Dry the scallops with some kitchen paper, season well with salt and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Cook the linguine until al dente, reserving a cup of pasta water before draining.
Meanwhile, do a little prep. Peel and finely slice the garlic and slice the cherry tomatoes in half.
Finely chop the parsley and chives and grate the Parmesan.
Heat the olive oil in a large stainless steel frying pan over a medium heat. Dry the scallops again (this helps get a great sear) and season with a little more salt and pepper. Add the scallops and sear on both sides (for 2-3 minutes each side) until browned. Set aside on a plate.
In the same pan add the butter and allow to gently brown for 2-3 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
Add the chilli flakes and squeeze in the juice of the lemon.
Add the cooked pasta and Parmesan to the pan with a splash of the pasta water and a pinch of black pepper. Combine until the sauce has thickened and is coating the pasta.
Serve alongside the scallops and scatter with the chopped herbs and lemon zest to finish.