Roberta Hall-McCarron to relocate The Little Chartroom

08-Jul-2021 - Last updated on 09-Jul-2021 at 07:39 GMT

Roberta Hall-McCarron is to relocate her bijou Edinburgh bistro The Little Chartroom to a larger premises and use the original site to launch a new concept later this year.

Moving from Albert Place to nearby to Bonnington Road and opening in September, The Little Chartroom’s second incarnation is described as 'an evolution' as opposed to a diversion from its original guise.

Leaving the six-burner gas stove behind, the restaurant’s new ‘grown-up’ destination will enable an increase in cover numbers (the original only has 18 seats) as well as the opportunity to install new kitchen equipment.

The menu will be concise, with three regularly-changing options for each course that's guided by what is available.

Sample dishes include smoked eel with beetroot, apple and horseradish; trombetta courgette with asparagus, peas, elderflower and lovage; cod with squash, broad beans, freagola and clams; and strawberry bourbon iced tea savarin with ricotta ice cream.

Designed by Studio Niro, the interiors will be 'inspired by the surrounding sea and Scottish coastline', and make use of rich blues and oyster white.

A month later, in October, Hall-McCarron and her husband Shaun will launch restaurant and wine bar Eleanore on the site currently occupied by The Little Chartroom.

Taking its name from the boat owned by Roberta’s family and named by her mother, Eleanore will serve a small plates menu that puts Scottish produce front and centre, with a focus on 'relaxed counter culture'.

Chefs Hamish McNeil and Moray Lamb, who have been heading up The Little Chartroom's now-permanent promenade pop up that launched last year, will run the pass, whilst also incorporating their own culinary influences.

Dishes include barbecue pork neck with chicory and quince; flatbread with sunflower seed dip; and oysters with fermented cucumber, sweet pickled apple and horseradish oil.

There will also be a regularly changing wine list curated by Johanna Cole (formerly of the Lucky Liquor Co), and a selection of seasonal cocktails making use of foraged Scottish ingredients and homemade shrubs.

Another Studio Niro design, the interiors at Eleanore will 'hint at the makings of a boat and the Scottish coastline'.

Hall-McCarron, who is shortlisted in the 'Chef to Watch' category at this year's Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards, launched The Little Chartroom with Shaun back in 2018.

It is currently ranked at Number 79 on the UK’s Top 100 Restaurants List.