Leon goes back to the future after “painful but necessary” restructure

The UK food-to-go and coffee chain has closed a third of its sites, revamped menus and brought back familiar faces in a bid to return to its 2010s heydays – but will the realities of hospitality in 2026 permit?

Five months after filing for a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), Leon is exiting administration “a smaller but stronger business”, its new (and old) owner has confirmed.

Co-founder John Vincent bought back the London-based food-to-go and coffee chain from UK supermarket giant Asda in November 2025 for a reported £30m-£50m ($41m-$68m) – significantly less than the £100m ($136.2m) he sold it for in April 2021.