Latest news with #Ralston
The Herald Scotland
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Why chef Stuart Ralston is closing Aizle in Edinburgh
'I wanted to work with producers who really care about what they grow and make people happy with our food,' Ralston said when announcing the closure online last month. '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.' Citing plans to shift his attention fully onto the three other restaurants in his group (fine dining venture, Lyla, NYC izakaya-inspired Noto, and pasta-focused Tipo) Ralston has said that the option to leave his lease was the initial catalyst for Aizle's closure. Read more: From washing dishes to a Michelin Star -Edinburgh chef celebrates win "There was no rash decision made overnight," he told The Herald. "It is very emotional, and something that I've been thinking over for months and months. 'If we wanted to keep going with Aizle, we could have, but when the option to leave our lease came up, I had to judge it accordingly and ask myself if it was worth staying. 'Within the restaurant group, my attitude has always been that if we're not constantly evolving, then there's no point in doing it. 'Aizle is the only restaurant in our group that is not fully independent, and because the Kimpton Hotel owns the site, there's only so much we can do with it. 'I love it so much as a brand, and it's given me everything I've ever wanted out of life. "Because of that, it's an entity that deserves more than just to be flogging a dead horse for any longer than I feel is needed.' Pictured: Aizle serves a 'blind tasting menu' revolving around produce from Scotland's larder (Image: Supplied) After securing his Michelin Star in February this year, Ralston now spends the bulk of his time at Royal Terrace restaurant Lyla, which has been fully booked since the win. 'The global recognition for the Michelin Guide means that it can bring a lot of attention to a city like [[Edinburgh]], or even Scotland, and to be a part of that makes you feel really good about what you've contributed to the industry as a whole,' he said. 'That's not something I ever really considered when I was younger. All I thought about was cooking in a restaurant. 'I spent a long time away from home working in New York and Barbados, so when I came back to Edinburgh, I was a total nobody starting from scratch. 'That means it's taken slightly longer than I wanted to get to this point, but now I feel like the most important thing you can do is leave a bit of a legacy behind you. 'I try to say it as often as I can, so hopefully the message gets out there, but I'm lucky to have incredible people around that support me as well as the restaurants. 'It's not just me cooking all this food. The group has around a hundred staff, so it's nice to see everybody get to celebrate something like our Michelin Star at Lyla.' These staff members are at the forefront of Ralston's mind ahead of Aizle's closure, with talk of a potential restaurant opening that would create new roles for his talented team members. 'Now I feel my main responsibility is to the staff, and I want to make sure that they've got other opportunities within the group. 'If I can make that happen, then I'll feel alright about it all." With just a few weeks left until the final service at Aizle on Sunday, September 21, this summer will be bittersweet for the Glenrothes-born chef as he prepares to say goodbye to the restaurant which started it all for him in Edinburgh. 'Closing a restaurant is a new experience for me, but what has made it a bit easier was the response we got when we put out the post on social media announcing the news," he said. 'There's such an overwhelming number of comments from people who have made special memories at Aizle. 'I'm proud to know that from a small, very casual restaurant on Leonard Street, which was opened with only around 25 grand, I've managed to build a group that's now become successful. "Aizle was the foundation for everything else to stand on. 'I'd say that, as well as the people who have stuck with me throughout the 11 years or started with us and have gone on to do great things of their own, is the most important thing we've achieved.' Aizle is located at 38 Charlotte Square in Edinburgh. For more information, visit
Scottish Sun
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Celtic v Newcastle LIVE SCORE: Kenny benefits from Pope shocker after Engels opens scoring from spot
