Described as the first venue of its kind in the city, Pintura Kitchen and Bar will specialise in Spanish tapas and ‘pincho’, a small snack-style way of serving food that is traditional to northern Spain.
Launched by Leelex Group, the 3,000 sq ft site will open in Trinity, the largest shopping centre in Leeds, on 28 February.
The concept will be split across three floors. One floor will be home to a dedicated ‘gin bar’ that will serve more than 30 varieties of gin, including Leelex’s own Portobello Road brand, along with a menu of Basque-inspired cocktails.
A selection of Spanish wines, including Basque favourite Txakoli, will also be available.
Spanish feel
The group said the 130-cover restaurant will have a décor that evokes the feeling of San Sebastiàn, with an outdoor seating area for al fresco dining.
Dishes on offer will include the likes of fresh salted-cod, ibérico ham, octopus and pig’s cheek, with pincho dishes starting at £3. With larger groups in mind, Pintura will be serving up a whole pig every Sunday.
The restaurant will also be launching a Brunch Club, which will offer pastries and breads baked on site with a free cup of coffee.
Operating with up to 60 staff, general manager for the site will be Lucy Cheetham, while Greg Lewis will head up the kitchen.
Food passion
Leelex managing director Ged Feltham said: “Having enjoyed many a memorable summer holidaying in the stunning surroundings of the Basque region, I fell in love with the Spanish and French lifestyle and the passion they have about the food that they eat.
“Pintura really has been inspired by those experiences. Our talented head chef Greg, the team and I have worked incredibly hard to deliver a dining experience that is authentic and distinctive.”
Leelex Group also operates restaurants Cielo Blanco, Oporto and Jake’s Bar in the city. Additionally, it owns London pub the Portobello Star, which is known for its ‘Ginstitute’ gin-making classes.
While Feltham said there are no plans to roll the Pintura concept out, Leelex will be opening a second Cielo Blanco site in Manchester this autumn.
The company’s Portobello Road gin, meanwhile, will launch in New York next month.