, and a cookery school across Southwest England, London, and Hampshire, serving individual diners, tourists, and families through direct-to-consumer channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersPadstow, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Rick Stein Group does
The Rick Stein Group is a privately-held UK hospitality business founded in 1975 by Rick and Jill Stein, operating a diversified portfolio of 10+ restaurants across Southwest England (Padstow, St Merryn, Newquay), Dorset (Sandbanks), London (Barnes), and Hampshire (Winchester). The business centres on fresh seafood cuisine ranging from fine dining (The Seafood Restaurant flagship) to casual formats (Stein's Fish & Chips, Fistral Bar & Kitchen, The Cornish Arms pub). Beyond restaurants, the group operates accommodation including hotel rooms, self-catering cottages, and shepherd's huts; an online fishmongers and retail shop delivering nationwide; meal boxes via Dishpatch partnership; and a cookery school in Padstow. Technology is limited to a proprietary mobile app for ordering and collection (iOS and Android), e-commerce infrastructure, and third-party delivery partnerships (Deliveroo). Revenue is generated entirely through direct-to-consumer channels: restaurant dining, takeaway, room bookings, e-commerce sales, cookery school fees, and gift/hampers.
The business is anchored by the personal brand of founder Rick Stein, supported by BBC Two television series (Food Stories, Rick Stein's Australia), bestselling cookbooks, active social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok), and book tours spanning 16 UK cities. Marketing blends top-of-funnel content (TV, social, blog, PR) with mid-funnel email newsletters. The Stein family retains full ownership with no external investment or private equity involvement disclosed; second-generation family members Jack Stein (Chef Director), Charlie Stein (Wine Director), Ed Stein, and Kate Stein are actively involved in operations. The business remains family-controlled with no apparent succession or liquidity event in process, supported by 50 years of continuous operation, AA Food Service Award 2024 recognition for The Seafood Restaurant, and self-described Top 25 Best Hospitality Company status.
The Rick Stein Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Rick Stein Group
- Legal name
- The Rick Stein Group
- Website
- https://rickstein.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- The Rick Stein Group is a privately-held UK family hospitality business founded in 1975, operating 10+ seafood restaurants, accommodation properties, an online fishmongers, and a cookery school across Southwest England, London, and Hampshire, serving individual diners, tourists, and families through direct-to-consumer channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Rick Stein Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Seafood Hospitality and Restaurants
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (7225), Fish and Seafood Retailers (445250)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating Places (5812), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Steakhouses & Seafood Restaurants (THAFACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Chef’s Table & Tasting Menu Restaurants (THAFACAG), Ready-to-Eat/Ready-to-Heat Seafood Meals (Prepared Foods) (AFANADAI), Frozen Seafood Meals & Value-Added Seafood (CRADADAG), Seafood Markets & Fishmongers (CRAHAHAC)
Keywords
Where The Rick Stein Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Padstow
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
The Rick Stein Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Restaurant Dining: Multi-location restaurant operations offering dine-in experiences across 10+ venues in Cornwall, Dorset, London, and Hampshire. Revenue from food, beverages, and wine sales.
- Accommodation: Rooms, suites, and shepherd's huts across Padstow properties including The Seafood Restaurant Rooms, St Petroc's Hotel, Rick Stein's Café rooms, Prospect House, and shepherd's huts at The Cornish Arms
- Online Shop and Fishmongers: E-commerce platform selling fresh fish, shellfish, hampers, meal boxes, homeware, gift cards, wines, and signed books. Includes online fishmonger delivery nationwide.
- Cookery School: Cookery courses and experiences at the Padstow school overlooking the Camel Estuary, including one-day courses, private experiences, and gift cards
- Cookbooks and Publications: Sale of Rick Stein's cookbooks including Food Stories and Christmas book through online shop and book tours
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Sandbanks Set Lunch Menu |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fish and Chips (Forgotten Fish Fridays) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Charity Lunches |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Shepherd's Hut Accommodation |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Children's Menu |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Celebration Cakes |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Group Bookings |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Seafood Restaurant Summer Set Lunch |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Beef Shin Ragu Special (Rick Stein's Australia) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Taste of 50 Years Menu |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Rick Stein Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Rick Stein Group operates a portfolio of seafood-focused restaurants across the UK, including fine dining (The Seafood Restaurant Padstow), bistro, café, fish and chips, pub, and beachside bar formats, alongside hotel rooms, self-catering cottages and shepherd's hut accommodation. The business also sells fresh fish, shellfish, gift hampers, restaurant meal boxes, wines, homeware and signed cookbooks through a nationwide e-commerce platform, and runs a Padstow cookery school offering courses that teach Rick Stein's recipes and seafood techniques.
