Ground-breaking Leon wants Manchester site

HEALTHY-first fast food chain Leon is on the lookout for a site in Manchester as part of an expansion plan across major UK cities and the US.

Co-founder Henry Dimbleby revealed the acclaimed company’s plans as the first guest speaker at the British Council for Shopping Centres 2015 event at Manchester Central.

The entrepreneur, who founded Leon in 2004 with John Vincent, also used his appearance to call for a major overhaul of the planning and licensing regulations which affect operators in the food and drink sector.

“As entrepreneurs we are the most ambitious that we have been for generations,” he said. “We’ve got to run a coach and horses through some of the regulation businesses have to work through to get started.

“Without a complete overhaul of the planning and licensing system, I believe we will be crushed.”

The thrust of Dimbleby’s complaint about the way the planning system works is the time element. Fundamentally, he wants it speeded up to facilitate the launch of businesses within eight weeks.

Dimbleby told delegates how when he opened his first restaurant in the capital in 2004 he was overwhelmedwith red tape.

His restaurant went on to be awarded Best New restaurant in Great Britain by Observer Food Monthly.

Now there are more than 20 Leon restaurants serving natural fast food in and around central London with 11 more sites due to open by the end of 2015.

Dimbleby said that he was now looking for a site in Manchester, with outlets in Birmingham, Glasgow.

Along with Milk & Honey founder Jonathan Downey, Dimbleby recently launched London Union, a street food and night market business in vacant derelict spaces with the objective of making them economically viable and supporting young food entrepeneurs.

Dimbleby participated a panel discussion with BCSC president and Hammerson chief executive David Atkins and BCSC chief executive John Coyne.

Coyne described Manchester as city “thriving with hugely innovative retail developments”.

“There isn’t a moment goes by when I visit those sites that I don’t tingle,” he said.

More than 2,500 delegates have registered to attend the conference with, 450 retailers signed up and upwards of 40 speakers scheduled to appear.

It is estimated BCSC will contribute approximately £3m to the Greater Manchester Economy, according to Visit Manchester.