Gordon Scott, who opened the restaurant in 1982, recently announced his retirement and has sold the venue for an undisclosed fee to his close friend Jim Tullis, owner of Merchant Leisure.

Gordon’s Trattoria is the sixth venue to be listed under the Merchant Leisure umbrella and will continue “serving up authentic Italian cuisine made with passion and the finest ingredients”.

Merchant Leisure owns bars & restaurants across the city including The Newsroom, The Piper’s Rest, Burgers & Beers Grillhouse and The Railbridge. Its speakeasy venue Jackson the Tailor, located at the top of Leith Street and inspired by the speakeasy culture of the early 20th century, was recently shortlisted for a design award by the British Institute of Interior Design.

Commenting on the takeover, Arthur Mustard, managing director at Merchant Leisure Ltd, said: “We are very excited to announce our ownership of Gordon’s Trattoria. It’s such an honour to take over an Edinburgh establishment with such rich history and loyal customers.

“Our plan is to keep the venue as it is for now, serving authentic Italian food in the heart of Edinburgh. We look forward to welcoming new customers, as well as meeting the locals who make this restaurant so special.”