Product overview
The Rick Stein Group is a diversified hospitality company operating a portfolio of restaurants, accommodation, and retail products. The core offering consists of 10 restaurant venues across Cornwall (Padstow, Newquay, St Merryn), Dorset (Sandbanks), and London (Barnes, Winchester), unified by a focus on fresh seafood simply cooked. Supporting the restaurant network are accommodation options (hotel rooms, self-catering cottages, shepherd's huts), an online shop selling fish, hampers, wines, and meal boxes, and a cookery school. The company operates as a platform of distinct branded venues under the Rick Stein name rather than a single unified product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow Flagship fine-dining seafood restaurant in Padstow serving classic Rick Stein seafood dishes including lobster thermidor, turbot hollandaise, and Indonesian seafood curry, overlooking the harbour. Target customers are leisure diners, tourists, and special-occasion guests seeking premium Cornish seafood.
- Rick Stein Sandbanks Seafood restaurant with panoramic views over Poole Harbour featuring a glass-walled dining room, outdoor terrace, and relaxed bar menu with seasonal lobster dishes and signature seafood plates. Includes Deliveroo takeaway. Target customers are Dorset coast visitors, families, and group diners.
- St Petroc's Bistro, Padstow Classic bistro in Padstow celebrating Cornish produce with French-inspired dishes, a dog-friendly courtyard garden, private dining room, and Ruby cocktail bar. Target customers are casual diners, couples and families wanting relaxed Padstow bistro-style seafood and meat dishes.
- Rick Stein's Café, Padstow Family-friendly café in the heart of Padstow serving fresh local seafood and travel-inspired dishes for coffee, cake, lunch and dinner, with on-site rooms. Target customers are families, casual diners and Padstow visitors wanting an all-day casual option.
- Stein's Fish & Chips, Padstow Casual fish and chip restaurant in Padstow overlooking the Camel Estuary offering informal restaurant dining and takeaway with signature battered fish and chips. Target customers are families, tourists and casual diners seeking quick, recognisable British seafood.
- The Cornish Arms, St Merryn Traditional Cornish pub in St Merryn serving seasonal British dishes and St Austell Brewery ales, with a large beer garden, woodfired pizza, BBQ, traditional Sunday roasts and on-site shepherd's huts. Target customers are north Cornwall visitors, families and pub diners seeking casual accommodation.
- Fistral Bar & Kitchen, Newquay Laid-back beachside bar overlooking Fistral Beach in Newquay, open from morning coffee and brunch through to sunset drinks and evening music, serving casual seafood small plates. Target customers are beachgoers, surfers, tourists and casual diners.
- Rick Stein Barnes Riverside seafood restaurant in Barnes, London with views over the River Thames, featuring classic fish dishes, a weekday set menu, live music and a seafood bar with courtyard seating. Target customers are London diners, special-occasion guests and Thames-side visitors.
- Rick Stein Winchester Restaurant in the heart of Winchester offering Rick Stein's classic dishes including turbot hollandaise and shellfish ragout, open daily from morning coffee to evening cocktails with a weekday set menu. Target customers are Hampshire diners, city visitors and shoppers.
- Accommodation (Rooms, Self-catering and Shepherd's Huts) Holiday accommodation in Padstow and St Merryn including rooms, suites, self-catering cottages and shepherd's huts across multiple properties, integrated with the group's restaurants and offering full Cornish breakfasts and coastal proximity. Target customers are UK leisure travellers and coastal holidaymakers.
- Rick Stein's Cookery School, Padstow Cookery school in Padstow overlooking the Camel Estuary offering one-day courses, private experiences and gift cards that teach Rick Stein's seafood recipes using the freshest ingredients, designed to build cooking confidence for all levels. Target customers are aspirational home cooks, gift purchasers and corporate team-building clients.
- Online Fishmongers Online fishmonger selling restaurant-quality fresh fish and shellfish including fillets, whole fish, shellfish, fish boxes and ready-to-eat options delivered nationwide from Cornwall. Target customers are UK home cooks seeking restaurant-quality seafood.
- Rick Stein Hampers Gourmet gift hampers featuring carefully selected products including Champagne, chocolate, chutneys and specialty food items, available for online ordering. Target customers are gift purchasers and corporate gifting buyers.
- Restaurant Meal Boxes Restaurant-quality meal boxes delivered nationwide through Dishpatch, each serving two with two or three courses and step-by-step cooking instructions for recreating Rick Stein restaurant dishes at home. Target customers are UK home cooks and gift recipients.
- Wines from Charlie Stein
Quantifiable outcome
- 50 years of continuous business operation since 1975
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Rick Stein Group
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Rick Stein Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature2 records
The Rick Stein Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Harbour BrewingminorCollaboration with Cornish Harbour Brewing to create The Seafood Restaurant's 50th Anniversary limited-edition beer named 'Purple Tiger' after Rick's original mobile disco. Light, fresh wheat beer brewed with coriander, coconut, and orange peel. Available at The Seafood Restaurant, Sandbanks, and Padstow deli.
