Updated Saturday, 13 December 2025 — Leon, the UK “naturally fast food” chain known for positioning itself as a healthier alternative on the high street and in travel hubs, is moving into a restructuring process that could see multiple restaurant closures and job losses in the weeks ahead. The company has brought in Quantuma to steer the process and is preparing proposals for a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) — a widely used UK rescue mechanism that can allow a business to renegotiate costs (especially leases) and exit loss-making sites faster. cateringtoday.co.uk
The shake-up comes just weeks after Leon co-founder John Vincent bought the business back from Asda in a reported £30m–£50m deal — significantly below the £100m price paid when it was sold in 2021 — and publicly vowed to restore the brand’s original quality and identity. The Guardian
What’s happening right now, as of December 13
Leon has said the restructuring will involve closing underperforming restaurants and cutting jobs , though it has not confirmed how many sites or roles will be affected. Several outlets have already begun shutting down, and trade and local reports say some locations were boarded up quickly after the administration plans were announced — including sites in Manchester Piccadilly and Brighton (North Street) . restaurantonline.co.uk
Across its network, Leon has been described as operating around 71 restaurants , with 44 company-owned sites and 22 franchised locations , and employing roughly 1,100 people — meaning even a “targeted” closure program can have significant workforce implications. Sky News
At the same time, Leon says he intends to keep trading while the plan is worked up. Multiple reports indicate restaurants are expected to remain open “as usual” during the process, while the company speaks with landlords and formalizes its CVA proposal. Restaurantonline
Why Leon is restructuring: falling profitability meets a changed high street
Leon’s leadership has pointed to a mix of internal challenges , post-pandemic working pattern changes , and a rising cost base — including taxes and labor-related costs — as key reasons it needs to resize quickly. Restaurantonline
Recent financial performance has also added pressure. Reporting cited in the UK press says Leon’s 2024 sales fell to about £62.5m and the business recorded an annual loss of roughly £8.4m–£8.38m (figures reported across recent coverage and filings). The Guardian
Vincent has also been outspoken about the broader economics of running “food-to-go” restaurants in the UK right now, arguing that taxes and fixed costs are squeezing the sector. In one widely quoted line, he said that for every pound paid by a customer, around 36p goes to the government in tax , while about 2p ends up in the hands of the company . The Guardian
The John Vincent factor: a founder returns with a “back to basics” blueprint
The most striking element of this story — and one reason it has dominated business news this week — is the unusual leadership reversal: the founder is back in control only four years after selling up.
In a Guardian interview published this week, Vincent described the situation as a crisis requiring a “pilot in full control,” and outlined a reset that’s as cultural as it is financial. The Guardian
His plan, as currently described in reporting, includes:
- Shrinking and refocusing the estate : Vincent spoke about renegotiating leases and reducing the footprint, with a target that could take the total down to about 50 outlets , and a greater emphasis on London-based, owned stores . The Guardian
- Exiting weaker cities and locations : coverage has specifically mentioned Leon shifting out of unprofitable locations and cities such as Brighton and Manchester to concentrate on owned London stores, while franchises continue in places like motorway service stations. The Guardian
- Revamping the menu and brand cues : Vincent has signaled changes like dropping items he takes off-brand, improving quality (even down to ingredients and portioning), and developing a new menu planned for spring . The Guardian
- A “founder’s mentality” culture push : the same reporting describes management training ideas that are designed to speed up service and improve consistency — even including staff training in wing tsun , a martial art Vincent favors, framed as a way to improve workflow under pressure. The Guardian
In the Guardian’s framing, Vincent’s end goal is differentiation rather than ubiquity — a deliberate shift away from trying to be “everywhere,” toward being “better” (and “magical”) in fewer places. The Guardian
What a CVA and administration mean for customers and staff
For readers trying to understand the mechanics: in the UK, going into administration can protect a company from immediate creditor action while it attempts a restructuring. A CVA is a formal agreement with creditors (often dominated by negotiations with landlords in restaurant cases) that can allow the business to:
- reduce or renegotiate rent liabilities,
- exit certain leases,
- and keep the remainder of the business trading.
Leon said he expects to spend the coming weeks discussing plans with landlords and then aims to emerge as a “leaner” business after the CVA process. Cateringtoday
For employees, the immediate risk is clear: closures typically mean job losses. Leon has said it will attempt to redeploy staff where possible, and where not possible, redundancies may follow. Several reports also say Leon has created a dedicated route for affected employees to apply for roles at Pret A Manger , as part of a support program. The Guardian
Which Leon restaurants are closing?
As of December 13, Leon has not published a confirmed full list of closures in its public reporting footprint, and multiple outlets note that the exact scale of closures remains uncertain. Sky News
However, the first named closures appearing repeatedly in coverage include:
- Manchester Piccadilly (reported as boarded up) restaurantonline.co.uk
- Brighton, North Street (postponed shutdown with sign covered) restaurantonline.co.uk
Separately, some reports also claim multiple sites have already closed over the past fortnight (with differing totals cited across outlets), underscoring how fast-moving the situation is — and why an official, up-to-date list will matter for customers, staff, and suppliers. The Guardian
The bigger picture: why Leon’s crisis is being watched across UK hospitality
Leon’s situation has become a case study for the pressures on mid-market, “better-for-you” fast food brands trying to balance:
- city-center footfall that has not fully returned to pre-pandemic patterns,
- customer sensitivity to price during a stretched cost-of-living period,
- and rising operating costs that are particularly punishing for businesses with long leases.
Several reports explicitly link Leon’s restructuring to those structural shifts, not just company-specific mistakes — while also noting Vincent’s view that the brand drifted from its founding values under prior ownership. Restaurantonline
What to watch next
Over the next few weeks, the most newsworthy milestones will likely be:
- Landlord negotiations and the shape of Leon’s CVA proposal (how many sites it seeks to exit, and on what timetable). Cateringtoday
- Confirmed closure lists — and whether closures concentrate in specific regions (London vs. regional city centers) as Vincent’s strategy suggests. The Guardian
- Staff impact clarity , including formal redundancy consultations if needed, and how widely the Pret application channel is used. City AM
- The promised “spring menu” reset , which Vincent is positioning as central to restoring Leon’s identity and value proposition. The Guardian
For now, Leon’s message is that it’s fighting for survival by shrinking to a core that can be profitable — and that the founder who built the brand believes its best days are still recoverable, even if the route there runs through closures first. The Guardian
