Developer Kavanagh fishing for new Nando’s

DARRYL Kavanagh, a Waterford publican and developer who went bankrupt in the US two years ago, has dived back into a new business venture in Cardiff.

During his time Stateside, Kavanagh became a big fan of seafood chains and was always perplexed as to why there were none in Ireland and the UK. So he has dreamed up his own brand, the Seafood Shack, which will open its first restaurant at the end of April.

Kavanagh told me that the 7,000sq ft venue would have something for all fish fans — it includes a traditional fish-and-chips offering as well as an oysters-and-champagne bar.

“It’s right next to Cardiff Castle and will be one of the biggest restaurants in Cardiff,” he said. “It’s got a 200-seater restaurant, it’s got a shanty bar, it has reproduction masts with rigging and everything.”

He has partnered with Terry Rogers, the former food and beverage manager at Carton House Hotel, for the project. Kavanagh’s brother John, who has worked in the restaurant trade, is also involved.

In July 2015, Kavanagh walked away from debts of $23m after the US courts discharged him from bankruptcy. At one stage he owned 12 holiday homes and a number of bars in Ireland.

After he was discharged from bankruptcy, he became involved in the development of a bar and restaurant in Maynooth, Co Kildare called Cathedral. However, he left that project some time ago.

He now has big ambitions for the seafood chain and hopes to grow the chain to between 15 and 20 in the next two years. “We have three more ready to go once we have this open,” he said. Leeds, Southport and Nottingham are among the locations he is currently looking at. “I am going to do with seafood what Nando’s did with chicken,” he said.

He may bring the chain to Ireland in a couple of years time, although he feels a little bit bruised after his bankruptcy experience. “It’s the negativity, it’s so hard to do things, you are never ever forgiven, not that I have anything to be forgiven about,” he said.

However, he is well aware that Cardiff gets plenty of Irish rugby fans and is already checking out what the rivals’ restaurants offer on match days. “I’ll look after the Irish lads,” he said.