Edinburgh eatery Vesta will continue to provide funding and training opportunities for homeless people

Edinburgh's first social enterprise restaurant is rebranding after being taken over by a new operator.

Social Bite relaunched the Home restaurant at the weekend under the new title Vesta, with a feel-good food theme being introduced.

Home was originally opened in September 2016 as a partnership between Social Bite and Dean Gassabi of Maison Bleue.

The new venture will see the Social Bite teaming up with David Hall, one of Scotland’s most experienced hospitality operators, previously of The Innis & Gunn Beer Kitchens and Tigerlily, with funds raised continuing to support the homeless.

The restaurant will remain committed to the ethos of Home with training opportunities, a homeless meal service and a continuation of the scheme where customers are encouraged to pay for meals for the homeless.

Vesta’s, David Hall, said: “Home has become somewhat of an Edinburgh institution, and I hugely admire the work that Dean and his team have done over the years. We’re continuing what Home was set up to do, and I’m honoured to play a part in Social Bite’s mission to end homelessness in Scotland.

“Our mantra at Vesta is going to be feel-good food, serving delicious dishes with big flavours that not only taste good but leave you feeling good too.”

Josh Littlejohn MBE, co-founder of Social Bite, said: “I’m grateful to Dean and his team for all the work that went into the first two years of the Social Bite restaurant project and I’m looking forward to its next steps as Vesta.

“Vesta is a place where you can enjoy a delicious, first-rate meal at the same time as helping some of the most vulnerable people in society, and it really does make a huge difference to the lives of many. The restaurant is an extension of what we do we’re doing in the Social Bite cafes, and it’s great to continue to support people in this way.”