A five-storey, 600,000 cubic feet industrial space is transformed for this walkthrough exhibit.

Perched on the cliffs overlooking the aquamarine waters of Antiqua’s Ffryes Bay, Sheer Rocks is one of the hottest dining experiences on the island. Sure, the view is jaw-dropping, the plunge pool is Instagram-worthy and the cocktail list has 21 gin drinks alone, but it’s Simon Christey-French’s Mediterranean-style food with Caribbean influences that is drawing diners.
Being head chef at a small restaurant in Antigua is not something Christey-French envisioned for himself, but he couldn’t be happier paying tribute to the local culture with his exceptional seafood dishes and elaborate meals.
After winning Young Chef of the Year in the UK in 2007, he went from cooking in Michelin-starred restaurants in London to being Richard Branson’s private chef on Necker Island. Following a stint as chef de cuisine at the Pink Sands Club in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, he came to Antigua.
Christey-French says that he aims to give diners a sense of place, so 80 per cent of the ingredients at Sheer Rocks are locally sourced.
“I’ve had to adapt my menu to local styles,” he says. “And availability of ingredients means that I’ve become somewhat flexible—if I swap my grouper for snapper, nobody’s going to complain that it’s too fresh.”
The availability of ingredients here has pushed me to be more creative. I joke that I could write a book now on 101 things to do with pumpkin. Being in contact and really hands-on with smaller suppliers who grow [produce] on the island has a lot more soul to it compared to calling up a wholesaler and ticking off boxes.
An oven-baked mahi mahi with comte and pretzel crust—the strong salty, cheesy, pretzel butter crust goes so well with the creamy cauliflower purée and charred leeks that we serve it with.
I’m inspired by the great team I work with, as well as the local producers and fishermen. One of our best-selling dishes is a creamy and aromatic spicy coconut fish curry; it’s a recipe from one of our sous chefs.
In the Caribbean, every rule is very flexible. Things don’t ever run on time. People aren’t always reliable. Minutes before service, with a full restaurant, your fish supplier might not turn up. You always have to have a Plan B and a Plan C.
Every day, I walk down the steps to the restaurant, which has 180-degree ocean views. I’m still taking photos of sunsets. The staff tease me, saying: “Haven’t you seen enough sunsets?” But I never get tired of that view
The shabby-chic feel includes furnishings made using materials found on the island.
The average dish costs around US$30.
The Seared King Scallops & Sticky Pork Belly with pumpkin and beetroot.
Wash your meal down with the Old-Fashioned Rum Punch, made from a top-secret local recipe.
Antigua’s national dish is fungee, a polenta-like cornmeal dish often served with a spicy meat soup or salt-fish.