06-09-2008, 09:17 AM
The newly refurbished Leeds Corn Exchange has announced today that Yorkshire’s most celebrated chef of our current generation and nationally acclaimed food ‘creator’, Anthony Flinn, is to open a significant and exciting new restaurant and food retail offer within the iconic building.
Following the recent announcement that Leeds’ most historic landmark building was to be re-launched as a food destination, Anthony saw a unique opportunity and moved quickly to secure the entire ground floor piazza area for his £1 million venture.
‘The Piazza by Anthony’ aims to deliver a new concept that will serve a much more diverse customer profile. The menu will cater for all tastes from coffee and sandwiches through to a full al a carte menu. It will include a 125 seat brasserie situated in the central open expanse together with a more casual café - ideal for quick lunches. A new bar lounge will feature with contemporary glass curtain walling that will also showcase the kitchen and serving areas.
Occupying a huge 13,200 sq ft area The Piazza by Anthony will also feature a series of retail shops where customers can purchase hand made breads, chocolates and cakes as well as self made measures of aromas - something that Anthony expects will also appeal to other local chefs. Each of these retail units will also serve the Brasserie – a unique concept where Anthony’s businesses can support each other and produce the freshest daily produce for on site consumption or take away.
In addition, Anthony has confirmed that he plans to open a private lounge that can be used for exclusive masterclasses and other private events. Further space remains secured for exciting additions in the future.
Anthony Flinn has been hailed a genius by some of the UK’s most respected critics and applauded by the national media for his creativity and unusual style of molecular gastronomy that creates outstanding dishes. Anthony graduated from Huddersfield Technical College and was the first, and until now, the only Englishman on the payroll at the world famous three Michelin Star El Bulli restaurant in Spain, voted the worlds best restaurant for four out of the last five years. At just 28 he has already made a much bigger impact on the British restaurant industry than his peers Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsay did in their early careers, and with his recent appearance on this year’s BBC Great British Menu he has only just begun. Despite this rising stardom Anthony remains grounded to his role as a working chef.
Anthony comments, “Over the last four years we have built up a successful and highly respected operation in Leeds under the Anthony’s brand. Anthony’s Restaurant on Boar Lane, Anthony’s at Flannels and Anthony’s Patisserie in the Victoria Quarter have all been borne out of our commitment to bring a passion for modern British food to Leeds and push as many culinary boundaries as possible, creating new and exciting textures and flavours with the highest quality in local produce. My own obsession with maintaining a ‘hands on’ presence is what differentiates us and we are committed only to deliver excellence in all that we do.
“To have the opportunity to expand our proposition to a much wider audience at Leeds Corn Exchange is an exceptional opportunity indeed and our biggest challenge by far. The Piazza at Anthony will offer a much more casual dining experience, but without compromise in quality. Leeds Corn Exchange is a fantastic building, firmly in the hearts of the people of Yorkshire who want to see it utilised in a way it deserves. We believe that the new food concept at Leeds Corn Exchange will serve great demand in Leeds and compete with fine food destinations in other leading cities across the country.â€
Richard Saul, Asset Manager at Threadneedle Investments that manages the property for leaseholder Zurich Assurance adds, “We are delighted to have secured The Piazza by Anthony as the anchor tenant at Leeds Corn Exchange. We have always set out to revitalise Leeds most treasured building with a unique new retail offer that can be sustained in the long term. This agreement with Anthony’s not only supports that but also delivers against our commitment to secure successful local and national operators with individuality and flair.â€
Following the recent announcement that Leeds’ most historic landmark building was to be re-launched as a food destination, Anthony saw a unique opportunity and moved quickly to secure the entire ground floor piazza area for his £1 million venture.
‘The Piazza by Anthony’ aims to deliver a new concept that will serve a much more diverse customer profile. The menu will cater for all tastes from coffee and sandwiches through to a full al a carte menu. It will include a 125 seat brasserie situated in the central open expanse together with a more casual café - ideal for quick lunches. A new bar lounge will feature with contemporary glass curtain walling that will also showcase the kitchen and serving areas.
Occupying a huge 13,200 sq ft area The Piazza by Anthony will also feature a series of retail shops where customers can purchase hand made breads, chocolates and cakes as well as self made measures of aromas - something that Anthony expects will also appeal to other local chefs. Each of these retail units will also serve the Brasserie – a unique concept where Anthony’s businesses can support each other and produce the freshest daily produce for on site consumption or take away.
In addition, Anthony has confirmed that he plans to open a private lounge that can be used for exclusive masterclasses and other private events. Further space remains secured for exciting additions in the future.
Anthony Flinn has been hailed a genius by some of the UK’s most respected critics and applauded by the national media for his creativity and unusual style of molecular gastronomy that creates outstanding dishes. Anthony graduated from Huddersfield Technical College and was the first, and until now, the only Englishman on the payroll at the world famous three Michelin Star El Bulli restaurant in Spain, voted the worlds best restaurant for four out of the last five years. At just 28 he has already made a much bigger impact on the British restaurant industry than his peers Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsay did in their early careers, and with his recent appearance on this year’s BBC Great British Menu he has only just begun. Despite this rising stardom Anthony remains grounded to his role as a working chef.
Anthony comments, “Over the last four years we have built up a successful and highly respected operation in Leeds under the Anthony’s brand. Anthony’s Restaurant on Boar Lane, Anthony’s at Flannels and Anthony’s Patisserie in the Victoria Quarter have all been borne out of our commitment to bring a passion for modern British food to Leeds and push as many culinary boundaries as possible, creating new and exciting textures and flavours with the highest quality in local produce. My own obsession with maintaining a ‘hands on’ presence is what differentiates us and we are committed only to deliver excellence in all that we do.
“To have the opportunity to expand our proposition to a much wider audience at Leeds Corn Exchange is an exceptional opportunity indeed and our biggest challenge by far. The Piazza at Anthony will offer a much more casual dining experience, but without compromise in quality. Leeds Corn Exchange is a fantastic building, firmly in the hearts of the people of Yorkshire who want to see it utilised in a way it deserves. We believe that the new food concept at Leeds Corn Exchange will serve great demand in Leeds and compete with fine food destinations in other leading cities across the country.â€
Richard Saul, Asset Manager at Threadneedle Investments that manages the property for leaseholder Zurich Assurance adds, “We are delighted to have secured The Piazza by Anthony as the anchor tenant at Leeds Corn Exchange. We have always set out to revitalise Leeds most treasured building with a unique new retail offer that can be sustained in the long term. This agreement with Anthony’s not only supports that but also delivers against our commitment to secure successful local and national operators with individuality and flair.â€