Leon, the popular healthy fast food chain founded in 2004, has closed its Bath restaurant on Stall Street as part of a wider company restructuring. The Bath branch, which opened in 2022, was one of 20 restaurants nationwide identified for closure earlier this month amid financial challenges.
A spokesperson for the Bath site said: “Sadly, we’ve now closed Leon Bath. While we’re sad to close our doors here, we hope this isn’t a ‘goodbye’ but a ‘see you soon’ at another Leon location.”
The Bath restaurant had a short but notable presence, occupying a unit previously home to toy store Hawkin’s Bazaar before it went into administration in 2020. Since the closure, customers have expressed disappointment online, highlighting Leon as a convenient and family-friendly dining option in the city center. The restaurant held a solid reputation, receiving an average 4.1-star rating on Google from 145 reviews.
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Leon’s parent company recently sought assistance from advisory firm Quantuma after applying for an administration order. The company plans to implement a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) aimed at restructuring its operations to ensure long-term stability. A strategic review revealed the necessity to reduce loss-making outlets.
Co-founder John Vincent, who reacquired Leon from Asda earlier this year, acknowledged the challenges faced by the chain, including shifting commuter habits due to the pandemic and heightened tax pressures. Vincent noted that Leon had drifted from its original values under previous ownership by EG Group and Asda.
“We recognize the industry-wide difficulties impacting all peers and are committed to reshaping Leon into a leaner business,” Vincent said.
The restructuring will include support for affected employees, offering redeployment opportunities within other Leon outlets or providing redundancy payments where necessary. In partnership with Pret A Manger, a dedicated recruitment channel has been established to assist displaced staff.
Leon’s grocery product segment will remain unaffected by the restructuring, ensuring continued availability of its branded items in stores.
As of December 23, the former Bath restaurant unit remains vacant, marking the end of Leon’s direct presence in the city’s dining scene for now.