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
Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
The 42-year-old Kirkgate Market stall serving freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 a pop
Clementine Hall
Tucked away in Leeds Kirkgate Market you'll find a wonderful seafood stall selling freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 each.
It's places like these that remind us why we love Leeds so much.
Established in 1880, Hayes Seafood is widely regarded as the oldest trader within the historic Kirkgate Market.
For the past 42 years, it has been run by Cliff and Michelle, the loveliest couple who welcome every customer with open arms.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu here is small but perfectly formed, focusing on fresh, ready-to-eat seafood that you can enjoy with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of mayonnaise at most.
Delivered fresh every morning, there's pre-cracked crab shells, brown and white crab meat, cockles, crawfish tails - all perfectly prepared for you to eat at their bar or high tables opposite.
But, it's the oysters that you'll see people queueing for. And rightly so.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything here is prepared to order right in front of you, and for no extra fee. You can choose from two types of oysters: super salty Lindisfarne oysters or the slightly sweeter English Loch Fyne.
We recommend having a couple of each, pulling up a stool right by the counter and getting stuck in. If you ask Cliff nicely, he might tell you a bit about the history of the place - but you may have to order a couple more oysters for that.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You're left to dress them yourself, whether you prefer dash of fiery tabasco or a few pickled shallots. But to be honest, they're delicious just as they come.
This spot is a real piece of Leeds history, and the queues at lunchtime as well as the repeat regular customers proves just how special it is.
All it's missing is a champagne stall next to it...now wouldn't that be perfect?
Georgina Pellant -
1st July 2021 
