Leeds’ new luxury boutique hotel appoints Executive Chef

The Ellington, Leeds’ new luxury boutique hotel that is set to open in September, has appointed Robert Bates as executive chef. Bates, who at just 28 years of age is one of the youngest Executive Chefs in the country, joins The Ellington from Monte Carlo’s world renowned Hotel Metropole, located close to the infamous Casino Square, where he worked under the celebrated chef Joel Robuchon, who has two Michelin stars to his name.

Bates was hand-picked for his role at The Ellington by the legendary Albert Roux, who is the hotel’s consultant chef and is responsible for overseeing menu creation throughout the property. In addition, all the hotel’s senior chefs will be trained at Roux’s Le Gavroche in London.

It is a return home to the north of England for Robert, who was born and trained in Hartlepool before starting work in 1998 at Hexham’s Slaley Hall, where the kitchens were also under the umbrella of Albert Roux. Mr Roux has followed Robert’s career with keen interest ever since and it was he who recognised the fact that Robert was ready to take control of his own kitchen.

The 56-seater Restaurant at The Ellington is an integral part of the property and will offer guests an exclusive dining experience that is set to change Leeds’ dining landscape, bringing a new level of cuisine to the city. Robert is planning to use only the finest seasonal produce, sourced from local suppliers wherever possible, and cannot wait for the hotel to open, when – it being autumn – he will be serving up local game dishes, such as loin of venison with cracked black pepper, apple and pink grapefruit compote, with port jus.

As Robert says: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me to make a name for myself in a part of England that I consider home. I am very grateful to Mr Roux, for whom I have the utmost respect, for offering me my first Executive Chef role and I am relishing the challenge of working closely with him at The Restaurant at The Ellington.”

David Pantin, chief executive of Pantin Hotels, adds: “We welcome Robert to our outstanding senior team and are delighted to have a chef of his calibre who will bring exceptional cuisine to The Ellington and to the city of Leeds.”

For more information, log on to Pantinhotels.com.