2018 Masterchef The Professionals finalist Dean Banks has revealed St Andrews as the location for his first restaurant.
The globetrotting Angus personal chef, who wowed judges and a television audience of millions with his innovative style on the hit BBC series, has announced an April 5 launch for the opening of Haar in the Fife town’s five-star Kinnettles Hotel.
The fine dining restaurant will span the entire ground floor of the hotel, which also houses a spa and nine en-suite bedrooms.
Dean, 29, has enjoyed a whirlwind since making it to the final three of the competition, with a series of pop-up events across the country.
He has been joined at the pass by competition rivals Oli Martin, Matthew Ryle and eventual winner Laurence Henry, with the group dubbed the ‘fantastic four’ becoming firm friends through their participation in the hit show.
The new dad, whose first son, Felix arrived on the evening one of the show episodes aired, had spoken of his dream of opening a restaurant to showcase the skills gathered in a career as a private chef in locations including Edinburgh, Switzerland and Tanzania.
“I’m very excited about opening my first restaurant and thrilled that it’s in such an amazing setting like The Kinnettles.
“The produce that I have been sourcing is some of the best I’ve ever tried and I feel very lucky to be located in the Kingdom of Fife.
He has promised diners they will see the creative flair which carried him so far in the competition applied to new and inventive takes on classic dishes.
“I can’t wait to serve fine dining food without the stuffiness of dress codes and tablecloths – it’s going to be a real sensory experience.”
Kinnettles Hotel director Fraser Ogston said, “We’re delighted that Dean has chosen Kinnettles as the location for his first venture.
“His talent and creativity with food are exactly what we were looking for with a partner, and he will be a great asset to the hotel, as well as to the town of St Andrews.”
Dean also found time to help provide a Christmas meal for around 100 Dundee homeless in the city’s Steeple Church just hours before the final of the popular series aired across the nation’s small screens.
He also made a return to his former secondary school in Arbroath to pass on careers advice to pupils and teach them how to cook a nutritious meal.
