About
The Chelsea Fishmonger was set up in 1995 to bring you the very highest quality, freshest fish and shellfish.
We have two shops, in Chelsea and in the Surrey town of Guildford. All are staffed by experienced, knowledgeable fishmongers who hand pick the best fish and seafood for you every morning.
Our customers are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of fishing, in terms of the species caught and the methods used to catch them. The Chelsea Fishmonger is committed to supporting sustainable fishing techniques – and happily, that’s exactly how the very best fish reach your table.
The Team
Rex Goldsmith is the owner of The Chelsea Fishmonger. He has been in the fish trade since he was 13, when he caught river trout and sold them to a local fishmonger. Rex worked on a trout farm for a number of years before becoming a fishmonger for a major supermarket. He started his own fish business in Surrey in 1995 and opened his second shop in London, The Chelsea Fishmonger, in 2004. He regularly appears in the media as a fish expert.
Michael Anson Michael comes to us after spending time as a fishmonger with a large independent store food hall. His enthusiasm knows no bounds. He has a huge flare for fish displays and a real passion for cooking. After only a few short months Michael became a valuable member of team CFM.
You can also find Michael on Twitter @michaeldanson12
David Blagden A very well known name on the London fishmonger. Davis comes from a long line of fishmongers. Blagdens in Marylebone was afamous shop on the corner of Paddington street. After the sad closure of his shop David spent many years on the fish counter in a large London food hall.
We are now lucky enough to have him join our London team bringing his wealth of experience and some fantastic recipes.
Duncan prides himself on his knife skills and does some of the most beautiful and creative fish displays known to man.
Duncan Welton has been running The Chelsea Fishmonger in Guildford since day 1. A true Cornishman with a real passion for seafood. Duncan can be found putting on some magical displays behind the Guildford counter.
History
In 1995, Rex Goldsmith left his job as a supermarket fishmonger after becoming increasingly disillusioned with the quality of fish he prepared and sold. That summer, he purchased a small fish stall in the corner of the car park of Secretts Farm Shop in Milford, Surrey. He began to buy fish direct from the Cornish market in Newlyn, which was sent up and arrived overnight, and from London’s famous Billingsgate fish market.
Rex soon secured a loyal customer base and began to supply local restaurants. By 2000 the business had outgrown the stall, and the following year he opened a purpose-built shop on the Secretts site.
In 2004, Rex heard that the legendary Chelsea Fishery on Cale Street, Chelsea, was standing empty. The shop, with 100 years of fish trading history, had been run by much-loved local character William ‘Bill the Fish’ Squires until he retired through ill health. Rex snapped up the lease and completely refitted the shop before opening it as The Chelsea Fishmonger. The shop is often quoted as London’s leading fishmonger.
September 2007 saw the opening of the third Chelsea Fishmonger shop in Guildford, taking Rex back to his Surrey roots.
