Leon, after entering administration in December, has shut down 22 of its restaurants and laid off 244 employees. A recent report by administrators at Quantuma Advisory indicates that Leon currently employs 573 staff members. The company had previously announced plans to close approximately 20 unprofitable locations.
While Leon has not disclosed a comprehensive list of the closed branches, notable shutdowns include several restaurants. The Telegraph highlighted that the company incurred losses of £12.5 million in 2023, £8.3 million in 2024, and nearly £10 million based on estimated figures for 2025.
In a strategic shift, co-founder John Vincent revealed intentions to expand into service stations, airports, and train stations, emphasizing the lucrative nature of these transport hubs. Vincent reasoned that the impending changes in business rates calculations and overall cost escalations contributed to Leon’s closures.
Established in 2004 by Vincent, Henry Dimbleby, and Allegra McEvedy, Leon manages 44 company-owned restaurants and operates 22 franchised outlets. Vincent repurchased the business from previous owner Asda in 2025. Asda had acquired Leon through Mohsin Issa and Zuber Issa’s EG Group in 2021, which later integrated into their Asda business in 2023.
Leon has initiated a support program for employees affected by store closures, offering opportunities for redeployment within the company or redundancy payments if relocation is not feasible. Additionally, a partnership with Pret A Manger allows affected employees to seek job opportunities through a dedicated channel.
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