The fast food chain previously revealed it would close around 20 sites that are no longer profitable – here are the confirmed locations so far
Leon has closed 22 restaurants and axed 244 jobs since collapsing into administration in December.
The latest update from from administrators at Quantuma Advisory show Leon now has 573 staff. The fast food chain previously revealed it would close around 20 sites that are no longer profitable.
Leon has not released a full list of the branches that have closed, but some of the restaurants that have now shut include:
- Brighton (North Street)
- Brixton Road, London
- Chancery Lane, High Holborn, London
- Cheapside, London
- George Street, Richmond
- Notting Hill Gate, London
- Manchester Piccadilly
- Milton Keynes (Asda)
- Tongham, Surrey
- Wimbledon Hill Road, London
- Westfield London, Shepherd’s Bush
The Telegraph reports that the company suffered losses of £12.5million in 2023, £8.3million in 2024, and almost £10million on draft figures for 2025.
It comes after the co-founder of Leon announced plans to open more restaurants in service stations, airports and train stations.
In an interview on the BBC Big Boss Interview podcast, John Vincent revealed plans to focus on transport hubs instead. He said a 2% profit margin at an airport “is worth the same as a 6% on the high street”.
Mr Vincent added: “You might be doing two or three times the revenue in that airport than you might in a high street location.”
Mr Vincent blamed Leon closures on upcoming changes to the way business rates are calculated, along with overall cost increases.
Leon was founded in 2004 by Mr Vincent, Henry Dimbleby and Allegra McEvedy. The chain runs 44 company-owned restaurants and has 22 franchised restaurants.
Mr Vincent bought the business back from previous owner Asda in 2025. Leon was sold to Mohsin Issa and Zuber Issa’s business EG Group in 2021 before becoming a part of their Asda business in 2023.
Mr Vincent said: “In the last two years, Asda had bigger fish to fry, and Leon was always a business they didn’t feel fitted their strategy.
“If you look at the performance of Leon’s peers, you will see that everyone is facing challenges – companies are reporting significant losses due to working patterns and increasingly unsustainable taxes.”
Leon said it has created a programme to support anyone made redundant from store closures.
Mr Vincent added: “In the first instance, we will look to find people roles in other Leon restaurants. Where that is not possible, for example if there is no Leon restaurant within commuting distance, people will receive redundancy payments.
“In addition we have established a programme with Pret A Manger where affected Leon employees can apply for jobs via a dedicated channel.”
