Leith restaurant owner to appear in latest series of Great British Menu

The Little Chartroom is a small, independent, family-run restaurant

An acclaimed Edinburgh chef has been revealed to be taking part in the next series of the Great British Menu.

The fifteenth series of the show will return to our screens on Wednesday 18 March, with hour-long episodes every Wednesday and Thursday, followed by a half-hour regional final every Friday.

Edinburgh-born Roberta Hall-McCarron, who alongside her husband runs award-winning bistro The Little Chartroom in Leith, will compete in the Scottish region of the competition.

The theme for the upcoming series is children’s literature, as 2020 marks 150 years since the death of Charles Dickens, who wrote the first book to feature a child in the starring role with Oliver Twist.

Roberta's style of cooking is traditionally Scottish but influenced by French techniques and her menu for the competition is inspired by Scotland’s rich larder, wild game and some of her favourite homegrown children’s authors.

Every Friday, judges Oliver Peyton, Andi Oliver and Matthew Fort will be joined by children’s authors and novelists to help decide the best dish from each region.

Last year, Roberta took a top prize at the national Food and Travel Awards, taking the title of Breakthrough Chef, GQ named The Little Chartroom as one of the best places in Edinburgh to eat, and the restaurant won the title of Best Newcomer at last year's Edinburgh Restaurant Awards.

Roberta began her culinary career aged 16 doing work experience and has previously worked for Tom Kitchin, and Castle Terrace's Dominic Jack before opening her own venture.