Top Leeds chef Anthony Flinn today announced plans for a stunning new restaurant and food outlet in his home city.
The multi-award winner's latest venture will occupy the entire 13,200 sq ft ground floor piazza level of the historic Leeds Corn Exchange.
The Piazza by Anthony will cater for all tastes from coffee and sandwiches through to a full a la carte dini
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It will include a 125 seat brasserie and a new bar lounge with contemporary glass curtain walling which will also showcase the kitchen and serving areas.
There will also be shops where customers can buy handmade breads, chocolates and cakes.
The chef said today: "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.
"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."
The concept also includes a private lounge for exclusive masterclasses and other private events.
The news follows the recent £1.5m repair programme to restore the building which is now being marketed as a speciality food destination by Threadneedle Investments which manages the property for leaseholder Zurich Assurance.
The transformation was controversial as many small independent traders were forced out to make way for the revamp.
The grade-two listed Leeds Corn Exchange was built in 1861 and redeveloped with new access staircases to become a shopping centre in 1990.
The £1.5m repair programme has included the restoration of its distinctive oval roof structure.
The full article contains 386 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.
