Leon, after going into administration in December, has shut down 22 restaurants and let go of 244 employees. The latest information from administrators at Quantuma Advisory indicates that Leon currently employs 573 individuals. The company had previously announced the closure of approximately 20 unprofitable sites.
While the full list of closed branches has not been disclosed by Leon, reports show that several restaurants have ceased operations. The Telegraph stated that 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.
Co-founder John Vincent revealed plans to expand Leon’s presence in service stations, airports, and train stations during an interview on the BBC Big Boss Interview podcast. He emphasized the profitability of transport hubs, stating that a 2% profit margin at an airport is equivalent to a 6% margin on the high street.
Attributing Leon’s closures to upcoming changes in business rates calculations and overall cost escalations, Mr. Vincent highlighted the business challenges faced by many companies. Established in 2004 by Mr. Vincent, Henry Dimbleby, and Allegra McEvedy, Leon operates 44 company-owned restaurants and 22 franchised locations.
Mr. Vincent repurchased the business from Asda in 2025 after it was sold to EG Group in 2021 and integrated into Asda’s business in 2023. He noted that Leon did not align with Asda’s strategic vision, emphasizing the industry-wide challenges posed by evolving working patterns and increasing taxes.
Leon has initiated a support program for employees affected by store closures, aiming to relocate them to other Leon restaurants or provide redundancy payments if alternative placements are not feasible. Additionally, Leon has collaborated with Pret A Manger to offer affected employees job opportunities through a dedicated channel.