Fifteen Restaurant a step closer to Leeds

The chances of a branch of Fifteen - the restaurant group founded by Jamie Oliver which inspires and trains young people to become chefs - opening in Leeds moved a step closer this week when the board of trustees of the Fifteen Foundation charity agreed to back a business plan to open in the city.

The proposed site of the restaurant would be the Dark Arches at Holbeck Urban Village in the centre of Leeds.  The new Fifteen would open in about 18 months time. 

However there is still a long way to go before Fifteen Leeds is a reality and despite fantastic support from local partners – the council and RDA as well as many private sector businesses – significant funds still need to be raised to take the project forward.

Mike Trace, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Fifteen Foundation said:  “We have a great site, great support locally and we think Leeds is perfect for the fifth Fifteen restaurant.  There are a lot of young people in Yorkshire who need a second chance and we hope to be able to give them that opportunity as well as bring some superb food to a city that already has a dynamic restaurant scene.”

Jamie Oliver added: “It’s always exciting when a new Fifteen is being discussed.  I just hope we continue to get the support from local partners to be able to create a brilliant restaurant in Yorkshire which will attract customers from all over the world and help local young people at the same time.”

Since Jamie Oliver founded the first Fifteen in London in 2002, the social enterprise has expanded globally with restaurants in Amsterdam, Melbourne and Cornwall.  Profits from the restaurants are fed back into the charity foundations which support the training of a new cohort of young people every year.  Over 120 young people across the world have already graduated from the Fifteen course and most are pursuing successful careers in the catering industry.

Fifteen Leeds would be a wholly owned trading subsidiary of the London foundation but would have its own board.  For more info on Fifteen and the Foundation, please visit www.fifteen.net

Media Info: Peter Berry, 020 7566 1770 or peter.berry@fifteen.net

25th June 2008