Marco Pierre White to open his first hometown restaurant

SIXTEEN years after Leeds-born chef was forced to put plans for a restaurant in the Queens Hotel on the back-burner, the celebrity chef is to finally open his first restaurant in the city.

Marco’s New York Italian, one of two franchises that operate under his name, will open in the Ibis Styles hotel in Leeds’ Arena Quarter.

Town Centre Securities has announced franchise agreements with the hotelier and restaurant companies and the development is scheduled to open in December 2016 on the site of the former Merrion Hotel.

Nick Taplin, chief executive at Black and White Hospitality, which owns the Marco’s New York Italian brand, said: “We have been eager to make our move into the city for some time but it was crucial that we found the right partner.

“Returning home to Leeds will be a special moment for Marco and we hope our guests will feel it was worth the wait.”

Mr White began his cooking career at the Hotel Metropole and Ilkley’s Box Tree restaurant before moving to London and working with the Roux brothers, among others, before gaining a reputation as the enfant terrible of the London restaurant scene. He gained three Michelin stars aged 33, but retired from cooking in restaurants five years later in 1999 and developed business and media interests using his name as the brand.

Edward Ziff, chief executive of Town Centre Securities, added: “The Merrion Centre is in the heart of the Arena Quarter which is rapidly becoming a popular destination with restaurants, bars and the first direct Arena, we are very excited to welcome a top restaurant and hotel to the offering.”