Tributes as influential Scottish restaurateur Adrian Pieraccini dies aged 60

Tributes have been paid to a restaurateur who established a number of top eating places in Edinburgh, St Andrews and Inverness.

Adrian Pieraccini established a number of top eating places

Adrian Pieraccini, who has died suddenly at the age of 60, was described as a “great leader” and a man of “vision”.

He was also credited with helping to launch the careers of some of Scotland’s top chefs and inspiring others in the hospitality industry.

Mr Pieraccini, who learned his trade in Italy, opened the brasserie-style Rocca@Holyrood dining experience at the Macdonald Holyrood Hotel with his wife Susan as the centrepiece of a £500,000 investment at the venue in 2013.

He helped his son Stefano relaunch the West Room on Melville Place as the city’s first Venetian tapas bar in 2018 and opened The Broughton pub and eatery, replacing the old Phoenix Bar on Broughton Street, the same year.

Mr Pieraccini was also involved in several ventures in St Andrews, including the iconic St Andrews Seafood Restaurant next to the Old Course and overlooking the North Sea, which he helped Stefano take over in 2017.

But he had recently mainly operated in Inverness – where had had grown up – and was credited with bringing modern fine dining to the Highland capital.

Mr Pieraccini was living in Dunfermline. He was taken ill last week and passed away at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy on Wednesday.

Michelin-starred chef Alan Murchison, who started out as a 16-year-old kitchen porter at the Glenmoriston Hotel in Inverness, said: "Adrian was a great leader and he had vision for the restaurant. I would never have got my first Michelin star restaurant had it not been for Adrian."

Inverness restaurant owner Norman MacDonald, who also started his career at the Glenmoriston, said Mr Pieraccini was "flamboyant" in every part of his life.

"There was no compromise," he said. "He had the biggest car. He wore the most expensive clothes. He went on the best of holidays.

"Sadly, Adrian was not here for a long time. He was here for a good time."

A funeral mass for Mr Pieraccini will be held on January 18 in Inverness.

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