Life behind the fish counter

At Gastro Nicks, fresh fish has become one of our most popular offerings - and for good reason. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, our counter is stocked with a carefully chosen selection of seasonal, market-fresh fish.

“We decide what to order each week based on availability, price, freshness and what’s in season,” explains Nick. “It means our customers always get the very best quality at a fair price.”

A fishmonger service with a personal touch

Whether you know exactly what you want, or you’re a little unsure about cooking fish, Nick is always on hand with advice. 

“Talk to me,” he says. “We can offer help, suggestions, cooking tips -  and if you need your fish prepared, I can fillet, de-bone, scale, trim or gut it for you.” 

And if there’s something special you’re looking for, just ask. From firm favourites such as salmon, plaice and mackerel to shellfish or less common varieties, Nick will do his best to source it. 

“If it’s available and the customer is happy with the quote, I’ll get it in.”

Fresh or frozen?

While Nick is always a champion of fresh, there’s also a wide range of frozen fish available at the deli, much of it frozen in-house.

“Frozen is mainly about convenience,” Nick says. “The fish is fresh when frozen, so the quality is still excellent. But personally, I always prefer fresh - it’s what I grew up with.”

Favourites, requests and a little humour

Nick has a lifelong love of fish and shellfish.

“It’s always been plaice for me,” he admits, though he’s equally happy tucking into shellfish.

Customers have even tested his sense of humour with unusual requests - including, yes, a fish called Wanda.

Christmas fish – plan ahead

As Christmas approaches, fish is always in demand. From smoked salmon and prawns to seafood platters, there’s plenty to enjoy - but availability and prices can vary depending on market forces.

“Pre-ordering is always advised,” says Nick. “You can buy early and freeze if you are worried about possible costs. Prices often rise closer to Christmas, so it’s worth getting organised.”

Alongside the ever-popular smoked salmon and king prawns, Gastro Nicks can source a wide range of farmed fish such as salmon, trout, bass, bream, halibut and turbot, plus shellfish including crab, lobster and clams.

Sign up for the weekly fish list

To make sure you never miss out, Gastro Nicks sends out a weekly fish list by email every Wednesday lunchtime. It tells you what’s available that week and the prices. You can then place your order by phone or email, and collect at a time that suits you.

“I call my buyer on the South coast on a Tuesday to see what is coming in and confirm my order on Wednesday morning,” Nick explains. “Our weekly ‘fish List’ is then emailed out to all subscribers.

“Customers love it because they know exactly what’s coming in.“ It makes it easy to plan meals -  and you’ll always get the freshest fish we can source.

Drop us an email, phone or pop into the shop to sign up for our weekly fish list sent by email every Wednesday lunchtime, and discover just how easy it is to enjoy fresh fish in Wiltshire.