Celebrity fare on the menu as Ivy prepares to open Scots branch
● Restaurant frequented by stars unveils plan for a new venture
It is one of the most prestigious names in British fine dining, popular with generations of A- list stars from Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh through to Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie.
Now, The Ivy has announced it is to bring some of its stardust and critically acclaimed dishes to Scotland for the first time.
The restaurant group, a cornerstone of London’s theatre scene for the past century, has unveiled plans to open a new outlet in Edinburgh.
The restaurant, which will be known as The Ivy on The Square, will be situated in the capital’ s sought-after St AndrewSquare, an area whichis quickly becoming popular with foodies.
Already, itis home to the likes of the Bombay brasserie, Dishoom, and the contemporary Milanese- style restaurant Amarone.
Butthe arrivalof The Ivy group represents a major boon for one of the bestknown lo cations in the New Town and the Scottish fine dining scene in general.
In a statement, The Ivy Collection–which oversees a group of restaurants, brasseries, and cafes – said its Edinburgh restaurant would offer “approachable sophisti- cation and luxury with an underlying feeling of glamour and theatre”.
Open seven days a week, therestaurant will have around 130 seats, as well as aba rand amezzai ne terrace. The kitchen will be overseen by Sean Burbidge, the executive chef at The Ivy Collection who used to be head chef at Gordon R am say’ sPétr us restaurant.
As wellas a brass eriestyle menu offering the likes of breakfast, elevenses, lunch, and afternoon tea, the restaurant group said its evening menus would be“affordable ,” incorporating an “eclectic mix of British ingredients, comforting Ivy classics, and international dishes”.
Some of the fare being promised includes the Ivy’s take on shepherd’s pie and, for dessert, a choco - late bomb served with hot salted caramel sauce.
The general manager of the new restaurant will be Eric Garnier, a veteran restaurateur who has relocated to Edinburgh.
While management at the original Ivy restaurant in London’s West Street – currently celebrating its centenary – has previously boasted of a six- month waiting list for dinner, its Edinburghcounter part will allow people walking in off the street to have a chance of service.
It said it will hold back a number of tables throughout the day and evening, a policyit saidreflects its “dedication to local r estaurants for local diners”.
The Ivy’ s ultimate owners,Ca price Holdings, have signed a 25- year lease with the investment group, Standard Life, which now owns the entire southside of St Andrew Square after a series of high- profile acquisitions.
David Stewart, fund manager of Standard Life Investments’ pooled property pension fund, said :“It’s a great boost to Edinburgh that The Ivy has committed to St Andrew Square for its first launch in Scotland.”
“It’s a great boost to Edinburgh that The Ivy has committed to St Andrew Square” DAVID STEWART