Maule set to open own restaurant in Glasgow

Brian Maule, head chef of Michel Roux's London restaurant Le Gavroche for the past six years, is leaving at the end of the month to open his own restaurant in Glasgow.

He will be replaced at Le Gavroche by Nicolas Laridan, chef tournant at the restaurant for the past two years.

Maule, originally from Ayrshire, will open his 70-seat Chardon D'Or (meaning Golden Thistle) in mid-May.

He paid more than £125,000 for the former City Brasserie, in West Regent Street, through agent Christie & Co.

He is being backed financially by the Roux family. Other investors include Francis Mackay, chairman of Compass.

Maule said the restaurant would be "simple but comfortable", with prices around £10 to £15 per person for lunch and £35 to £40 for dinner, including wine.

He added: "The investment will be in the food. I will be offering quality, rustic food. It will be served in a classic style.

"Don't expect strawberries or raspberries with your fish. I want my restaurant to be a place where people get actively involved in the business of eating and not some shrine to style and chic."

Albert Roux said: "We are not saying goodbye to Brian. We are helping a young man who is part of the Roux family, and who has given us a lot, to set up a daughter restaurant."

Maule is returning to Scotland partly because he and his wife Susan prefer to bring their two children up there.