Crolla to expand restaurant empire to south side

CITY restaurateur Tony Crolla is to step up his expansion plans with the opening of a new Italian restaurant on George IV Bridge, a move which will also create 35 new jobs.

The launch of the 225-seater 'Vittoria' in the former Bauermeister books store marks a "multi-million pound" investment for Mr Crolla and adds a third eatery to his portfolio.

Vittoria, which is expected to open at the end of this month and will be run by newly-appointed general manager Antonio Delle Noci, follows just a year after one of Edinburgh's best-known Italian restaurant groups forked out around £1m to buy the former Caprice restaurant on Leith Walk and turn it into La Favorita.

Clinching the 1000 square feet, twin-level restaurant on George IV Bridge sees the group make its first move into the south side of the Capital for Mr Crolla, who took over the running of the Vittoria restaurant on Leith Walk - something of a dining institution in the area - from his parents in 1993.

Mr Crolla said: "This is a major investment for us - coming so soon after the opening of La Favorita.

"But we are confident we have the right ingredients to ensure the new Vittoria will be the third success story in our portfolio of great Italian dining establishments."

The building was bought in an off-market deal which stemmed from a visit to the venue for a meal by Mr Crolla when it was previously trading as Green Door.

"I saw the potential and decided to go with my instinct," he explained.

Mr Crolla is hoping the sister site will prove a hit across a range of markets, including Edinburgh's professional workers, families, work outings and the thousands of visitors that swarm the area each year, as he transfers his "winning formula" from the Leith Walk restaurant, which has proved a huge success since it opened almost 40 years ago.

Newly-recruited marketing manager Linda McKeown has been charged with drumming up deals with local businesses and tour companies ahead of the summer tourist influx.

Among the 35 new posts Vittoria will create will be 15 chef positions to help ensure a smooth transition of the group's trademark "lunch in an hour" offering, and takes the group's overall payroll to just over 100.

Mr Crolla added: "The opening of Vittoria is an exciting move which will bring our winning formula to the other side of Princes Street, offering the hundreds of hungry workers, sightseers and diners on the bridges the same great food and superb level of service that generations of customers have consistently enjoyed at our Leith Walk restaurant."

While keeping any further expansion plans close to his chest, Mr Crolla said: "We are always open to new opportunities and ideas that fit with the brand."