Scottish restaurateur – and SLTN Entrepreneur of the Year – Dean Banks has launched a second location of his successful Dulse seafood restaurant, partnering the brand’s debut Edinburgh West End site with a sister spot in Leith.
After the summer success of the ‘Plaice’ pop-up proved Leith’s appetite for high-quality, locally sourced seafood in a more casual setting, the new Dulse venue will give Banks a permanent presence on the shore.
The new venue announcement closely followed the chef’s double win at the SLTN Awards, where he was named Entrepreneur of the year in addition to a win for his St Andrews restaurant Dune for best newcomer.
Dean said: “Winning Entrepreneur of the year in Scotland is an incredible award to receive.
“This award really shows me how far I’ve come from setting up Haar five years ago in St Andrews. This should really be a group award, as if it wasn’t for my close business partners and friends Ruairi Mitchell and Ross Mcgregor I wouldn’t be able to do everything that we do.
“Being a Chef by trade is really the perfect training for being an entrepreneur. Businesses are like kitchens in how they are run and the stress they cause.
“I look at everything like a recipe, and then like the stations of a kitchen – it’s important that all areas work well to have a great end result,” he said.
Banks added: “Being located in Scotland makes this a lot easier due to our amazing produce on offer. I am very much a pragmatic person, and in these current times if you are not fast paced and watching trends you will be left behind unfortunately.”
Since opening in the West End in 2022, Dulse has built a reputation for its emphasis on seasonality and the use of the finest local ingredients. The new Leith location will continue this tradition, showcasing the best of Scotland’s waters while supporting the local economy.
Banks recalled the success of the Plaice pop-up over the summer: “The support we received from the community was overwhelming and made it clear that opening a second Dulse was the right move.
“We’re excited to bring top-tier Scottish seafood back to the port neighbourhood of Leith, and we look forward to welcoming guests back to enjoy our fresh seafood in a relaxed setting.”
