The Gravy Boat – From Small Beginnings to Widespread Success

Wherever you live, work or play in West Sussex, the warmest of welcomes and the freshest of food await you at Littlehampton’s gorgeous Gravy Boat Carvery and Restaurant, on Pier Road – complete with a view over the harbour and River Arun. Contemporary and yet welcoming, Tiho and Ivan have worked hard to get the Gravy Boat just right.

Opening a restaurant isn’t always plain sailing

Opening in July 2015, Tiho and Ivan overcame major challenges in trying to open on time, investing heavily from their own finances and ensuring all the correct planning permissions were in place, but the stunning 80-seater restaurant was certainly worth every sleepless night! Serving between eight hundred to one thousand covers every single week, around half of which are entirely new clientele, the food is fresh, locally sourced, of the very highest quality and all homemade.

A treasure for locals and visitors alike

With the primary aim of bringing more people into Littlehampton, to spend more time and money in the town, the Gravy Boat Carvery and Restaurant is also the only restaurant in Littlehampton to boast that full view of the harbour. The food is delicious, the menu is extensive – from a full breakfast selection, through pizzas and paninis to carvery and a la carte - and yet refreshingly good value for money. Visitors have been impressed, with comments including ‘a welcome touch of class to Littlehampton’, ‘a real asset to the town’, ‘as good as any top eatery [in London]’and ‘like popping over to friends for dinner’, while younger diners – and their parents - have also been very pleased with the excellent value and generous portions of the Under 10s menu.

Social Media Success

Creatively using social media as a marketing tool, they’re really engaged with their audience and use frequent social media messaging and regular Facebook posts showing off the latest succulent steak, freshly made pizza or mouthwatering dessert. Innovatively, they also have their own mobile app, and so can send promotional messages through push notifications.

Giving back to the community

Tiho and Ivan are passionate about their local community, and in the ten years they’ve been in the town, as owners of the nearby Nelson Hotel, they have raised over £15,000 for local charities.

Littlehampton is a gem of a town, which prides itself on traditional family-friendly fun and usually pleasant climate. The bustling marina and harbour along with the truly stunning architecture bring a contemporary vibe to a seaside resort, yet no visit to Littlehampton is complete without a visit to the Gravy Boat Carvery and Restaurant.