A couple of Hoops players are expected to be missing from the squad Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CELTIC go in at half time two goals to the good through Arne Engels and Johnny Kenny as Eddie Howe brings his Newcastle side north for a glamour friendly. A 10,000-strong battalion of the Toon Army has descended on Glasgow to watch Newcastle in the East End. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up Howe at one point seemed certain to be a replacement for Brendan Rodgers but instead the Newcastle manager is merely sitting in the away dugout at Celtic Park as the Scottish champions face his Magpies team in a blockbuster friendly clash. Last season Celtic faced off against Aston Villa at Villa Park and fell to a 4-2 defeat following a thrilling Battle of Britain Champions League showdown. Celtic are hosting Newcastle TODAY, Saturday, July 19. It is being held at Celtic Park in Glasgow. This game is NOT being shown on live TV but it will be streamed live via Celtic TV. Celtic XI: Schmeichel, Ralston, Murray, Trusty, Inamura, McGregor, McCowan, Engels, Yang, Maeda, Kenny. Subs: Sinisalo, Doohan, Clarke, Scales, Nygren, Idah, Osmand, Tilio, Bernardo, Summers, Montgomery, Hatate, McPherson, Ure, Forrest, Donovan, Tierney Schmeichel, Ralston, Murray, Trusty, Inamura, McGregor, McCowan, Engels, Yang, Maeda, Kenny. Sinisalo, Doohan, Clarke, Scales, Nygren, Idah, Osmand, Tilio, Bernardo, Summers, Montgomery, Hatate, McPherson, Ure, Forrest, Donovan, Tierney Newcastle Utd XI: Pope, Trippier, Botman, Schar, Barnes, Targett, Osula, J Murphy, Willock, Bruno Guimaraes, Miley. Subs: Dubravka, Ruddy, Lascelles, Gordon, Krafth, Elanga, Ashby, Burn, A Murphy, White, Harenes, Munda, Neave
Otago Daily Times
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
MacDonald, Ralston tied for SSCC title
Liam MacDonald and Anthony Ralston, both of Invercargill, shared the top award when they were declared the joint winners of the Southland Sports Car Club Champions Trophy at the club's 2024-25 prizegiving at Teretonga Park in Invercargill on Monday night. MacDonald put his name on the trophy for the 12th time having first won it in 2013 and every year since except 2017 while for Ralston it was the first time he has won the trophy that his father Robert won in both 2009 and 2010. The championship is decided on points across all the club's disciplines and MacDonald earned his share of the title by winning the Keith McFadzien Trophy for the Motorkhana Championship for the seventh time from Andrew Kennedy and Craig Allan, the SSCC Speed Trophy for the Sprint Championship for the fifth time in succession with Allan second and Vega Mukri third. He also won the Stresscrete 1601cc and over Speed Trophy in ClubSport and took the Warren Robbie Memorial Trophy for winning the overall ClubSport Championship for the fifth time from Allan and Mukri. Meanwhile Ralston, who competed in both the ClubSport and Race Championships, won the Auto Centre Trophy for the 2501cc and over Race Class from Lynden Prebble and Kyle Dawson and the Erskine Flying Farewell Trophy from Prebble while he finished runner-up in the overall Race Championship behind Prebble who hails from Dipton with Kevin Underwood of Invercargill third. The results of both MacDonald and Ralston saw them level on points to share the overall club championship for the first time in recent memory. Craig Allan of Invercargill was the Club Championship runner-up after finishing second in the Sprint Championship, third in the Motorkhana Championship and runner-up in the ClubSport Championship. Other winners on the night were Blake Cooper who won the Discount Tyres 0-1600 Championship Speed Trophy in ClubSport and also took the club's Junior Driver Award for the second year running. Nieko Scoles won the 1601cc-2500cc Race Championship from Bradley Dawson and Warren Kett while Rachael Beck won the SSCC Club Championship Ladies Champion Trophy, the ninth time she has taken the honour since her first win in 2010. The Macks Panel & Paint Marshall Of The Year was Greg McLeod who has been involved with incident recovery at the circuit for almost 20 years. He has missed very few race meetings at Teretonga Park in all those years and is always happy to assist with any other tasks that are needed. By Lindsay Beer
Otago Daily Times
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
MacDonald, Ralston tied at top for SSCC title
