Edinburgh restaurant Aizle to relocate
Chef patron Stuart Ralston says he will not reopen Aizle's original site on St. Leonard's Street, where the restaurant has been housed since it first opened in 2014.
Instead, it will relocate and relaunch within the Scottish capital's Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel on 22 July.
“I am really delighted to announce this exciting new chapter for Aizle," says Ralston.
"We have had six outstanding years at Saint Leonard’s Street and I will be sad not to return there, but the time is right for a change."
Ralston explains that the new site will have a bigger space, and be able to hold more covers.
"We often have a waiting list for Friday and Saturday nights, so hopefully we will be able to accommodate everyone who wishes to dine with us.
“We have the best, most loyal, regular customers and I am looking forward to seeing them again and welcoming new diners. I am sure our regulars will appreciate the lovely new, comfortable banquette booths."
While Aizle's location will have changed, the concept remains the same, centred around a set six-course tasting menu.
Ralston notably shifted Aizle to a four-day working week in 2018 after struggling with long working hours, and that practise will also continue in the restaurant's new location.
"[This move] means I can bring all my staff out of furlough and guarantee them a job, which I would not have been able to do otherwise,” adds Ralston.
"The dining concept will be exactly the same as before, but I will be adding some new dishes; lockdown has allowed me the time to try out a few new things.”
As well as Aizle, Ralston also operates Noto in Edinburgh; a more casual venture the chef opened last year, which is inspired by his time spent living in New York while working at Gordon Ramsay’s The London restaurant.