‘The time feels right’: Stuart Ralston to close Aizle after 11 years

Stuart Ralston is to close his original Edinburgh restaurant Aizle after 11 years of trading.

The chef said the decision hadn’t “come easily” but he felt the time was right to close the venue and focus on his other restaurants.

Aizle will close on 21 September and Ralston said he was looking at his “next project”.

The chef’s three other Edinburgh restaurants include Michelin-starred Lyla as well as izakaya-inspired Noto and pasta-focused Tipo, which both hold Michelin Bib Gourmands.

Ralston said in a statement: “When I first opened the doors on St Leonard’s Street in 2014 as a young chef, Aizle was born out of a desire to build something different, challenge me as a young chef and provide a place people would choose to work. I wanted to work with producers who really care about what they grow and make people happy with our food. Over the past 11 years, we have moved homes, met brilliant people along the way and grown into something to be proud of. We achieved what we set out to do.

“The decision hasn’t come easily, but the time feels right to close Aizle, and for me to put even more focus on Lyla, Noto and Tipo, as well as our next project.

“I want to give a huge thank you to the incredible, dedicated team, past and present, the wonderful farmers, fishermen, winemakers and all the people in between. I look forward to continuing to work with you.”

Ralston opened Aizle as his debut restaurant on Edinburgh’s St Leonard’s Street in 2014 before it relocated to its current home, the Garden Room at the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel.

The restaurant serves a blind tasting menu, where guests are presented with a washi paper menu detailing a list of ingredients from the current harvest which are used to create either a five or seven-course menu.

The chef made headlines when he moved Aizle onto a four-day week in 2018 in a bid to reduce stress and staff burnout.