Pierre Victoire returns to the menu

ONE of the UK's most famous restaurant chains, Pierre Victoire, which collapsed 12 years ago, has relaunched in the Capital.

Pierre Levicky is trading again under the distinctive green sign, once a familiar sight in many British high streets before the business foundered with debts of 6 million.

The rapid expansion of the chain to 147, mainly franchised, restaurants ended in disaster in June 1998 when the firm went into receivership.

Mr Levicky left Edinburgh, his adopted home where he founded the business by opening his first Pierre Victoire in Victoria Street in the 1980s, and headed to Paris.

After a spell working in restaurants in the continent, Levicky returned to Edinburgh about two years ago.

He then opened the restaurants Chez Jules and Chez Pierre.

It is Chez Pierre in Eyre Place that he has converted into his first new Pierre Victoire for more than a decade.

He said: "As Pierre Victoire has replaced Chez Pierre in Eyre Place, it's a rebranding."

"Nobody knows about the change and I prefer it that way. Now I can just concentrate on my customers."