Ex-Scottish Parliament chef opens restaurant

Tony Budde has left his position as executive chef at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to open his own restaurant in a 200-year-old former hotel in the village of Kincardine-on-Forth in Fife.

The 46-seat restaurant will target the local business community at lunch with bistro-style meals, while evening diners will be served Mediterranean-style food with a bias towards fish.

"We've started off serving Mediterranean food, because that was the type of food served by the previous owners," said Budde, who heads a brigade of three. "But, eventually, we will go in a traditional Scottish direction."

In addition to the restaurant - which retains the name, the Unicorn - there is a 20-seat function room and five bedrooms, although there are no immediate plans to let the accommodation. Budde paid £96,000 for the property In a private sale and has spent £25,000 refurbishing the kitchen.