Face-contorting video: Leeds pupils sample the snails at Raymond Blanc’s restaurant

The landmark for the restaurant, based in Sovereign Street, Leeds, saw owner Raymond Blanc OBE join Leeds University students, who are studying French, to give pupils from Manston St James Primary Academy, in Crossgates, a taste of all things France.

He said: “I am so pleased to be back up in Leeds to celebrate Brasserie Blanc’s birthday with the wonderful people of Yorkshire who have supported me over the past five years.”

He taught them about native food before letting them taste some French delicacies.

Since Brasserie Blanc opened in 2007 more than 70,000 baguettes have been baked, around 12,000 portions of mussels have been munched and more than 32,000 snails have been swallowed.