Vittoria Group aim to reinvent fish 'n' chips with their new restaurant in Edinburgh's Old Town.
Work is starting on a new fish 'n' chip shop in Edinburgh. Although given its grand location, fish 'n' chip 'shop' doesn't quite do it justice. Fish 'n' chip temple might be a better fit.
Edinburgh's Vittoria Group have announced plans to create a new, 270 cover fish 'n' chip restaurant in the heart of the Old Town.
The new restaurant will be sited in the former Khushi's site on Victoria Street. Originally St John's Church, the three floor building has also been used as a bookies and the Byzantium market.
It had a brief life as the very ritzy Khushi's Indian restaurant until a fire badly damaged the building in 2008. It has lain vacant ever since.
Fish 'n' chip shop will 'reinvent the traditional British chippy'
Billed as 'fun, casual dining in the city centre', the 11,000 sq ft restaurant will 'pride itself on the authenticity and quality of ingredients sourced'. Walk-ups rather than advance booking will be the name of the game.
It is claimed that the as yet un-named restaurant will 'reinvent the traditional British chippy dishes'.
As well as fish and chips, customers can look forward to fish burgers and cod dogs alongside classic chippy dishes such as pies, haggis and white pudding suppers. The menu will also boast several light options, all under ten pounds.
And, of course, it wouldn't be a Scottish chippy without a deep-fried Mars bar.
Fish 'n' chip shop: fun, relaxed and affordable
Group Chairman Tony Crolla said:
Tony Crolla on site.
'My family have a long standing passion for great fish 'n' chips and hospitality is at the heart of our business. We have had a vision for many years about opening "the" fish 'n' chip restaurant destination in the heart of Edinburgh city centre for many years. This concept will be fun, relaxed and affordable. Our focus as ever with our restaurants is fresh quality food available for all. I am excited to bring a truly extraordinary dining experience to my home city.'
The design of the three million pound investment will play on the chip shop theme. Seating will be housed in beach-hut style booths and the interior will give a nod to nautical style interiors with classic tongue and groove panelling, painted floorboards, galvanised metals and weathered paintwork. The restaurant's grown-up beach chic will also feature a variety of coastal inspirations: rope, anchors and wall-hung oars.
The venue will feature two bars serving a selection of premium spirits and gins from around Scotland, along with beach-themed cocktails, beers and ciders.
Having grown from their original site on Leith Walk, the Vittoria Group has expanded rapidly in the last few years.
The group's growing restaurant portfolio now includes Vittoria on the Walk, Vittoria on the Bridge, Taste of Italy, La Favorita on Leith Walk and fine dining restaurant Divino Enoteca in Edinburgh’s Old Town.
The new venue is expected to create 50 jobs. Its name and the opening date have yet to be announced.