- Designers GuildcorePartnership to celebrate 50th anniversary of The Seafood Restaurant. Jill Stein OBE and Tricia Guild OBE collaborated to redesign one shepherd's hut at The Cornish Arms using Designers Guild fabrics, paints, and accessories. Includes private terrace with Designers Guild outdoor furniture.
- Fishermen's MissionminorCharity partnership supporting fishing communities through Forgotten Fish Fridays initiative. £1 donated to Fishermen's Mission for every Forgotten Fish and Chips sold at participating restaurants. Provides practical, emotional, and financial support to fishing families around the UK.
- DeliveroominorThird-party delivery partnership for takeaway orders from Sandbanks restaurant. Enables nationwide takeaway delivery to customers ordering through Deliveroo platform.
- DishpatchminorPartnership for restaurant meal box delivery nationwide. Enables customers to recreate restaurant dishes at home with step-by-step instructions. Boxes serve two with two or three courses.
- National Lobster HatcheryminorCharitable partner referenced in '24 Hours in Padstow' guide. Organization works on replenishing lobster populations. Recommended as a visit for guests interested in marine conservation.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Rick Stein Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Soho House: Global hospitality membership operator with restaurants, hotels, and retail. Comparable as diversified premium hospitality platform integrating F&B, accommodation, and lifestyle brand.
- D&D London: Established UK operator of upscale restaurants, bars, and event venues across London and key cities. Broader incumbent offering comparable premium seafood-led dining at scale.
- The Ivy Collection: Iconic UK brasserie brand operating nationwide all-day dining venues. Comparable UK premium multi-site dining model with broad consumer appeal.
Direct peers
- Hawksmoor Restaurants: UK premium restaurant group known for steak and seafood across multiple UK cities. Closely comparable on premium seafood-led menu positioning, UK multi-site footprint, and casual-to-celebratory range of formats.
- Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group: Celebrity-chef-founded UK restaurant group combining dine-in venues with cookery school, cookbooks, and licensed products. Direct comparable due to shared model of leveraging TV/chef brand across hospitality and retail.
- Bill's (Bill Granger): Celebrity-chef-founded UK restaurant chain combining all-day dining with cookbooks and consumer products. Directly comparable on chef-led multi-site casual dining with strong retail crossover.
- Gordon Ramsay Restaurants: Global celebrity-chef restaurant portfolio spanning fine dining to gastropubs, supported by TV and publishing. Direct peer in multi-format celebrity-chef hospitality with international scale.
Regional players
- Wrights Food Group / seafood specialists (e.g., The Cornish Fishmonger): Specialist UK seafood retailers and meal-box operators. Overlaps with Rick Stein's Online Fishmongers and Dishpatch meal-box arm in Cornish-sourced D2C seafood.
- St Austell Brewery (hospitality venues): Cornish brewery operating pubs, inns, and restaurants across the South West, including Cornish Arms supply ties. Regional peer with overlapping Cornish footprint and seafood-adjacent pub dining.
Emerging players
- Padstow Harbour / Cornish restaurant scene operators: Local Cornish seafood restaurants and hospitality operators in Padstow and wider Cornwall. Direct local-market competitors for tourist footfall and seafood-led dining in the Rick Stein heartland.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Rick Stein Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Rick Stein Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Rick Stein Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The Rick Stein Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries21 records
The Rick Stein Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Rick Stein Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Rick Stein Group
What does The Rick Stein Group do?
The Rick Stein Group operates a portfolio of seafood-focused restaurants across the UK, including fine dining (The Seafood Restaurant Padstow), bistro, café, fish and chips, pub, and beachside bar formats, alongside hotel rooms, self-catering cottages and shepherd's hut accommodation. The business also sells fresh fish, shellfish, gift hampers, restaurant meal boxes, wines, homeware and signed cookbooks through a nationwide e-commerce platform, and runs a Padstow cookery school offering courses that teach Rick Stein's recipes and seafood techniques.
Is The Rick Stein Group a public or private company?
The Rick Stein Group is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was The Rick Stein Group founded?
The Rick Stein Group was founded in 1975. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is The Rick Stein Group based?
The Rick Stein Group is headquartered in Padstow, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Rick Stein Group make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Restaurant Dining is the primary driver. The others are accommodation, online Shop and Fishmongers, cookery School and cookbooks and Publications.
Who are The Rick Stein Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Soho House, D&D London and The Ivy Collection. Direct peers are Hawksmoor Restaurants, Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group, Bill's (Bill Granger) and Gordon Ramsay Restaurants. Regional players are Wrights Food Group / seafood specialists (e.g., The Cornish Fishmonger) and St Austell Brewery (hospitality venues). Padstow Harbour / Cornish restaurant scene operators is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Rick Stein Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Rick Stein Group.
What industry is The Rick Stein Group in?
The Rick Stein Group's product category is Seafood Hospitality and Restaurants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAE, Steakhouses & Seafood Restaurants, with a secondary code of THAFACAG, Chef’s Table & Tasting Menu Restaurants. Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5812.