Plymouth Seafood Restaurant Enters Liquidation with Substantial Debts
The Hook and Line, a prominent seafood restaurant located at the Royal William Yard in Plymouth, has ceased trading and entered liquidation, leaving behind debts exceeding £355,000. The restaurant closed its doors in late 2025, and the operating company, The Hook and Line Plymouth Ltd, has now filed for voluntary liquidation with no assets expected to be recovered.
Breakdown of Creditors and Outstanding Payments
According to filings at Companies House, the restaurant owes more than £20,000 to former employees and over £128,000 in outstanding tax. Trade and expense creditors are owed £143,500, with significant amounts due to British Gas (£64,000) and Urban Splash (£26,000), the Manchester-based firm responsible for regenerating the historic victualling yard.
The business also has an unpaid Bounce Back Loan (BBL) of £14,600 from the Royal Bank of Scotland. This government-underwritten initiative was designed to help small businesses recover from the Covid pandemic and associated lockdowns. Nationally, it is estimated that £19.7 billion of BBL debt will ultimately be written off.
Restaurant's History and Challenges
The Hook and Line launched in 2020 in the Slaughterhouse building at Royal William Yard, immediately facing challenges due to Covid lockdowns. Despite initial setbacks, the restaurant adapted by offering takeaways and later fully reopening, gaining popularity with a Tripadvisor score of 4.2 out of five from 195 reviewers.
In 2023, the restaurant operated a seafood market and outdoor barbecue at the yard, and in 2024, it opened a spin-off fishmonger and deli on Southside Street in the Barbican. However, this venture later closed, replaced by a new deli named the Cozy Grain in summer 2025.
Hygiene Ratings and Financial Struggles
The restaurant faced hygiene issues in March 2024, receiving a rating of just two out of five after an inspection. This was part of a series of poor scores at the yard during that period, though Urban Splash confirmed steps were taken to improve cleanliness. A subsequent inspection later that year restored The Hook and Line to a top rating of five.
Financial documents reveal a deficit of £116,423 on the profit and loss statement for 2023, with accounts compiled on a going concern basis. The company employed 28 staff in 2023, up from 19 the previous year. After a general meeting in January 2026, it was decided the company would enter voluntary liquidation, with liquidators appointed.
Response from Stakeholders and Future of Royal William Yard
PlymouthLive has approached The Hook and Line, its directors, and liquidators at Stephen M Rout and Company in Suffolk but has not received a response. The restaurant's website is no longer accessible, and its social media pages, with thousands of followers, have been inactive since late 2025.
Urban Splash declined to comment on the specific debt owed by The Hook and Line but emphasized that Royal William Yard remains a vibrant location for businesses. A spokesperson highlighted new additions to the yard, including DockSide Coffee Bar, Pebble, and Nala's Pet Co, as well as expanded parking facilities and new boat trips and ferry services, positioning the estate for a successful 2026.
