The head of a major UK fast food chain that recently entered administration has accused Labour of “totally killing the restaurant industry”. John Vincent, co-founder of Leon, said “everyone knows restaurants are done” as he slammed the Government and warned of major problems facing the sector.
It comes as businesses grapple with issues including rising wages, National Insurance contributions and business rates. Trade body UKHospitality earlier this year warned analysis showed more than 960 restaurants in the UK are set to close in 2026. Mr Vincent returned to Leon as chief executive last autumn and since then, the chain has closed 22 of its restaurants as part of a restructuring.
Mr Vincent, who has criticised Labour tax raids on the restaurant industry, told Times Radio: “Why should we allow ourselves to destroy an entire sector and then say, it’s OK, you can try and go into a different business?
“This is not the market that’s doing this. This is the government. It’s not the consumer that doesn’t want to eat in restaurants. It is the government who is totally killing the restaurant industry.”
Leon appointed administrators back in December and Mr Vincent warned the “high street is dead”, adding this is a view widely held by UK restaurateurs.
In a concerning warning about the sector, he told Jo Coburn on The Times at One: “I spoke to the guy that owns one of the biggest — I can’t say because it’s confidential — but one of the biggest peers, competitors of Leon. He said restaurants are done. Everyone knows restaurants are done.”
He said he has people in the industry “calling me in tears every day” saying their business is going under.
Leon opened its first restaurant in London in 2004.
On its website, it states: “Why can’t fast food be good food? Our mission is to prove that it can be by serving naturally fast food that not only tastes good but does you good too.”
A government spokesperson said: “We have the right economic plan — we’re reforming business rates to back hospitality, with a £4.3 billion support package to limit bills rises, alongside capping corporation tax at 25 per cent, cutting red tape and taking action on the cost of living to boost the sector.
“Increasing the national minimum wage boosts pay for over 200,000 young workers, and employer NICs [national insurance contributions] are lower when hiring under‑21s.”
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