Liam MacDonald and Anthony Ralston, both of Invercargill, shared the top award when they were declared the joint winners of the Southland Sports Car Club Champions Trophy at the club's 2024-25 prizegiving at Teretonga Park in Invercargill on Monday night. MacDonald put his name on the trophy for the 12th time having first won it in 2013 and every year since except 2017 while for Ralston it was the first time he has won the trophy that his father Robert won in both 2009 and 2010. The championship is decided on points across all the club's disciplines and MacDonald earned his share of the title by winning the Keith McFadzien Trophy for the Motorkhana Championship for the seventh time from Andrew Kennedy and Craig Allan, the SSCC Speed Trophy for the Sprint Championship for the fifth time in succession with Allan second and Vega Mukri third. He also won the Stresscrete 1601cc and over Speed Trophy in ClubSport and took the Warren Robbie Memorial Trophy for winning the overall ClubSport Championship for the fifth time from Allan and Mukri. Meanwhile Ralston, who competed in both the ClubSport and Race Championships, won the Auto Centre Trophy for the 2501cc and over Race Class from Lynden Prebble and Kyle Dawson and the Erskine Flying Farewell Trophy from Prebble while he finished runner-up in the overall Race Championship behind Prebble who hails from Dipton with Kevin Underwood of Invercargill third. The results of both MacDonald and Ralston saw them level on points to share the overall club championship for the first time in recent memory. Craig Allan of Invercargill was the Club Championship runner-up after finishing second in the Sprint Championship, third in the Motorkhana Championship and runner-up in the ClubSport Championship. Other winners on the night were Blake Cooper who won the Discount Tyres 0-1600 Championship Speed Trophy in ClubSport and also took the club's Junior Driver Award for the second year running. Nieko Scoles won the 1601cc-2500cc Race Championship from Bradley Dawson and Warren Kett while Rachael Beck won the SSCC Club Championship Ladies Champion Trophy, the ninth time she has taken the honour since her first win in 2010. The Macks Panel & Paint Marshall Of The Year was Greg McLeod who has been involved with incident recovery at the circuit for almost 20 years. He has missed very few race meetings at Teretonga Park in all those years and is always happy to assist with any other tasks that are needed.
Scottish Sun
28-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Michelin-starred Gordon Ramsay protégé to shut his first ever restaurant after 11 ‘incredible' years of trading
The acclaimed chef has teased a new project KITCHEN CLOSED Michelin-starred Gordon Ramsay protégé to shut his first ever restaurant after 11 'incredible' years of trading A MICHELIN-STARRED chef has announced the closure of his debut restaurant. The founder trained under Gordon Ramsay, and at the three-Michelin-starred John-Georges in New York. Advertisement 3 Stuart Ralston opened Aizle in 2014 Credit: Tripadvisor 3 The restaurant later relocated to the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel Credit: Tripadvisor 3 Stuart was awarded a Michelin-star for his restaurant Lyla Credit: Justin Rodrigues The Edinburgh-based Aizle is set to close later this year on September 21. Stuart Ralston first opened the restaurant on St Leonard's Street in 2014. A description in the Michelin Guide read: "The constantly evolving menu takes on a surprise tasting format and is presented to diners as 'The Harvest', a list of produce to be featured in the meal rather than exact dish names." It follows Stuart's emphasis on incorporating local and seasonal goods in his menus - with some dishes available for several weeks and "others just a few" according to Aizle's website. Advertisement Their most recent 'harvest' included items like guinea fowl, black garlic, quince and salted milk which came together in a blind tasting menu. Ralston announced Aizle's closure on social media. He wrote: "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. Advertisement "Over the past 11 years, we have moved homes, met brilliant people along the way and grown into something to be proud of." Ralston added that the closure would give him more time to focus on his other restaurants, in addition to a new project. Popular food reviewer gives his thoughts on Scotland's 'most expensive restaurant' He went on to thank the "incredible, dedicated team, past and present", and said that he hopes to continue working with them. The restaurant relocated to the Garden Room at the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel. Advertisement In 2018 it moved to a four-day week to reduce stress and staff burnout. He has since opened several other restaurants in the city, including Noto and Tipo, both of which hold Michelin Bib Gourmands and which will be unaffected by the closure. Earlier this year, his restaurant Lyla, was awarded a Michelin star. Vouchers which had been purchased for Aizle can still be redeemed at Ralston's other restaurants. Advertisement Commenters on social media expressed sadness at the restaurant's closure, as well as excitement for Stuart's future projects. One wrote: "So sad I never got to eat at Aizle! And excited for all that's to come." Another said: "Such an iconic restaurant in the Edinburgh food scene." While another added: "To this day the best dining experience I've had." Advertisement
