Award-winning chef Craig brings bold new flavours to The Banksia

An award-winning chef has returned to the Leeds food scene with a bold Eastern Mediterranean restaurant inside one of the city's newest hotels.

- by James Connolly

Craig Rogan, renowned for his inventive style of cooking, is now heading up The Banksia - a stylish and contemporary small plates restaurant at the recently opened Hotel Indigo in Lower Briggate.

On a warm Tuesday morning, the clatter of pans and the low murmur of lunchtime service could be heard from the open kitchen as the celebrated chef, 36, moved around with unhurried precision.

His team were busy preparing their jewel-bright dishes dressed with herbs and glistening pomegranate molasses that would soon be whisked to tables. The Banksia may have only opened last month, but it's already settling into its own rhythm.

"There was a certain style that we wanted," Craig told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

"I've always loved Eastern Mediterranean food. My mum was obsessed with Turkey when I was growing up, so we went on holiday there quite a lot.