UK Fast food chain Leon ‘to shut restaurants and cut jobs’ after going in administration

32 comments

1. I went once to pick up a halloumi wrap meal for the wife, damn set me back £13. Expensive slightly healthier fast food.

2. They started out great, food was tasty. They expanded rapidly, got sold to some equity firm I think, and then profit took over everything else.

3. Presumably some locations are now extremely unattractive since they’re no longer trying to sell to Asda and petrol station customers.

4. I remember them being pretty good when I last went years ago but went back recently and it was disappointing. They pride themselves on potato waffles now that are a bit shite (always make sure your self declared “signature” isn’t written in turd) and I swear the wraps used to be far better.

5. I usually get breakfast/lunch paid for and have to frequent services.

   Healthy food, especially at breakfast is always an option I try and get. However, their prices got ridiculous to even justify (when it wasn’t my money).

   A small breakfast bowl and coffee was something like £13, whereas McDonald’s on the kiosk across was £6 for more food and a coffee.

   The food wasn’t awful, and in the early days Leon was really nice. But later on it just seemed uncompetitive in every way

6. If you are the same price as some independent, cool and unique place for a wrap. I will just got the independent. Like why not?

   I live in London, why would I ever go for Leon as opposed to anything else if its all 13 quid?

7. I get a lot of offers to use at Leon but I’ve never actually seen a store in the wild

8. Never even heard of them, that’s probably got something to do with it lol

9. Granted I’m from the countryside, but I’ve never even heard of this place

10. I actually enjoy their wraps. Shame. Had always hoped one would open up near me but looks unlikely now.

11. I just grabbed a Leon while passing through Kings Cross station for my commute home and it was absolutely heaving. Always is.

12. One of the few safe gluten-free fast food spots, hope they will continue to sell their nuggets and waffle fries in supermarkets.

13. I don’t think they’re a thing here. I feel sorry for everyone who is losing their jobs right before Christmas.

14. The only takeaway place that does loads of proper gluten free. It’s expensive but I always paid it because it made me feel like a normal person who’s entitled to eat chicken nuggets like everyone else

15. Ahh this is a shame, I wondered why their branch near me was closed today. I really liked their rice boxes for a healthy fast food type choice.

16. When it first opened in London on the strand I’d go all the time, but over the years the locations increased and the food got worse. I went maybe 6 months ago and the food was grim, overpriced and sloppy service.

17. Used to love Leon but the last few rice boxes I’ve had have been 3/4 rice with virtually no topping. The only things that I’ve had that have been okay are the salads and hash browns. Can’t say I’m surprised this has happened.

18. Recently me and my partner quickly stopped on to get one large waffle fries each, a medium hot choc and a can of coke

    Cost us £9, it all showed up ok the receipt but for some reason £5 or so was taken off???

    Not complaining lol

19. I went out of my way to try their food at motorway service stations on my way down to and back from France last summer (I live in Scotland where we don’t have this chain). On the way down, I had some kind of spicy chicken wrap which I wasn’t that impressed by. On the way back up, a veggie burger that I can’t remember. It’s a bit of a shame to lose one more option at motorway services in the south of England (if I were ever to be driving back that way), but my overall impression is that they’re somewhat overrated.

20. The waffle chips and the breakfast pots are elite. I hope the London Bridge one can stay open somehow

21. I saw this coming from a mile off. Their prices were way too high and they didn’t do meal deals. It’s such a shame as I have gluten intolerance and this place has healthy gluten free options at services unlike most others. I like the chain but it seems they got greedy with pricing

22. I think i speak for huge swathes of the UK when I ask who?

23. Noo! One of the few reliable healthy places to get fast food

24. With their subscription is was actually a very decent place if you’re in central London

25. It’s nine quid for an egg, some beans and a filter coffee. Fuck em.

26. Devastating. Literally the only fast food place I can eat at as a coeliac. If I’m going out for a day and have no access to a microwave, Leon is my cheapest (if not only) option.

    Really hope they can pull back. Otherwise my outings will get a lot more expensive and miserable…

27. 5 years ago: rotating seasonal menu, loads of veggie, vegan, gluten free options. Decent value with a nice range of hot drinks. Service was generally friendly and personal, there were even a few branches that did table service in the evening.

    Now: Almost all of the menu is chicken, it barely changes, is overpriced and the restaurants are filthy shells of whatever they were decorated with years ago.

    I really hope what the CEO says about bringing it back to its original values is true. It was a really good option at one point.

28. Maybe it was just me, but as someone who really ought to be their target market – try to eat a bit healthier, veggie, middle class etc…. I just really struggled to find things on the menu that appealed. 

29. I work in Central London and I’ve never wanted to eat there.

    They fall in a weird bracket for me. Not a Tesco Meal Deal or the price of a conventional fast food like Subway, MacDonalds or their competitors. But too close to eating at nicer places like the more bespoke takeaways or restaurants.

30. Their food is mid. They seemed to spring up overnight all over the place. Got many sites but they always look empty. Not a fan.

31. When they first appeared, I was so disappointed it wasn’t “Leon’s Vegetarian Cuisine” of Glastonbury Festival fame.

32. Glad to see it. Bland overpriced food. They had a pink coffee which was great for a while

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