MasterChef: The Professionals runner-up to launch Leeds restaurant

MasterChef: The Professionals 2016 runner up Matt Healy is to open a restaurant in Leeds, taking over the Foundry in the city.

At the time of filming MasterChef, Healy was regional development chef at Rational. He has also worked at El Gato Negro in Manchester and Terriors in London.

He will take on the Foundry site from current owners Phil Richardson and Shaun Davies, who have operated the restaurant since 2005.

“This place is an institution, it’s been full for 12 years. Anyone who knows anything about decent food in Leeds knows the Foundry.

“It’ll remain open until the middle of next month when our interiors team get their hands on it. We see the handover as a changing of the guard â€" there’ll be a new look, new name and new menu.

“We’ll be sympathetic to what Phil, Shaun and the team have done and what customers have come to expect, but we’re looking to take the Foundry to the next level.”

The Foundry will remain open until the middle of April, before undergoing a refurbishment and opening in May.

The master plan: an interview with MasterChef: The Professionals 2016 winner Gary Maclean >>

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