Leon, which entered administration in December, has closed down 22 restaurants and let go of 244 employees. According to the latest report by administrators at Quantuma Advisory, Leon currently employs 573 individuals. The chain had previously announced the closure of approximately 20 unprofitable sites.
Although the specific list of closed branches has not been disclosed by Leon, some of the shut-down restaurants include those reported by The Telegraph. The company faced losses of £12.5 million in 2023, £8.3 million in 2024, and nearly £10 million based on preliminary figures for 2025.
Following the announcement of more closures, Leon co-founder John Vincent unveiled plans to expand into service stations, airports, and train stations. In an interview on the BBC Big Boss Interview podcast, Vincent emphasized the profitability of operating in transport hubs compared to high street locations, citing a higher revenue potential despite lower profit margins.
Vincent attributed the closures of Leon outlets to impending changes in business rates calculation methods and overall cost escalations. Established in 2004 by Vincent, Henry Dimbleby, and Allegra McEvedy, Leon presently manages 44 company-owned restaurants and 22 franchised establishments.
Vincent repurchased the business from its previous owner, Asda, in 2025. Leon was initially acquired by Mohsin Issa and Zuber Issa’s EG Group in 2021 before merging with Asda in 2023. Vincent expressed that Leon did not align with Asda’s strategic vision and highlighted industry-wide challenges stemming from shifting work patterns and tax burdens.
Leon has implemented a support program for employees affected by store closures, aiming to relocate them to other Leon outlets or provide redundancy packages if alternative placements are not viable. Additionally, a partnership with Pret A Manger offers affected Leon staff opportunities to apply for positions through a dedicated channel.
