Pierre back in city 'older and wiser'

FLAMBOYANT French chef Pierre Levicky says he is back in Edinburgh "an older and wiser" man following the collapse of his Pierre Victoire empire.

The 48-year-old restaurateur is set to return to the Capital's dining scene after ten years tonight with the opening of a new venture, Chez Pierre.

The Canonmills restaurant is registered in the name of business partner Donald Thow, as Mr Levicky was banned from running a UK limited company for 13 years in 2001.

However, the chef has had a major hand in crafting the menu and will be in charge of the kitchen, including cooking many of the signature dishes.

He said: "When the first Pierre Victoire worked, it quickly led to other restaurants being set up and the whole thing grew very fast.

"This time, however, I am a little older and wiser and I'm not looking to do the same thing. I don't want another Pierre Victoire, so this new restaurant will be on a much smaller scale.

"It's been ten years since I've been involved in the restaurant scene in Edinburgh and things have changed. There are so many cafes providing good food nowadays, so you couldn't do the same thing as we did before."

Chez Pierre is located on Eyre Place, next door to Malcolm Duck's restaurant, and Mr Levicky said he hoped the area will become a popular dining destination.

He added: "I'll be taking a very hands-on role in the kitchen while we try to create a friendly, popular new place to eat.

"However, I also have a restaurant in Spain so I will eventually be travelling between the two countries when everything is up and running smoothly."

The concept is "great European food at friendly, affordable prices", said Mr Levicky, rather than the French cuisine he became known for.

Following the collapse of the Pierre Victoire chain in 1998, and the subsequent 2001 court case, Mr Levicky reportedly claimed he would never return to Scotland, where he felt "villainised".

However, he insisted today that he has always loved Edinburgh and was delighted to be back in the city where he first started as a restaurateur.

He said: "I never had a problem with Scotland and I love Edinburgh. It's a beautiful city and I have very fond memories of my time here.

"It was lucky that we came across the Eyre Place site, as it was a perfect location.

"There are a lot of people who I knew and worked with more than ten years ago who are still here, so it doesn't feel like I've been away. Even some of my old customers have been phoning up to see when the restaurant is opening."


THE FACTS

Pierre Levicky arrived in the UK in the 1980s as a young chef, reputedly with less than £100 in his pocket.

He opened his first bistro-style outlet in Edinburgh in 1988.

After rave reviews, Levicky won financial backing for a rapid expansion programme. His Pierre Victoire chain opened 147 branches across the UK.

Mr Levicky became a multi-millionaire, but the firm went into receivership in June 1998 with debts of almost £6 million.

Following the collapse, Levicky was taken to court and in 2001 was disqualified from having any involvement in a UK limited company for 13 years.

He then spent several years running restaurants in Paris before setting up the Chez Pierre brand in Andalusia.