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Leon to Close About 20 High‑Street Restaurants as It Restructures, Shifts to Transport Hubs

Founder John Vincent blames a punitive tax load for losses that pushed the chain into a transport‑hub‑focused rescue.

Overview

  • Administrators from Quantuma are overseeing a proposed Company Voluntary Arrangement as Leon negotiates options with landlords.
  • Roughly 20 unprofitable high‑street sites are earmarked for closure as the company pivots to airports, train stations and service stations.
  • Vincent says Leon has been losing about £10 million a year, citing VAT on eat‑in food, rising business rates and recent National Insurance increases, and claims 36p of every £1 goes to the Government.
  • Leon operates about 70–71 locations with roughly 1,000–1,120 employees, with redundancies expected and support offered via redeployment, redundancy pay and a hiring channel with Pret A Manger.
  • The strategy targets higher volumes in transport hubs, with Vincent noting a 2% airport margin can match a 6% high‑street margin, while he also sees weight‑loss injections driving demand for Leon’s healthier menu.