Montrose, a new restaurant and wine bar on Montrose Terrace in the Abbeyhill area of Edinburgh, has been opened this week by the team behind the city’s cutting edge independent restaurant Timberyard.
Owned and operated by the Radford family since 2012 , Timberyard has focused on ingredient-led cooking ‘created with respect to nature’, sourcing its produce from local artisan suppliers, and Scotland’s natural larder. This approach led to the award of Timberyard’s first Michelin Star in 2023.
A year later, the Radford’s launch of Montrose, with the continued support of head chefs James Murray and Moray Lamb, aims to reinforce their reputation at the forefront of both Scottish and British dining.
The space that Montrose now occupies was built in the late 1800s – Montrose House was in fact one of Edinburgh’s first public houses. Set over two floors, Montrose offers a cosy ground-floor wine bar and intimate first-floor dining room, all within walking distance of Edinburgh Princes Street, Palace of Holyrood and the Scottish Parliament.
As with Timberyard, both the restaurant and wine bar menus will focus on fine quality seasonal and locally-sourced produce, including wild game, rare breed cattle, foraged ingredients, and organic fruit and vegetables.
The seven-table dining room offers a simple four-course set menu of these focused, ingredient-driven dishes, while the wine bar provides space for up to 30 guests to enjoy a selection of European-inspired small plates and a three-course lunch menu.
The Radford family are all actively involved in the day-to-day operations, while head chefs James and Moray will be supported by a small team in the kitchen. Front of house, Jo Radford is supported by manager Adam Bennett and drinks & bar manager, Murray McDougal.
Jo said: “With a first Michelin star under our belts at Timberyard and the launch of our new restaurant and wine bar at Montrose, 2024 looks set to be a really exciting year for our entire team.
“Over the last 10 years, Timberyard has always aimed to be at the forefront of both Scottish and British dining. We are committed to evolving this lasting dining legacy at Montrose with the continued support of our talented chefs and wider team.”
Jo continued: “The two floors at Montrose offer a very unique experience. A busy bustling wine bar on the ground floor and an intimate dining room on the first floor. The offering in the wine bar spans the breadth of what is offered in our favourite continental wine bars and trattorias. Classic European dishes sit perfectly alongside a glass or bottle of wine.
“The four-course set menu on the first-floor showcases the very best of the Scottish larder in a dining room filled with character, warmth and atmosphere.”
Also following in the steps of Timberyard, the wine list at Montrose will focus on small producers who respect the land they farm and the grapes they harvest. Growing on the reputation of the Timberyard cellar, Montrose will offer a totally capsule-free and 100% organic wine list. A focus on bottles, magnums, bag-in-box and canned wine, it promises to be the first of its kind, setting the benchmark for sustainability in the industry.
Anna Sebelova is now overseeing the beverage programme at both Timberyard and Montrose, with a determined focus on the unique, also including organic beer and spirits, as well as house-made soft drinks and cocktails.
Head Chef at Montrose, Moray, said: “At Montrose, the ethos is simple. Source great, seasonal produce. Cook it well and season it perfectly.
“Downstairs at Montrose, the menu has been inspired by the great wine bars of the world. An exceptional wine list, supported by unfussy, delicious plates, many of which have European influence.
“Similarly, the first floor dining room with its set four-course menu isn’t restricted by world flavours. The main components of the dishes are locally sourced. Refined cooking, with clean plates of food, but still a bit fun and nothing too challenging for the guests.”
Montrose is available for private group hire. Both spaces can be booked individually or as a whole, for a half or full day, including drinks receptions and set formal dinners. Both spaces at Montrose are open for dinner Wednesday to Sunday, with lunch being offered on Saturday and Sunday.
