Chef Chris Niven is to launch a revamped restaurant in Edinburgh city centre.

Mr Niven, who is a Masterchef: The Professionals knockout week finalist, will be executive head chef of the Scotsman Grand Café and Bar in the former advertising hall of the North Bridge building.

The Herald:

Details of the launch have yet to be revealed as Mr Niven is building a fifteen-strong kitchen team.

The Dundee-born chef trained in professional cookery at Dundee College, and has worked in St Andrews at the Golf Hotel, the Old Course Hotel and the Adamson.

Read more: TV chef blames economic downturn for cook school closure​

He gained further experience of menu development as senior sous chef for the opening of Malmaison Dundee, before moving back to St Andrews to the two rosette restaurant at Rufflets Hotel.

He was also executive sous chef at Dalmahoy and head chef of the Printing Press Bar and Kitchen in George Street, Edinburgh.

He also progressed to the final stages of the 2017 Masterchef: The Professionals TV competition.

Read more: TV chef blames economic downturn for cook school closure​

Mr Niven, 34, said: "The opportunity to take the reins at the Scotsman Grand Café and Bar in this pre-opening phase and to have complete autonomy to develop the venue and its menus is one that I didn’t want to miss.

"There is no blueprint, so every dish is being designed from scratch and will be custom-made, with seasonality, flavour and sourcing at the heart of everything we do.

"It will be an easy and elegant menu with something for everyone, and we are working hard to offer customers something fresh, distinctive and one-of-a-kind in the Edinburgh scene when we open our doors in a few months’ time."