By Angela Green
Restaurant News is sponsored by Newbridge Software
A new restaurant opening in Glasgow’s city centre next month has announced its head chef ahead of opening its doors. Eric Avenier will launch Hazel from The Scotsman Group, where he worked across restaurants including The Corinthian Club, Scotsman Hotel, and Bothy Brasserie.
The 51-year-old chef has spent more than two decades working in and leading hotel and restaurant kitchen teams in his native France and in Scotland, including six years as head chef at city centre located The Atlantic Bar & Brasserie, and two years as executive head chef at Mar Hall Hotel between 2012 and 2014.
Avenier says Hazel will offer fresh and exciting plates influenced by Mediterranean flair, created using only the very best Scottish ingredients, and adding something ‘exciting’ to the city’s culinary scene.
The new restaurant, part of the new AC by Marriott Glasgow hotel, is named after a tree from the legend of St Mungo that forms the centrepiece of Glasgow’s coat of arms. A focal point of the restaurant will be a Hazel tree in the centre of the venue.
The 100-seater restaurant is open to hotel guests and the public and will operate over breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
An express lunch menu will also be available to cater for shoppers as well as office workers returning to the city centre in their droves as the modern hybrid world of work continues to evolve.
Avenier said: “I’ve successfully run many restaurants in Glasgow, and I love the vibe of the city, but my passion lies with hotels, and I couldn’t be happier to be able to bring my skill set together to work in a fantastic reputable hotel in the heart of Glasgow’s city centre.
“It’s an especially exciting time as Hazel is the first of many reputable partners to join Glasgow’s Love Loan development, which will completely transform the city centre as we know it.
“It’s been a long time since Glasgow City Centre had such an exciting and quality addition to its heart and I am very much looking forward to being part of its success.”
Hazel is the latest high-profile addition to the highly anticipated £100 million Love Loan development, following the recent announcement of Soho House’s plans to enter the Glasgow market and the 245-room AC by Marriott Hotel, and Avenier believes Hazel will only add to the excitement around the development.
Craig Munro, General Manager at AC by Marriott Glasgow, said: “Hazel is an exciting and unique concept combining Glasgow’s affinity for excellent independent restaurants with the wide-reaching romanticised appeal of the classic hotel bar. These usually contrasting concepts come together in Hazel to create an exceptional experience for everyone from urban explorers and solo business travellers to Saturday shoppers, and busy city workers.”
The Love Loan property development project – from Edinburgh-based private investment and real estate firm Chris Stewart Group – will transform an area close to George Square into a thriving leisure and residential space including bars, restaurants, health and well-being facilities, and other ancillary uses.
The development arrives as Glasgow City Councillors recently voted through an ambitious master plan aimed at repositioning the city centre for the next 30 years with a focus on leisure, residential, and living.
Restaurant News is sponsored by Newbridge Software
