Fish Trap officially opens as the largest stand-alone restaurant & bar grabbing the heart of La Digue Island in the Seychelles
ATP- arab tourism portal- La Digue island has witnessed the official opening of "Fish Trap", its largest stand-alone restaurant and bar last Monday 15thJune.
La Digue is known for good food and has many restaurants but they are all restaurants attached to a hotel of guesthouse. Tarosa had until the arrival of the ‘Fish Trap’ been the only stand alone restaurant in the heart of the island at La Passe. Carl and Sydney Mills wanted to make a break from the traditional hotel restaurants models and opted for an up market stand-alone restaurant and bar with a view and ‘feet in the sand’ approach.
In May 2015, Carl and Sydney Mills positioned their purpose built ‘Fish Trap’ restaurant as La Digue’s second stand-alone restaurant and bar at La Passe. The Mills brothers speak of their prime seafront location as their key USP as this spectacular view attracts international and local clientele.
The interior of the restaurant is a reflection of Sydney Mill’s passion for interior design varying weaving technique of fish trap with a fresh and bright stream of colours such as marine blue and green to stimulate the sea effect.
It took the two brothers, Sydney and Carl 12 months to build from scratch the restaurant and bar, turning it into the perfect spot for laid back customers and a profitable family investment.
The Mills brothers are confident that they can make the food and beverage offering in ‘Fish Trap’ Restaurant and bar compelling and profitable.
The first month of its soft opening, ‘Fish Trap’ according to the brothers had done “extremely well”.
With seating capacity of over 100 covers and a signature menu of 90 % fresh sea food, ‘Fish Trap’ owners weigh its success on its positioning and concept as great contributors to top up its income.
Unveiling the commemorative plaque at the official opening ceremony of ”Fish Trap, the Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St.Ange said the Restaurant & Bar has grabbed the heart of La Digue.
“Today, I am happy that two Seychellois have grabbed the heart of La Digue. ‘Fish Trap’ is the biggest stand-alone Restaurant & Bar and what is remarkable it is in the hand of Seychellois. Our Government launched an appeal only a couple of years ago for Seychelles to claim back it tourism industry. For this to happen more Seychellois needed to join the industry, to be seen and to be counted as being part and parcel of that industry that remains the pillar of the island’s economy. Today we are happy to see Carl and Sydney Mills opening a new purpose build facility that is a real asset for La Digue’s tourism industry‘’ Minister St.Ange said.
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Minister St.Ange added that just a week ago President James Michel in the National Consultative Forum, discussed at length on the future of the tourism Industry. The Minister responsible for Tourism said that President Michel had stressed on the need for our country to re-look at the land use plan and the carrying capacity of the islands to ensure more Seychellois take ownership of the tourism industry.
Minister St.Ange added the opening of ‘Fish Trap’ Restaurant & Bar is a “land mark establishment” as it falls at an opportune time with an opening following the President Michel’s message.
“Today’s opening of this purpose built restaurant shows that Seychellois have understand the message and they are putting their money where their mouth is. ‘Fish Trap’ Restaurant & Bar is raising the barometer on La Digue by ensuring visitors an authentic Creole atmosphere with a Creole ownership” said Minister Alain St.Ange
Reviving a family business
When Carl and Sydney Mills opened the ‘Fish Trap’ Restaurant & Bar, they decided not to go too far to find a name for their new restaurant. The two brothers resurrected their uncles’ “Fish Trap” Restaurant & Bar of the 1980’s at Baie St Anne on Praslin. Keeping family value close at heart, Carl and Sydney, only brought a touch of modernity to “Fish Trap”. Sydney Mills said the former “Fish Trap” made in its time positioned the local fish trap bamboo weaving as central to its decoration. He explained the new “ Fish Trap”, kept the weaving technique of the old “ Fish Trap”, with a blend of modernity. “ Fish Trap” is not the only family business, revived by Carl and Sydney, the two brothers who are partners in various businesses on La Digue have also revived the ‘Cabanes des Anges” guesthouse, the hotel that was proudly owned by their grandfather Karl St.Ange since the early 1970s. The original ‘Cabanes des Anges’ Hotel was built soon after the official opening of the Seychelles International Airport.
