Leon Restaurants Confirms Closure of 23 UK Sites After Entering Administration

Leon Restaurants has confirmed the permanent closure of 23 UK sites after entering administration in December. The company said it expects to exit administration after co-founder John Vincent injected £2.5 million into the business. The injection formed part of a wider turnaround plan following the chain's purchase from Asda in October 2025.

Leon had sold the business to the supermarket group in 2021. The deal included 46 company-owned restaurants and 20 franchised locations. The company had been under financial strain before administrators from BTG Advisory and Quantuma were appointed.

of a proposed Company Voluntary Arrangement are being published with creditors scheduled to vote on May 27. Following the restructure Leon will continue trading with 43 sites. The company confirmed that 23 company-owned restaurants ceased trading during the process while franchised sites were unaffected.

The remaining estate consists of 23 franchised restaurants and 20 company-operated locations. Staff unable to transfer to other locations were offered opportunities to apply for roles at Pret A Manger. The company has not confirmed how many jobs were affected.

The company said management had focused on rebuilding the business since the reacquisition. Several senior figures from an earlier growth phase have returned to support the turnaround including the chief financial officer and operations director. Leon said it plans significant menu changes over the next year including refreshed versions of existing dishes and the return of some customer favourites.

The changes form part of efforts to strengthen its position in the fast-food market. Mr Vincent described the restructuring as difficult but necessary. He added that the company can now exit administration and continue its rejuvenation as a smaller but more sustainable business.

“There is a lot of affection for Leon, and I am committed to working on behalf of our guests, teams and suppliers to make the company what people want it to be,” he said.