Masterchef: The Professionals' Chris Niven to head up new Edinburgh opening

When it launches in early summer, the historical Old Town site on North Bridge will have undergone a full refurbishment.

It will offer all-day menu, championing local Scottish produce, alongside an afternoon tea menu and a late night cocktail offering.

Scottish-born Niven will build a fifteen-strong team to run the kitchen at the Scotsman Grand Café.

Kenny Arnott, who takes his experience from a number of roles within both restaurant and hotel management across England and Scotland, will take the role of general manager.

Niven, who trained in Dundee, comes from a role as head chef at Edinburgh’s Printing Press Bar & Kitchen, where he was working upon progressing to the 2017 MasterChef: The Professionals final.

“The opportunity to take the reins at The Scotsman Grand Café & Bar in this pre-opening phase and to have complete autonomy to develop the venue and its menus is one that I didn’t want to miss,” says Niven.

“There is no blueprint, so every dish is being designed from scratch and will be custom-made, with seasonality, flavour and sourcing at the heart of everything we do. It will be an easy and elegant menu with something for everyone.”