The fast food chain has unveiled plans to open its first drive through site in West Yorkshire.
The drive-through will be the first of the kind for the brand, which operates a chain of fast-food restaurants across the north west.
It will be opening in Morley, on the A650 Wakefield Road, situated close to the M62 and M621 junctions.
With room to seat 50 inside, the new Leon restaurant is due to open this autumn 2021.
LEON Baked Fries topped with smashed avo, black beans, chilli sauce, vegannaise and crispy onions./ Image: Leon
The focus at the new restaurant will be on family eating, and it's expected that Leon will reveal some new menu additions following the opening later this year - including an expanded children's menu.
Of course, guests can also rely on all the solid Leon favourites: like carbon neutral burgers, gluten-free chicken nuggets, grilled wraps, breakfast and lunchtime meal deals.
“This is a significant milestone for Leon," said Nick Ayerst, managing director at Leon.
"We've been discussing the first Leon Drive-Thru with EG Group for five years now and we're excited to open in West Yorkshire later this year.
The team at Leon are expanding across the UK - including a new West Yorkshire site / Image: Leon
"We have three other Leons in the surrounding area and we’ve received such a warm welcome from locals, who tell us they love our naturally fast food.
"We receive lots of emails and tweets every week asking us to open even more restaurants in the North and we hope this opening signifies that there are many more tocome.”
The restaurant will be 'digital first' with digital ordering and payment kiosks. it will also be built to sustainable specifications, using solar panels on the roof and a wind turbine to power itself with 100 renewable energy.
This announcement marks the first new opening for the brand since its sale to EG Group in April, but is the first of many planned drive-through openings across the country.
Leon said the new restaurant will continue its mission to bring "naturally fast food" to as many people as possible.
Leon's brilliant burgers are coming to West Yorkshire as the chain expands further north / Image: Leon
Leon said it hopes the expansion into drive-through territory will make it easier for more people to "eat well" on the move.
“This is the first of many new, strategic openings for the Leon brand under EG ownership," said Mohsin Issa and Zuber Issa, co-founders and co-CEOs at EG Group.
"Opening a Leon Drive-Thru concept is a landmark moment for the brand, creating a fantastic opportunity to bring Leon’s naturally fast food to even more people.
"Our investment in Leon, together with our unparalleled operational experience of Drive-Thrus and access to high-quality roadside locations through our forecourts, creates new opportunities for the company and a strong platform to deliver significant growth.”
Eats
Big name restaurant closes Leeds city centre site after seven years
A popular restaurant chain has closed permanently in Leeds city centre.
Popular pizzeria Franco Manca has closed its Leeds restaurant.
The chain was famed for its relaxed atmosphere, quick service and affordable sourdough Neapolitan pizzas that were on offer for as little as a fiver.
The chain occupied the site on the outskirts of Trinity Shopping Centre on Trinity Street, next door to Itsu and overlooking the back entrance of Marks and Spencer.
Hoardings have now gone up, signifying the site is now empty and Franco Manca has permanently closed.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
This can also be seen on Google when searching for the restaurant branch.
It was announced earlier this year that a number of Franco Manca's restaurants would be closing across the country.
This was down to a reconstructing plan approved by creditors for the chain. The brand said it had been knocked by “disproportionately high” UK taxes and a lack of business rates relief for hospitality.
Marcel Khan, chief executive of parent firm Fulham Shore, said at the time: “We are grateful for the support shown by our creditors today.
“Franco Manca is a fantastic brand with a strong heritage and loyal customer base. With this agreement in place, we will put the business back on a firm footing and press ahead with strengthening our customer offer and performance.”
The Leeds brand was not included in the initial list of restaurant closing, but it seems further closures were made.
Miami-inspired Leeds bodega to open second site in Horsforth following huge success of first
Clementine Hall
A sandwich shop in Leeds is expanding to the suburbs.
Famed for it’s toasted Cuban sandwiches, stacked subs and loaded breakfast bagels - Alfonsos Deli has made a name for itself for serving some of the best sandwiches around the city.
Such a good reputation in fact, that they’ve just announced a second location over in the leafy suburb of Horsforth. Get in.
Currently, you'll find Alfonso's in the Grand Arcade where their light-filled and airy space is slinging out sandwiches non-stop until sell-out.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's not just sandwiches, though. They're also serving up fantastic Cuban coffee, beer and even Cuban cigars.
Basically, it's everything you'd expect to find in a deli in Miami.
The team shared the news of the expansion on social media, confirming that a brand-new Horsforth site is on the way.
While an official opening date is yet to be revealed, the announcement has already sparked plenty of excitement among loyal customers, many of whom have been calling for a second location since the deli first opened.
Alfonso's has built a devoted following in Leeds, with its signature Cubano sandwich becoming a firm favourite, while its breakfast bagels draw queues of hungover punters through the doors.
The move to Horsforth marks the next chapter for the independent business, bringing its popular menu to a whole new neighbourhood. And they're in fantastic company too, in a suburb that is flourishing with independent local businesses.
If the success of the Grand Arcade site is anything to go by, the new deli is likely to be just as busy from day one. More details, including an opening date and the full menu, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Good luck to the team, we can't wait to check it out.
Georgina Pellant -
1st July 2021 
